EPIC Concrete Construction Inc. began with a leap of faith and a determination to rebuild from the ground up. What started as a small concrete operation in Kansas City, Mo., has grown into a multifaceted firm known for its breadth of services and steady expansion across the region. Today, the company operates with several divisions under one umbrella, handling concrete, earthwork, site utilities, general contracting and development.
Established in 2013, EPIC Concrete Construction emerged from former long-standing construction company INTEC, whose owners chose to retire. When the opportunity to purchase INTEC arose, EPIC Concrete Construction owner Rocky Queen, who worked for INTEC, stepped forward.
“He put everything he had into it,” said Bart Fisher, director of operations, Earthwork and Site Utility Division, EPIC Concrete Construction. “He started it over from scratch and took what help he could get, developing it into a multimillion-dollar company with a wealth of employees who make things happen every day.”
EPIC Concrete Construction's workforce averages about 200 employees. It has as many as 40 jobs under way at a time, ranging in size from $2 million to more than $20 million, according to Fisher. The company focuses most of its work within a 100-mi. radius for earthwork and general contracting, while the concrete division extends its reach much farther.
Fisher joined EPIC Concrete Construction about a year ago after more than two decades in the excavation industry. His experience in earthwork made him a natural fit as EPIC Concrete Construction sought to expand its capabilities through a steady lineup of earthwork, utility and concrete projects across the Kansas City region. The company now manages a broad portfolio of work ranging from structural and flatwork concrete to comprehensive site preparation, utility installation and turnkey development services.
As Fisher described, the company's growth has been strategic and collaborative, adding that even with its size, EPIC Concrete Construction continues to emphasize adaptability.
“We look at it as a team effort,” Fisher said. “We have different people in charge of each division, but we all operate under the same umbrella. Whatever the customer needs, we can provide. You have to be able to evolve and change with the times, too. Markets go in phases, and you have to be flexible, and we are. That's been a big driver of success for EPIC.”
Collaborative Efforts
KSM photo
EPIC Concrete Construction's various divisions often collaborate on a project such as the recent one centered around the Paragon Star sports complex in Lee's Summit that saw crews provide earthmoving, utility improvements and base prep ahead of a concrete crew that paved about a mile of roadway to connect streets and a large parking area, as well as construct a parking garage that included tilt-up wall panels.
The current workload consists of turnkey site development, utility installations and large-scale paving packages. During all phases of every project, EPIC Concrete Construction focuses on solid production and efficiency, so it has turned largely to Takeuchi TL8, TL10 and TL12 size track loaders, Takeuchi excavators like the TB216, TB240 and TB260, and Link-Belt 80 X excavators.”
“We have a lot of different jobs and tasks within those jobs, so having a wide range of equipment is essential, and fortunately, Takeuchi and Link-Belt largely cover the range we need,” said Fisher. “The power and reliability are big advantages for us, and that's why Takeuchi and Link-Belt have become core machines in our fleet.”
Fisher added, “We also want precision when working on tight-access projects, and the Link-Belt 80 and smaller Takeuchi loaders allow us to work around utilities and confined excavation areas with high production. Those machines are essential for trenching, installing smaller service lines and maintaining production even in restricted spaces, and when we need to move larger amounts of material, the bigger Link-Belts give us what we need to get the job done.”
Shawn Stevens, Kirby-Smith Machinery Inc. (KSM) territory sales manager, has assisted EPIC Concrete Construction with the purchase of its Takeuchi and Link-Belt machinery.
“We sit down with Shawn and go over the pluses and minuses of equipment, the efficiencies that come with each piece versus another and decide what is the best fit,” said Fisher. “It's great to have a dealer with multiple lines of equipment and reps like Shawn, who knows the brands Kirby-Smith carries and how to best match them to our needs. More recently, we have developed a good relationship with Jake Shriver, who is a rental sales representative and helps with our rentals as needed. Kirby-Smith's support is excellent as well. They are available to help, day or night.”
Providing Even More
KSM photo
EPIC Concrete Construction is already a sizable player in the market, but Fisher said the company is striving to provide even more to its customers and continue to expand.
“We want to land more jobs and continue to make a mark on the industry,” said Fisher. “We have ventured out as far as St. Louis on the earthwork side, and we do venture out of state for the concrete side. We're trying to find a real niche in the market and be one of the bigger firms in Kansas City that provides concrete, earthwork, utilities — even general contracting and development work. We just plan to grow.”
*The opinions expressed here are based on the customer's specific experience. Results may vary.
(This story is courtesy of Kirby-Smith Machinery.)
