Below: Cat 305.5D masticating brush on a slope.
Above: Cat 430F Backhoe Loader providing the final steps of excavation for a high pressure gas main & valve renewal.
Robert and Athena’s relationship with Hawthorne Cat started with the purchase of a Cat 287B Multi Terrain Loader in 2008, which they purchased to work on their 7 acre property in Alpine and on rough terrain jobs in the back country of San Diego. Months later, they returned to Hawthorne Cat and met with their sales representative, Matt Higgins, to purchase a Cat 289C Compact Track Loader and a Cat 305.5D Mini Excavator to pursue a government land clearing, grading and excavation opportunity. While on job sites for SDG&E and other contractors, Robert earned a reputation as someone who was not afraid of hard work and he went above and beyond to make a name for himself. He would pay close attention to how the utility crews and other operators worked, taking notice of excavation methods that made the utility crew’s job safer and easier.
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Eventually, his extra efforts and abilities landed him an opportunity to bring his equipment out to a large SDG&E project. Robert did an outstanding job on that trial project and SDG&E began to request his services regularly and with that the time had come to make some serious decisions. Athena Miller had taken note of the opportunities that were now laid before them and the wheels began to spin. She had spent 10 years at SDG&E getting to know the ins and outs of the utility construction business. Working in the customer contact center enabled Athena to see the logistical challenges and tight schedules that were dealt with every day, as well as the level of customer service it takes to keep a customer happy. The Equipment Operations department gave her firsthand knowledge of the equipment and crews needed to complete jobs efficiently and the
importance of safety in the workplace. Athena realized that she had essentially gone to utility college for 10 years and she was determined to use this experience, combined with Robert’s skill, to increase the success of their company. After a year-long battle getting her daughter’s health stabilized, she made the decision to get help with her daughter’s care and dive head first into what she saw as a once in a lifetime opportunity. She knew it was time to take the reins of Razors Edge Grading and Excavation Inc. (Razors Edge). She started with switching unions and becoming Signatory to the IBEW Local 47, which better suited the company’s scope of work. From there, she earned a CPUC Women Owned Business Certification (WBE) for Razors Edge. The stage was now set, but there was still one huge step to take and that involved spending a whole lot of dough.
2015 Owner / Operator ISSUE CALCONTRACTOR 7