Familiar Face

Yes, that was Rodney Miller you saw hosting a nationally televised parade on New Year’s Day.

Miller, former CEO of Springdale company Montana Tractors, and “Entertainment Tonight” veteran Jann Carl were the co-hosts for the Orlando Citrus Parade, an annual event that occurs each year between the Russell Athletic Bowl and the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl college football games. The parade took place Dec. 30 and was aired nationally Jan. 1 on ABC.

Montana Tractors, a nationwide distributor of compact tractors and equipment, started in 2004, backed by the late J.B. Hunt. They brought Miller aboard as Montana’s CEO on Aug. 5, 2004, and he helped build the company into a $70 million business through a 300-plus-dealer network in 48 states. 

Montana Tractors eventually closed its doors on South Thompson Avenue in 2009 and moved operations to Tarboro, North Carolina.

Miller left the company in 2008 to become CEO of McCormick International USA in Duluth, Georgia, where he remained until May 2010 when he transitioned to the entertainment industry. 

Since September 2012, Miller and Carl have been co-hosts of “Small Town Big Deal,” a rural-themed lifestyle show developed by Miller that airs weekly on RFD-TV.