Equipment World

January 2014

Equipment World Digital Magazine

Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/231795

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 39 of 67

contractor of the year finalist | continued Chris inherited a group of dedicated, long-term employees from his father, Dale. Successful strategies Chris has his hands full with concrete and asphalt work. "Shreveport is recession-proof," he says. "I'm so excited about everything that's coming up; I've never been so excited. Every year has been our best year." His numbers bear out his confidence – although Dale's Paving averages a 5-percent growth rate from year to year, last year the company experienced a 33-percent growth rate. There's a variety of reasons Dale's Paving is operating at such a high level. The company has maintained the stellar reputation earned by Chris' father, and many of the original clients call Chris when they need new paving work or sealcoating. Dale kept meticulous 40 January 2014 | EquipmentWorld.com handwritten records on every job. Today, when Chris is called upon to perform work on one of his father's original jobs, he has all of Dale's notes and records available. He's currently working on converting the old paper records to computerized versions. Chris and Tracey are also consummate marketers. Chris explains that he likes to display his work, so he not only maintains a website, but is active on social media sites such as Facebook, and notes that he often receives new business via avenues such as Angie's List. He also acknowledges he's both competitive and aggressive. "I baby a project, though," he says. "I send guys over to check on things without the owner having to ask, and I kill everyone with kindness." He's also careful with equipment purchases, and has carried over his father's strategy of snapping up good pieces at auction. "Daddy bought at auction," he says. "I never have any trouble finding and buying good used pieces." Perhaps one of the most important ingredients in the company's recipe for success is the relationship the Finks have with their employees. Happy, long-term and stable, the employees take pride in their work. Foreman Mark Tipell, a 25-year veteran of Dale's Paving, makes no bones about what kind of company he works for. "Our quality of work is just better than our competitors," he says. "We get calls all the time telling us so."

Articles in this issue

Links on this page

Archives of this issue

view archives of Equipment World - January 2014