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Success Stories
Vermontâs G. W. Tatro Construction named 2016 Contractor of the Year
Greg and Dawn Tatro, owners of G. W. Tatro Construction, were named Equipment Worldâs 2016 Contractor of the Year at ceremonies in Las Vegas this weekend. The Tatros, who perform both civil and mountain ski infrastructure work out of Jeffersonville, Vermont, received some of the highest client recommendations that Equipment World editors had heard in [âŚ]
March 8, 2016
Success Stories
This âcrazy diverseâ Iowa contractor thrives on doing work that other companies shun
âI knew from high school I wanted to be a contractor,â says Jeff Pettiecord. So he started doing small remodeling jobs shortly after graduating, and eventually started his company in 1984. But it was the early 1980s and times were tough. âI literally chased fire trucks,â Jeff recalls. Heâd call on the owners of the fire-damaged [âŚ]
June 2, 2015
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Success Stories
âHiring for character, training for skill,â New Yorkâs Lawrence Merle is our 2015 Contractor of the Year
Before taking his first construction job, the only knowledge Larry Merle had of the industry was âMike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel,â a classic childrenâs book his mother shared with him as a child. The story of Mike and his shovel Mary Anne became his favorite, and his mom read it to him every single [âŚ]
May 6, 2015
Success Stories
Third-generation contractor manages company transition by merging old values with new opportunities
For James Tollestrup, running the family business has included mastering the ability to transition the company from one phase to another. The third-generation contractor has taken Lethbridge, Alberta-based Tollestrup Construction to new levels of growth while maintaining the identity of his grandfatherâs company. A changing identity Founded in 1940, the company has avoided experiencing growing [âŚ]
April 2, 2015
Success Stories
Whether changing light bulbs or building timber bridges, agile diversification has been key to this Florida contractorâs success
You could say that as Don Facciobene climbed to a height of around 200 feet in the air just to change a light bulb, he had reached the lowest point in his career. After starting his construction company in 1987 in his hometown of Palm Bay, Florida, work began drying up in 1990. By 1993, [âŚ]
March 11, 2015
Success Stories
Precision Pipeline worked around the recession and desert turtles to become one of Utahâs top contractors
Landon Floyd grew up in construction. His father ran a small excavation and pipeline company in Southern California but moved to Utah when Landon was a boy because it seemed a better place to raise a family. Although his dad handed the reins over about 10 years ago, Landon grew up working for the company. [âŚ]
February 10, 2015
Success Stories
Lifelong love of construction gives third-generation contractor Brad Phillips a distinct advantage
When you ask Brad Phillips when he first became interested in construction, his answer is straightforward: âI canât remember when I havenât been.â And when you look at Bradâs background, his answer makes perfect sense. Brad is part of the third generation that runs Phillips Companies, Beavercreek, Ohio. The company, which was started by his [âŚ]
January 6, 2015
Success Stories
Sibling dynamic builds Guyer Brothers into successful company with a family atmosphere
When talking with successful contractors, you often hear them credit the people that work for them. Thereâs a reason for that. Most people in this business understand that their success is directly tied to how well their employees do their job. Happy employees tend to be the best employees and the business owners that make [âŚ]
November 30, 2014
Success Stories
Impressive level of quality combined with a passion for his people keep Dallas contractor at the top of his field
After Vern Larman returned to the Dallas area from a two-year stint as a missionary in Bolivia, he found he had a passion and expertise for excavation. During his five years working for a pool excavation contractor he learned to master the excavator to become the companyâs most profitable crew member. As his experience grew, [âŚ]
October 1, 2014
Success Stories
Zeal for diversification, taking care of fleet key to Wm. Winkler Companyâs success
âWe love to do anything that involves concrete,â says Brian Winkler, 47, president of Wm. Winkler Company. In fact, concrete has been Wm. Winkler Companyâs material of choice since Brianâs grandfather started the firm in Spokane, Washington, in 1919. His grandfather did curb and gutter work, and Brianâs father, the oldest of 11 children, joined [âŚ]
September 1, 2014
Success Stories
Mentoring spirit enables Pennsylvania contractor Doug Thomas to build a people-first company
There are two red chairs in Doug Thomasâ office. Sitting in one when Thomas closes the door is not where you want to be. That means itâs time for a serious talk and, fortunately, it doesnât happen too often. Such talks are reserved for the most blatant of safety violators at Thomas Construction, located in [âŚ]
June 1, 2014
Contractor of the Year
Reputation built upon speed, technology and old school skills makes Jeremy Hiltz our 2014 Contractor of the Year
Although Jeremy Hiltz started his own company in 1996, his roots in construction go much deeper. When he was just five years old he would get up early, creep downstairs, grab his lunch pail and wait for his dad by the door, hoping to get a ride to the jobsite. âI was pretty low maintenance,â [âŚ]
May 1, 2014
Success Stories
South Dakota contractorâs work in his small townâs moment of crisis provides framework for growth
Each February, Gale Nitteberg, his wife Sandy and their grandchildren pack up and head south for about a month to escape the harsh South Dakota winter for the warm beaches of Florida. He says years ago he and his wife talked about leaving South Dakota and maybe moving somewhere warmer, but it was never something [âŚ]
April 1, 2014
Contractor of the Year
New Hampshireâs Jeremy Hiltz Excavating named Equipment Worldâs 2014 Contractor of the Year
In an awards banquet Saturday night at Caesarâs Palace in Las Vegas, Jeremy Hiltz Excavating was named Equipment Worldâs Contractor of the Year for 2014. Hiltz Excavating in Ashland, New Hampshire, is an $8 to $10 million company that incorporated in 1996. They specialize in commercial site work, municipal and utility work and road building. [âŚ]
March 10, 2014
Success Stories
How a flooded ice skating rink helped one contractor start his own business
Everyone has to deal with unexpected changes in their lives, and often in their careers. For Brian Winot, owner of Northeast Site Contractors in East Stroudsberg, Pennsylvania, the unplanned paths heâs taken has made his business what it is todayâa successful commercial site development contracting firm with 30 employees. Although construction is all Winot has [âŚ]
February 25, 2014
Success Stories
Community involvement, business acumen drives Phillips Companies, one of our 2014 Contractor of the Year finalists
[youtube 1zxjVTKRvW4 nolink] âHow about some basketball tonight?â It turns out that Brad Phillipâs question to me was less about cheering on the Wright State Raiders (who won 77 to 67 that night against Youngstown State) than it was about fulfilling a commitment to the Boy Scouts, who were using a box at the Wright [âŚ]
February 24, 2014
Success Stories
How a loyalty to your employees can result in big growth for your construction business
âIâve stayed with Larman Construction so long because of this guy right here,â said Fred Barhydt, pointing a finger at company owner Vernnen Larman. Barhydt, a Larman employee for 30 years, was just one of the employees I met expressing this sentiment during my visit to the Garland, Texas-based Equipment World Contractor of the Year [âŚ]
February 12, 2014
Success Stories
Concrete work the âsweet spotâ for Wm. Winkler Co., 2014 Contractor of the Year finalist
âWe love to do anything that involves concrete,â says Brian Winkler, 47, president of Wm. Winkler Co., one of 12 finalists in the 2014 Contractor of the Year program. âItâs everywhere and itâs sustainable, Itâs a very versatile material.â Concrete has been Wm. Winkler Co.âs material of choice since Brianâs grandfather started the firm in [âŚ]
January 28, 2014
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