Equipment World Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/748269
W hen asked to describe how he started in construction, James MacKay laughs. "I got into a little bit a trouble when I was in high school," he says. His father, a construction veteran, promptly dropped James off at a friend's paving job…and that con- tractor, just as promptly, put him on a jackhammer. But rather than view it as punishment, James now says: "I instantly loved it." That introduction set him on his course, and today he oversees a $10 million firm with 60 employ- ees…at the age of 30. And now his father, Tom MacKay, who taught him that lesson about hard work all those years ago, runs his con- crete division. MacKay Construction Services works in Boston and the surround- ing suburbs, concentrating on defense construction, colleges and universities, and hospitality jobs, doing concrete, earthmoving, site development…anything his clients want. "I don't want to turn down work from them," MacKay says. "Everyone digs dirt or pours con- crete, so my clients have to know I give service, that they can call me anytime; It's how I separate myself from the pack." It's a mindset that usually has him on the road by 5 a.m. MacKay realizes that things would be different if he didn't have a solid base of clients, including Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems and Co- lumbia Construction. "They helped us through the recession," MacKay says. "We jump through hoops for them." Another invaluable help: Tom Evangelista with E. J, Pav- ing – the contractor who put him on a jackhammer as 'punishment'. "When I told him I was going out on my own, he set me up on some jobs, and connected me with the right people," he adds. This attitude resonates with clients. "They are one of our go-to guys; they want to do things the right way," says Daniel Thompson with Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems. "In fact, one of our project supers told us, 'any job I'm doing from now forward, I want use these guys for my site and concrete.'" Tricky jobs "I like the tricky jobs," MacKay says. "I want the jobs that no one else wants." One such job called for underpinning an existing building; a project that had only one other bidder. "You get into the excit- ing unknown, and it forces you to problem solve," he comments. This firm is also enjoying Boston's booming construction economy right now, but not for the obvious reasons. "It takes my bigger com- petitors away and opens up things for me that they would normally be bidding on," MacKay says. While his company is signatory to several unions, MacKay likes to run composite crews. "I can keep guys busy year round," he says. Since Boston's Big Dig project wound down just as he was starting up, he was able to snag quality crew members. "When I hire someone, I hire them for the long term. I want people to know they make a differ- ence to us." EquipmentWorld.com | November 2016 65 contractor of the year | by Marcia Gruver Doyle | MGruver@randallreilly.com Early days, hard work set this contractor on path to a $10 million company by the age of 30 James MacKay, MacKay Construction Services City, State: Wilmington, Massachusetts Year Started: 2004 Number of employees: 60 Annual revenue: $10 million Markets served: Concrete and site work in the defense, educational, hospital - ity and pharmaceuti- cal markets