In 1958, Superintendent A.W. Sparks and his favorite master mechanic Lou Nugent faced the challenging Rocky Reach dam foundation and highway relocation project north of Wenatchee. They knew from the many large jobs they’d completed in the North Cascades that individual excellence mattered. And, on a job that relied on excavating, loading, hauling, and dumping, in that order, you were only as good as your weakest link. To succeed, they needed a strong team with people like Grade Foreman Dale Moore. And, when a machine broke down, and the whole operation stopped, people like Lou got the job up and running again as quickly as possible.

A well-run job site and appreciation for great operators and mechanics reflected the founders’ values and made good business sense. Lined-up trucks helped a service oiler do his work faster. At the same time, General Superintendent Tom Reilly forged strong relationships with customers, suppliers, and manufacturers so each job would have the tools and equipment it needed. Still, throughout the company’s first 50 years, preventative maintenance posed a challenge.

While nobody could argue with the concept of fixing equipment before a catastrophic break-down, it wasn’t easy to justify in the moment. Superintendents didn’t like sidelining a bulldozer for a few hours, let alone a few days, during the busy season to keep it in good working order. Plus, they loved the impressive machines that helped them accomplish their mammoth tasks. They wanted as many tools in their toolbelt as possible for the job at hand, especially when something broke.