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Morton’s Landscape Development Raises Bar in Northeast Ohio CEG photo

“Morton’s Landscape Development Company is a friendly team of trained individuals dedicated to our customers through superior communication, with a focus on becoming the most respected company in the green industry.”

(L-R): Steve Prinat, Madi Bonner, Ken Skala, Grace Piper, Joe Tvergyak, Stephen Schmidt, Eric Pawlak, Matt Drda, Andy Prewitt, Scott Swiger, Brandon Heidecker, Barry Morton and Morton’s mascot, Morty, are pictured outside Morton’s Landscape Development Company headquarters during a team visit with Murphy Tractor & Equipment Co.

Morton’s photo

Morton’s Landscape Development operates a large, diversified fleet to support high-volume material processing and landscape projects across Northeast Ohio, highlighting the company’s large-scale capabilities and investment in equipment.

What began in 1978 with a Ford Pinto station wagon and a lawn mower has grown into one of Northeast Ohio’s most respected full-service landscape companies.

Morton’s Landscape Development was founded by Barry Morton Sr., who started mowing lawns after work while raising a

young family. Those early jobs soon expanded into small landscape projects, eventually evolving into a thriving business built on hard work, craftsmanship and strong relationships.

Today, Morton’s operates across three locations and provides comprehensive serv-

ices including landscape and hardscape installation, maintenance, Air-O-Mulch services, mowing and snow removal, all supported by a strong team culture and ongoing investment in both people and equipment.

“Morton’s Landscape Development

Company is a friendly team of trained individuals dedicated to our customers through superior communication, with a focus on becoming the most respected company in the green industry,” the company told Construction Equipment Guide. see MORTON page 4

Page 2 • February 28, 2026 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Ohio State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide

Industry Gathers for 51st Ohio Asphalt Paving Conference

T

he Ohio Asphalt Paving Conference returned to the campus of The Ohio State University on Feb. 4, 2026, bringing together contractors, engineers, agency officials and industry partners for a full day of technical education and collaboration.

Held at the Fawcett Center for Tomorrow, the 51st annual conference continued its long-standing mission of presenting current information on new developments, techniques and practical solutions related to the design, construction and maintenance of asphalt pavements.

Educational sessions addressed a wide range of timely topics, including asphalt materials, mix design innovations, pavement performance and emerging construction practices. The morning session opened with welcoming remarks and an overview of education offerings, followed by an update from the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT). Technical presentations explored long-held asphalt myths, the benefits of warm mix asphalt and current trends in high-reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) mixtures, providing Vincent Venturella (L) and Chad Crosby welattendees with research-backed insights they could apply directly in comed attendees to the JBand booth introducing the field. the JBand asphalt membrane system designed Following a networking lunch, the afternoon program focused on to reduce longitudinal joint failure and extend pavement distress identification and repair resources, transit system pavement life.

Connecting industry and agency leadership at modernization efforts and infrastructure planning. Speakers reprethe Ohio Asphalt Paving Conference (L-R) are sented a cross-section of public agencies, research institutions and Jim Marszal of Flexible Pavements of Ohio; industry organizations, reinforcing the collaborative nature of Eric Heckert of ODOT District 2; and Pat Ohio’s asphalt community.

Jacomet of the Ohio Aggregate Association.

A dedicated conference planning committee guided the development of the program, ensuring balanced representation from state and local agencies, academia, and industry. The committee included leaders from ODOT, Flexible Pavements of Ohio, the Federal Highway Administration, county engineers’ offices, municipalities and academic institutions.

In addition to classroom sessions, attendees had the opportunity to visit interactive exhibits throughout the day, where suppliers and service providers showcased products and technologies supporting roadway safety, pavement longevity and construction efficiency.

(L-R): Shad Sargand of Ohio University; Andrew Gall of With a strong mix of technical content, peer-to-peer Flexible Pavements of Ohio; and Eric Biehl and Craig engagement and industry updates, the Ohio Asphalt Landefeld, both of the Ohio Department of Paving Conference once again served as a valuable Transportation , connect at the Ohio Asphalt Paving forum for advancing best practices and strengthening Conference. All four serve on the conference planning committee, helping guide the technical program and edu- Attendees fill the auditorium during an educational ses- partnerships across Ohio’s asphalt paving industry.

For more information, visit flexiblepavements.org. cational sessions for the event. sion at the Ohio Asphalt Paving Conference, where industry professionals gathered to share insights, inno-  CEG (All photographs in this article are Copyright 2026 vations and best practices shaping the future of Construction Equipment Guide. All Rights Reserved.) asphalt paving in Ohio.

Representatives of Meredith Brothers Inc. connected with attendees at the Ohio Asphalt Paving Conference, highlighting engineered solutions for bridge, roadway, electrical and erosion control applications. Pictured are Jerry Frantz (L), technical sales manager, and Jon Schmidthammer.

Barry Bossier represents Hot In-Place Recycling by Gallagher Asphalt at the Ohio Asphalt Conference, showcasing hot in-place recycling technology designed to extend pavement life and maximize resurfacing budgets.

Paul Peterson Company highlighted traffic control, highway signage, guardrail and safety solutions that help keep Ohio roads safe. Pictured are Brian L. Peterson (L), vice president, and Garrett Mudgett.

Construction Equipment Guide • Ohio State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • February 28, 2026 • Page 3

Page 4 • February 28, 2026 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Ohio State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide

Murphy Tractor Partnership Plays Role in Morton’s Success MORTON from page 1

CEG photo

Leadership has since transitioned to Barry Morton Jr., who grew up working alongside his father and now continues the company’s legacy with a focus on structure, accountability and continuous improvement. Detailed operating procedures, ongoing training and weekly safety meetings help ensure quality and consistency across all service lines.

The company’s growth has been fueled not only by craftsmanship, but by versatility.

Operating as a year-round business allows for workforce stability, cross-training and resilience during economic shifts, all while delivering dependable results for customers.

Specialized services further set Morton’s apart in the Northeast Ohio market. The company uses advanced application systems, heavy earthmoving equipment and compact machinery to efficiently handle both large-scale projects and precision work.

Investments in materials processing equipment also support sustainability and production capabilities.

A strong dealer partnership with Murphy Tractor also has played a key role in operational success, helping optimize fleet performance, maintenance planning and equipment utilization. see MORTON page 6

Mortons Landscape Development’s slinger truck team (L-R) includes Grace Piper, Madi Bonner, Joe Tvergyak, Eric Pawlak, Barry Morton, Brandon Heidecker, Matt Drda, Andy Prewitt and Scott Swiger. The slinger truck delivers precise placement of sand, gravel, mulch and topsoil across Northeast Ohio.

Morton’s photo Morton’s photo

A compact equipment lineup allows Morton’s Landscape Development to support a wide range of landscape and site services, from specialty installations to material delivery.

Morton’s Landscape Development provides specialized slinger services, efficiently delivering sand, gravel, mulch and topsoil directly to job sites for landscape and construction projects across Northeast Ohio.

Morton’s photo

Morton’s Landscape Development operates a growing fleet of branded trucks and equipment, supporting its expanding operations and customer base throughout the region.

Construction Equipment Guide • Ohio State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • February 28, 2026 • Page 5

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Page 6 • February 28, 2026 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Ohio State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide

Morton’s Fleet Boasts More Than 100 Pieces of Equipment MORTON from page 4

“We take great pride in being a small part of our customers’ growth,” Stephen Schmidt of Murphy Tractor told Construction Equipment Guide.

“Our partnership with Morton’s is built on understanding their operation, supporting them when it matters most and helping them scale with confidence.

Their success is our success, and the best results are always achieved when that success is shared.”

From a single truck to a multi-location operation with a fleet of more than 100 pieces of equipment, Morton’s Landscape Development continues to raise the standard in Northeast Ohio by combining innovation, strong culture and customer-focused service. With leadership committed to sustainable growth, workforce development and operational excellence, the company is well positioned for continued success in the years ahead.  CEG

CEG photo

Morton’s photo

A Morton’s crew member places mulch on-site using a mulch blowing truck, combining skilled labor with specialized equipment to complete the job efficiently.

Murphy Tractor & Equipment Co. and Morton’s Landscape Development teams gathered on site with a John Deere excavator, highlighting their ongoing partnership and shared focus on reliable equipment and jobsite performance. (L-R top row) are Barry Morton, Brandon Heidecker and Matt Drda. (L-R) front row are Ken Skala, Stephen Schmidt, Steve Prinat, Joe Tvergyak, Madi Bonner, Grace Piper, Eric Pawlak, Andy Prewitt and Scott Swiger.

Construction Equipment Guide • Ohio State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • February 28, 2026 • Page 7

Page 8 • February 28, 2026 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Ohio State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide

“

We gained six months on the pro oject overall.

Without the i-machines, timing would have been tre emendous … and time is money.

Safety would also have been a huge issue.

Operations Manager Craig Smith | Mark Haynes Construction