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Cleveland Brothers

2014 Contractor of the Year – Guyer Brothers

By: Diane
October 5, 2015

guyer-brothers-logoWhen Kevin and Shawn Guyer founded Guyer Brothers, their father said the business would last if they made it past seven years. That was in 1999 – 15 years ago. Today, Guyer Brothers’ jobs in sewer and water line construction include the honor of utility work at the Flight 93 memorial site in Shanksville,Pennsylvania.

“We always did what we felt was right and treated people how we wanted to be treated, and it seems to have worked,” Kevin Guyer says of the philosophy that has sustained the business and earned it a place as finalist for Equipment World’s 2014 Contractor of the Year.

Before striking out on their own, the brothers enjoyed doing similar work for other companies,“but it’s not the same gratification,” Guyer says. “It’s a different feeling in your gut when you’re doing something for yourself than it is for somebody else.”

Guyer attributes the company’s success to the hard work and dedication of employees. At its start, the firm included Kevin and Shawn, their dad (now semi-retired), and one other person. Today, the company employs 22 people. The company takes them on annual hunting trips to Illinois and treats all employees and their wives to trips to the CONEXPO convention in Las Vegas.

“We try to show them that we appreciate them,” Guyer says. “They work hard for us. Shawn and I both feel that where we are today is due to the employees, to how they work and care about their work.”

The people of Guyer Brothers were pleased and honored when a contractor approached them about subcontracting on the memorial to the heroes of Flight 93. The job involves installation of  septic and water systems for the new visitors’ center.

“We really wanted to be involved in it, just to hang your hat on that one,” Guyer says. “It’s a neat one to be involved in.” Guyer Brothers bought a Cat® track skid steer in 2012 and a Cat backhoe around 2010, and they’ve rented miscellaneous pieces over the years. Their operators, who test all pieces before purchase, appreciate the Cat machines’ handling and ease of maintenance.

“You can tell they put a lot of thought and care into the product as far as making them operator- friendly and easy for mechanics to work on,” Guyer says.

Cleveland Brothers has been “more than accommodating” to work with. “If anything does come up with any of the equipment, they’ve been right on top of it,” Guyer says. Sales representative Ryan Enck has grown to be a reliable friend, and “everybody’s good there. It makes a difference.”

The nomination for Contractor of the year is “pretty special,” Guyer says. “I don’t know many people that make it. To be one in 12 feels pretty good. It made all the employees feel good, too.”

Read about three other 2014 Contractor of the Year nominations from our neck of the woods.


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