Equipment World Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/335762
A lthough undergoing changes in your life or career can be a hard- ship, for Brian Winot, owner of Northeast Site Contractors in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, unplanned paths have helped him become a successful commercial site development con- tractor with more than 30 employees and satisfied repeat clients through- out the Poconos. Winot believes one of the tenets of success is to truly give back, and to give back locally. Northeast Site Contractors donates 10 percent of profits each year to local chari- ties and performs in-kind services for a range of organizations. Winot supports a number of causes that touch him personally. After losing a relative to cancer, he made a special effort to direct some of the com- pany's resources to the area cancer center. As an Ironman triath- lete, Winot has also funded a scholarship for a local swim- mer and sponsored races. Managing distractions and disasters Although Northeast Site Con- tractors was officially formed in 2005, the company was years in the making. Winot started digging ditches for his father when he was 12 years old, and eventually went to work for a contractor. Construction was all he'd ever known. But even as he worked his way up in a large construction firm, he still had an en- trepreneurial spirit. So, when friends approached him about going in on an investment opportunity, Winot decided to take a chance on the side venture, even though it had nothing to do with construction – an ice skat- ing rink. Although not in line with his career, he hoped the investment would be a profitable side business. The rink became less of a side ven- ture and more of an immediate con- cern in 2001, when the manager the partners had hired to run the rink left. The abrupt announcement presented Winot with a difficult choice to make. He could quit his job and run the rink himself or face losing his entire investment. He left the large highway contracting firm where he was work- ing as a regional supervisor and set to EquipmentWorld.com | June 2014 53 Northeast Site Contractors Number of employees: 30 Annual revenues: $5 to $7 million Markets served: Commercial site development Brian Winot East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania Giving back, not giving in, drives contractor to success contractor of the year | by Amy Materson | AMaterson@randallreilly.com