Joe Perkins

Joe Perkins serves as Chief Operating Officer of Carolina Handling, where he oversees the company’s Service, Power Management, Continuous Improvement, Distribution, Rentals, Parts, Marketing, and Quality Assurance teams. He also oversees the Intralogistics Solutions Group, supporting Carolina Handling’s evolution from a forklift-only provider into a comprehensive intralogistics solutions company. Perkins joined Carolina Handling in 2012 as an Account Manager after serving for eight years as Warehouse Manager at Pate Dawson-Southern Foods, where he was also a Carolina Handling customer. At Carolina Handling, Perkins quickly moved into Sales leadership and was named Corporate Warehouse Solutions Manager, Director of Warehouse Products and Solutions, and Vice President of Operations before joining the executive team. He was named Chief Operating Officer in 2024. Originally from Goldsboro, North Carolina, Perkins attended the University of Mount Olive on a baseball scholarship. After his playing career, he served as a pitching coach and recruiter at the University of Mount Olive, where many of his core leadership principles began to take shape. He is a strong advocate of servant leadership and personal growth, believing that if you aren’t the best version of yourself at home, you will never be your best at work. As co-host of Handled It, Perkins brings real-world experience and practical insight to conversations about leadership, supply chain strategy, culture, data-driven decision-making, and automation. He aims to equip listeners with mindsets, skills, and takeaways they can apply within their own organizations. Perkins has been featured in the Charlotte Business Journal, the Lead the Team podcast, and on 4 The Record on WYFF4-TV. He resides in Denver, North Carolina, with his wife, Brandi, and their children, Aiden, Kaylon, and Nash. Outside of work, he enjoys traveling with his family, exploring new destinations, and experiencing local cuisine. One of his favorite quotes is, “Don’t ever confuse motion with progress.”

  • 1 min read
    03.19.2026

    The Decisions That Still Matter After 60 Years

    Explore the secrets to long-term success in material handling and avoid common leadership mistakes with insights from Carolina Handling's top executives.