Desiato

US

WInter 2010

Developers Journal www.usdevelopersjournal.com

DeSiato Sand and Gravel

Keeping Excavations on Steady Ground

THE MAGAZINE FOR CONSTRUCTION EXECUTIVES

Keeping Excavations on Steady Ground Produced by Matt Duncan & Written by Shelley Seyler DeSiato Excavating was founded by Felix DeSiato three years after the end of World War II in Storrs/Mansfield, Conn. Just six years later, in 1954, a sister company was formed under the name of DeSiato Sand and Gravel Corporation.

The corporation also carries numerous products for home owners, landscapers and roofing companies (as exhibited on www.desiatosandandgravel.com).

The corporation is a member of the Connecticut Associated Builders and Contractors (CTABC), the Home Today, DeSiato Sand and Gravel encompasses both Builders Association of Hartford (HBA), and the Motor the excavating and the sand and gravel work under Transport Association of Connecticut (MTAC). The one umbrella and is still going strong, led by President MTAC, serving Connecticut since 1920, is of particular Phil DeSiato, the second generation of the DeSiato importance because of the company’s heavy reliance family to hold that title. Operating with 20 employees, on trucking. The association keeps DeSiato and many the company works throughout the entire state of other Connecticut companies apprised of the latest Connecticut. DeSiato also operates across many changes in the trucking industry. sectors, including residential, commercial, municipal and educational. Enjoying more than half a century of Universities to Golf Greens tenure in the state, DeSiato serves numerous towns and municipalities that know of the company’s good In today’s challenging economy, DeSiato Sand and Gravel is feeling the effects of the downturn. “We have work. to watch the cost of everything,” admits Phil. “The DeSiato Sand and Gravel performs excavation work, cost of running a business these days is tremendous. installs septic systems, does lot clearing, new home We have to be on top of all that.” Phil says the biggest site preparation, and supplies a variety of materials, expenses are fuel and insurance, both health and such as sand and drainage material, for golf courses. liability. Admittedly, DeSiato Sand and Gravel has seen some work disappear from the horizon because of the economy.

The company is staying busy, however. “And I think 2010 will see an increase in business,” Phil predicts.

Some of the more recent projects keeping DeSiato busy involve providing materials for two new soccer fields in Portland-Middletown, Conn.

The company also completed a specialized drainage project for them. DeSiato Sand and Gravel also supplies material for the University of Connecticut. Most recently, the company supplied 2|

US Developers Journal

Winter Edition 2010

materials for the drainage systems for a baseball field and a practice football field. “We specialize in a lot of projects dealing with drainage issues,” says Phil.

need to market its product. New clients are generally the result of word-of-mouth recommendations and Phil says this is “the best advertising you can get.”

One of the more interesting projects Phil has been involved with was completed for TPC, the Tournament Players Club, in Cromwell, Conn. Phil admits he has a particular affinity for golf course projects. “I don’t watch golf, but I like building them,” he jokes. This project involved supplying materials for the course’s drainage system beneath the greens. The company also made the sand for the sand traps on the course.

With this picture in mind, it is easy to see that DeSiato has a well-established reputation which will continue to serve its employees and clients well and keep the company soaring even in unsteady markets.•

Staying Steady Although he was forced to scale back by default, Phil admits that he is comfortable with the size the company is now. “People like to think bigger companies are better, but staying this size is more rewarding. I don’t want to get any bigger than we are.”

Though the market may have some more unpredictability up its sleeve, the DeSiato Sand and Gravel Corporation has been around so long it doesn’t

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US Developers Journal

Winter Edition 2010

COMPANY AT A GLANCE Established : 1954 President : Phil DeSiato Employees : 20

w w w. d e s i a t o s a n d a n d g r a v e l . c o m

DeSiato Sand and Gravel Winter 2009

999 Stafford Road Storrs, CT 06268 United States

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