Equipment World Digital Magazine
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/85677
survivor stories | by Lauren Heartsill Dowdle Adding black during the recession, Harrod, Ohio, native Randy Jones started a second company. W Jones's company, RD Jones Ex- cavating, handles utility, road and public construction projects, with a client list including Procter and Gamble, Ford, Walmart and Honda. But when work slowed down in 2008, Jones decided to create a union company, Jones Site Management. "It allowed us to also work with union general contractors," he says of the add-on business, which has six employees and handles site prep for She lly Corporation, Tuttle Construction and Peterson Con- struction. Jones Site Management allowed Jones to extend his portfolio and stay busy – something he recom- hile many con- tractors were struggling to keep their busi- nesses in the business in tough times. mends other contractors do, as well. "Look at different avenues for work," he suggests, "but stay within what you know. If you stray too far away from your experience level and what you do best, you can get in over your head and lose money." As for his non-union business, which he started in 1977, Jones is content with its size, averaging 50 "Look at different avenues for work, but stay within what you know." employees. This includes his wife Dana, secretary, and sons Trevor and Travis, who are both fi eld superintendents. He has maintained RD Jones Excavating's nearly $13 million in annual revenue in part by partnering with other companies to complete larger jobs, such as a $7 million overpass project. Jones also keeps his fl eet – including dozers, scrapers, back- hoes, skid loaders, motor grad- ers and compaction equipment – updated by buying new pieces regularly. "I make payments on the equipment, just like I would be paying to maintain older equip- ment. Replacing equipment, instead of making a lot of expensive repairs, has always worked for us." He bought equipment last year – including a Caterpillar excavator and skid loader, John Deere loader and dozer, Kenworth dump truck and NPK all-purpose shear and con- crete breaker – and plans to buy a few more units later this year. EW We welcome your survivor stories. Contact Marcia Gruver Doyle at mgruver@randallreilly.com, 800-633-5953. EquipmentWorld.com | May 2012 65