5 minute read
Under the Hard Hat
with UCANE’s Officers and Board Members
Will you please give us some information on your background and tell us how you got started in the construction business?
My father owned a MACK truck repair shop in Cambridge, so I was exposed to automotive truck repair even before high school. I worked with my father for about eight years and he not only taught me everything he knew about truck and equipment repairs, he taught me how to run a business. Eventually, while working with my Dad, I bought my first dump truck, a “well-used” 1972 Mack 10-wheeler and started doing some snow plowing and truck rentals on weekends. Before long I was getting lots of calls for my truck rental and I started meeting local contractors in the area. That was the mid80s and that was when I first took an interest in construction and excavation. Pretty soon I was spending less time at my Dad’s shop, and more time with my truck rental. In 1988, I bought my first backhoe, a 1970 Dynahoe, and went off on my own as CHB Excavating.
What was the motivating factor that led you to start your own business?
Leaving the security of my father’s truck repair business was a little daunting at first, but my father knew what I wanted to do and he was my biggest booster. Equipped with the valuable work ethic that both of my parents instilled in me, and a little bit of construction experience, I felt confident that I could earn a living in the business. As I look back on that decision, I was a young guy and the abil-
UCANE Board Member Calvin Brandford CHB Excavating Westford, MA
ity to move around with my own equipment and be my own boss was perhaps the biggest motivator. It was the right decision for me and the business is currently entering its 34th year. These days my biggest motivator every day is my son, Calvin, Jr., who has been working with me in the company since 2016.
What types of construction work does CHB Excavating specialize in, and in what areas of New England do you pursue this work?
CHB Excavating cut its teeth on the “Big Dig” in the 90s working for some of the premier contractors locally and nationally. That was a “one of a kind” project that allowed me and my young company to gain tremendous experience in all kinds of heavy con-
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struction, as well as to earn the respect of my peers.
Today, CHB specializes in excavation, underground utilities, site work, and infrastructure repairs. We do a decent amount of trucking and hauling, including snow removal, and we continue to rent our equipment out on occasion.
CHB pursues this work in Middlesex County, Metro West, and Boston. We bid on work in both the private and public sectors. We have had some long-standing relationships with some large GC’s and local developers.
How long has your company been a UCANE member, and why did you make the decision to serve on the UCANE Board of Directors?
CHB Excavating has been a UCANE member since 2018. I was always interested in serving on the Board but never had the time to dedicate to the organization. Now that I have the time, I decided to serve on the UCANE Board of Directors to support utility contractors across New England as well as to be a voice for minority contractors.
Between COVID-19 issues and supply chain problems, 2021 was certainly a challenging year for contractors. How do you see the New England horizontal and heavy construction market shaping up for 2022, and what do you think are the biggest challenges facing contractors might in 2022?
Utility contractors should be prepared to navigate uncharted territory in 2022. The public sector work certainly looks like it is ready to break some records. There is still a demand for housing, and private work doesn’t show signs of slowing down. In normal times this would present a great opportunity to grow my business. But these aren’t normal times.
Today, CHB specializes in excavation, underground utilities, site work, and infrastructure repairs. We do a decent amount of trucking and hauling, including snow removal, and we continue to rent our equipment out on occasion.
In my 34-year career I haven’t witnessed such dramatic price increases in fuel, vehicles, and almost every product used in construction. Tradesmen are retiring at a rapid pace and we can’t seem to find the next generation of construction workers. COVID-19 is still hanging around and current world events are putting more pressure on all of these problems and influencing many business investment decisions.
Although the amount of infrastructure work about to hit the streets may look better than ever, CHB will be approaching 2022 cautiously. As a successful small business, I’ve learned not only to limit my risks, but to also realize that “all that glitters is not gold.” n
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