Equipment World Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/185325
contractor of the year finalist | by Marcia Gruver Doyle | MGruver@randallreilly.com Jesse and Paul Steger Dyersville, Iowa Steger Construction Year started: 1948 (heritage) Number of employees: 40 Annual revenues: $8 to $10 million Markets served: Grading, highway and heavy, site development T he story of Steger Construction, Dyersville, Iowa, is one of generations. The family business began in 1948 with Herb and Fay Steger, grandfather and uncle of present owner, Jesse Steger. And now Jesse's son, Paul, has joined the firm. As Paul – a University of Northern Iowa construction management grad – puts it, "You know it's in your blood when the people you look up to are doing it." Throughout the years, the Steger family has remained a constant in the firm, with partners along the way. Jesse's older brother Dave teamed up with Lyle Heiderscheit, and the two formed Steger and Heiderscheit Construction in the early 1970s. "Dave and Lyle taught Jesse (left) and Paul Steger both enjoy field work, so their division of tasks doesn't follow me the industry," Jesse the traditional inside/outside separation that's says. When Lyle retired common in construction firms. in 1995, Jesse became an owner. The firm went back to being called Steger Construction in 2005, when the The company was insulated in the Heiderscheit interests were bought, first part of the downturn by a twoand Paul, now 30, joined the firm. year highway project, the U.S. 61 bypass in Fort Madison, Iowa. "We Competitive work were buying bargain equipment The company specializes in earthand life was good," Jesse says. "But moving and grading, or as Jesse then we had to join the circus." puts it, "if it involves moving earth, "I'm an optimist," he continues, we're interested." It's work that at"so we didn't sell off a lot of equiptracts a lot of competition in Northment. Our goal through the tough east Iowa. times has been to find enough work And so Steger crews find themto keep our core group working selves claiming the entire state – and stay profitable. And when you and then some – to get their share need that LGP dozer, you need it." of projects. "While we prefer jobs "We've found job selection to be closer to home," Jesse says, "a lot of crucial during this period, so we times that's just not possible." can manage our risks," Paul says. EquipmentWorld.com | October 2013 53 EW1013_COY.indd 53 9/24/13 1:59 PM