Ideals Unearthed
Muschlitz Excavating, Inc. takes a purposeful approach to earthwork
Earthwork and site development encompass far more than moving dirt. It’s a highly choreographed dance that requires creative thinking, a skilled and coordinated team, high-tech equipment and finely tuned processes.
At least that’s what Ronald (Ron) E. Muschlitz and his sons, Jack and David Muschlitz, believe—and it’s on that conviction that they founded Muschlitz Excavating, Inc. (Muschlitz), now nearing 30 years in business.
Today, the company is a leading provider of site development, excavation, utilities, and paving services in Eastern Pennsylvania, called on to shape some of the region’s largest, most complex site foundations. The Muschlitz’s success is in large part due to its focus on project diversity and a multigenerational approach to leadership.
Setting the Standard
The idea of a family business came about in 1990 when Ron and Jack both worked for a local contractor digging basements and installing septic systems. Ron was 45 at the time and Jack was 20 years old.
Jack recalls, “The Lehigh Valley was growing, and the timing was right to start a new company. I knew we could do it. We had the skills and work ethic to deliver quality solutions.”
His dad and older brother, David, agreed. After purchasing a Cat 953 track loader and Case 580 backhoe, the three set out to build a client base, largely with general contractors working on residential developments that Ron had known from years in the business.
Within three years, the company’s reputation had grown throughout the area and they had steady work, a few employees, and an eye on expansion. In 1993, they won their first large commercial contract, building athletic fields for Lehigh County. They expanded site work services to include clearing and site demolition and associated earthwork, storm sewer systems, installation of underground basins, sanitary sewer and water service systems, detention and infiltration basins and some paving of associated parking and driveways.
Along with more contract jobs, they saw the need for better equipment and more skilled teams. Muschlitz was one of the first contractors to use GPS technology on its dozers, graders and excavators in the early 2000s.
By this time, the company had a growing backlog of business and about 100 employees, enabling Muschlitz to continue expanding its reputation in both public and private sectors. The company took on complete sitework packages for schools, universities, residential subdivisions, hospitals, airports, parks, industrial buildings, warehouse buildings and waterparks. Also, as a Pennsylvania Department of Transportation-qualified contractor, the company has even completed a few highway contracts, including the Route 145 highway improvement project in 2009 and the Leaser Lake dam rebuilding project for the Pennsylvania Department of General Services in 2010.
That diversity of capabilities and services would come in handy as the industry needs would shift again in the coming years.
Growing from Within
The scope and scale of construction projects in the Lehigh Valley in recent years has changed considerably. Instead of residential subdivisions, owners and developers began to focus more on retail centers, new schools and warehouse projects. While the scope of projects is much greater, the sitework needs are very similar.
Jack confirms, “It’s much more focused on people, communication and processes. We partner with developers and construction firms to add value every step of the way, from the early planning stage through the completion of site work.”
To that end, Jack and David began promoting their talented staff to meet customer needs and a growing backlog of work. Steven Goffredo, for instance, was hired as a Project Manager in 2011. As a fourth-generation construction professional, Goffredo had worked for his father’s construction company since he was a teenager.
Today, Goffredo is the chief operating officer of Muschlitz. When asked about the industry transition, he says, “Years ago, lots of folks did what we do. Today, that’s not the case. To succeed, we have to be very good and very committed to quality, consistency and processes—and that requires a team that is equally dedicated with the same mindset.”
Also key to the Muschlitz operational adjustment to meet strategic growth initiatives is expanding its value engineering services and capabilities. The Muschlitz family looked to another young talent, Michael Kinney, who started as an Estimator with the company, to help expand the estimating group of three to a full pre-construction operation.
Now, as chief estimator, Kinney and his team work closely with clients to develop conceptual, preliminary and final estimates with an emphasis on value engineering to improve cost, schedule and processes related to sitework activities. He says, “In today’s fast-track world, we have to be able to communicate with our clients and provide solutions that are cost- and time-effective.”
The Muschlitz leadership as well as Kinney and Goffredo emphasize that the delivery of superior solutions to customers begins with a quality team.
Dynamic and Driven
Over the last decade, Muschlitz has nearly doubled its employees to 175, which includes a large cadre of carefully selected earthwork professionals who fit into its culture of communication and focus on the importance of customer relations.
For instance, Goffredo interviews and hires every individual who works in the field. He says, “A lot of people can do the job in terms of excavating material or setting underground pipes. But we want people who are interested in working as a team, not pointing fingers if there’s a problem, but working together to deliver the best outcome. Whether they’re an operator, project manager or superintendent, we want our people to feel like they have a voice and a share of the credit for a job well done.”
“We partner with developers and construction firms to add value every step of the way, from the early planning stage through the completion of site work.” Jack Muschlitz, President, Muschlitz Excavating, Inc.
Kinney says the same is true for estimators, administrators and financial staff. He adds, “We are always looking to build on a collaborative dynamic. We need more than just skills; we want people to get involved, work together and feel like they are part of the process and the overall success of the company.”
That culture of teamwork translates to customer success. Goffredo confirms, “If we build a team that feels invested in every job, then our customers will see the difference. That’s the kind of ethic instilled in me by my father and reinforced by Jack—and it works.”
The company’s emphasis on relationships, both internally and externally, has translated to big digs in the Lehigh Valley.
Big Digs
The company—now owning over 200 pieces of equipment—specializes in complete site packages encompassing land clearing, mass earthwork, rock removal, underground utilities, asphalt paving and milling, and portable rock crushing and recycling. Five years ago, a big project might have been 50 acres. Today, projects are upward of 200-plus acres with varying levels of complexity.
“It’s one of the reasons that we invest so heavily in our equipment,” says David, who’s responsible for managing the Muschlitz maintenance shop and equipment scheduling. “We have increased the size of our mass earthwork machines, which allows us to deliver projects well ahead of the competition.”
The company has added Cat 374F and Cat 390F excavators, a 627K wheel tractor-scraper and was one of the first to use the multipurpose, fuel-efficient and fast K-Tec 1233 scraper pulled by Volvo 40-ton off-road trucks.
All of this equipment will be needed to facilitate projects like Hamburg Logistics Park, a 165-acre industrial park currently under construction in the Lehigh Valley. Muschlitz has been contracted by MRP Industrial, a real estate company, and The Conlan Company, the general contractor, to perform sitework in preparation for the construction of three warehouses totaling almost 2 million square feet.
As well, crews are working on the St. Luke’s University Health Network’s Quakertown Campus, a newly proposed hospital in Quakertown, Pennsylvania. The hospital project includes the development of nearly 25 acres on an over 35-acre project site including HOP improvements to State Route 663 (John Fries Highway).
These and other large projects have bolstered not just the company’s reputation, but also its financial stability—last year’s revenue topped $53 million. Also in 2018, Ron retired as President of the company, handing the reins completely to his sons, Jack and David.
David adds, “I’m proud of what we’ve done and accomplished thus far. We’ve got a great team working together and a solid foundation that allows us to strengthen our relationship with clients and handle the most complex, challenging jobs.”
Jack agrees and concludes, “We’ve taken a purposeful approach to growth and service with diversity to survive any economic condition, while building a team with the same passion for quality and a terrific work ethic—key elements to multigenerational long-standing success.”