Brian and Tony Dietz, owners of Bob Dietz & Sons in New Paltz, New York, have won Equipment World’s 2024 Contractor of the Year Award.
They were announced the winner March 22 during an awards ceremony at the Wynn Las Vegas as part of a two-day event that included roundtable discussions about the construction industry.
“It’s an exciting time to be in this industry,” said Brian Dietz in accepting the award. “There are so many challenges, and it’s so difficult. And yet there are so many opportunities.”
For more of his comments and more about the Contractor of the Year Award, check out the video above.
The Dietz brothers grew up in the construction business that was started in 1976 by their father, Bob Dietz. At a young age, Brian and Tony were operating equipment, and after high school, they joined their father to run the company.
Over the years, they have expanded the business from small residential projects to site work for large homes, golf course resorts and one of the state’s first premium-brand distilleries. They also took on a project that many previously thought impossible. It involved 76 days of blasting hard rock to make way for development of 100 townhouses on a hill.
Both Brian and Tony continue to follow their father’s advice to invest back in the business and to take care of their equipment. Each of Dietz’s 45 pieces of equipment and trucks are spotless and maintained in mint condition. They have also branched out into GPS machine control and tiltrotators to increase production and efficiency.
“Our goal is to be above industry standards for everything,” the brothers say. That includes how they treat their 21 employees and the benefits, pay and flexible schedules they offer.
They have also become industry role models through their frequent posts on social media in which they discuss leadership and show the pride in their equipment and being a family business. They traveled to Washington, D.C., to push for infrastructure funding and also invite other contractors to come demonstrate equipment on their property.
“This family-owned business stands out in both their work ethic and their real-world ethical business practices,” says Cary Hart, senior project manager with Baxter Built construction and development company.
“Another great thing about the company,” adds George Sifre with Seakill Custom Home Builders, “they have very updated equipment that they service properly ... and with great people running the machinery.”
The Equipment World Contractor of the Year program has been sponsored by Caterpillar since its inception in 2000. It recognizes contractors who display the highest standards of business acumen, equipment management expertise, attention to safety and community involvement. Each year, 12 finalists receive an expense-paid trip to Las Vegas to participate in roundtable discussions and an awards ceremony.
Throughout the year, Equipment World will post profile stories and videos of each of the finalists on equipmentworld.com. To see who made the finals, click here.
The nomination period for the 2025 program will open this fall.
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