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Mar 07, 2019

NB West Contracting: Paving the Way Since 1956

With over six decades of experience, West Contracting adheres to its time-tested value of delivering its promises – on time and within budget. “We operate like a family,” said Chris West, the founder’s grandson who today serves as the firm’s business development manager. “It’s all about trust. We deliver on our promises – day after day. And that’s why our customers continue to put their trust in us.”

With over six decades of experience, West Contracting adheres to its time-tested value of delivering its promises – on time and within budget. “We operate like a family,” said Chris West, the founder’s grandson who today serves as the firm’s business development manager. “It’s all about trust. We deliver on our promises – day after day. And that’s why our customers continue to put their trust in us.”

Norman West and his wife Mary, Chris’ grandparents, started West Contracting in March 1956. “The paving industry was in their blood,” noted Chris. “My grandmother’s father was one of the founders and owners of Geitz-Woolsey, then one of the St. Louis area’s largest paving contractors. My grandfather took a job with his father-in-law’s business and learned the business by working on crews, driving trucks and estimating. When the Wests decided to start their own business, they worked out of their basement and later, from offices housed on a bus on Norm’s father-in-law’s property. Their timing was perfect! They were able to benefit from the housing boom in the ‘50’s and ‘60’s, laying the roads for many of St. Louis’ new suburban subdivisions. Norm also envisioned future growth and wisely established an office and plant near Sullivan, MO where he saw a need for asphalt paving. By the ’60’s, West Contracting had moved into commercial work and also was providing a growing list of services to municipalities.

Larry West, Norm’s son, took over daily operations in the ‘80’s, significantly growing the commercial side of the business, introducing material innovations, and moving into highway work 25 years ago. Today the company has approximately 150 employees and maintains offices in St. Louis and Sullivan. West also operates three asphalt plants – in Bourbon, Pacific and House Springs – allowing them to work at optimal efficiency and in close proximity to job sites.

Larry recently went from actively running the company for decades to working on an advisory basis. He continues to share his many years of experience with the current President, Jim Fitzgerald, and Chris. (Jim assumed the role of President in 2016.)

“This is my 26th year with the company,” said Jim. “This is only one of two companies I’ve worked for in my career, starting as a project manager with West. It’s a real privilege to lead the company today and help Chris learn all aspects of his family’s business.”

“I have some big shoes to fill,” Chris mentioned. “My father is greatly respected by everyone I have met in the industry. People I haven’t met before will find me at events and make sure to point out how much they regard Larry. His work ethic, dedication to employees, commitment to safety and proper equipment, and insuring the well- being of the company and employees are just a few of his attributes.”

Chris recalls that his Dad put him to work pretty early in life, first working on parking lots and chip seal projects, and later joining West’s highway crews. “I worked as a general laborer for a couple of summers, then I worked for another company in Chicago in commercial real estate before deciding to return to the family business. I’ve been back in St. Louis now for 10 years, serving as a project manager for seven years. For the past year and a half I’ve been overseeing all three asphalt plants and also working with customers.”

Chris’ time learning every aspect of the business also has provided a great opportunity to get to know all of the company’s employees. He is on a first name basis with most employees and has known many for over 20 years. “We treat our employees as we would like to be treated ourselves,” said Chris. “That’s why we have many second and third generation family members working for us. We are one big family.”

Part of being in a family is watching out for each other’s well-being. “We work both day and night – often in heavy traffic – so safety is always a primary concern,” observed Jim. “We want everyone to return safely home to their families at the end of each day, so we spend time throughout the year talking about safety with every employee. Each winter and spring we reinforce the message with safety training and certification.”

N.B. West field personnel working a section of Interstate 70 near the Gateway Arch.

Keeping up with the latest materials and being respectful of the environment also are bedrock values of West Contracting. “All of our plants run recycled asphalt and roofing shingles – it’s just better for the environment,” added Jim. “We recycle 100 percent of the asphalt that we obtain from our projects. We operate three rotomilling machines which remove existing asphalt paving from roadways.

“Those millings are then processed as a finer material, and then reintroduced into the new hot mix asphalt in the latter part of the mixing process. In fact, most asphalt today is created with 15%-30% recycled asphalt millings, further reducing our need for virgin asphalt oil,” mentioned Chris.

The company also has invested in warm mix technology at all three of its plants. Warm mix additives allow West Contracting to run mixes at lower temperatures, therefore burning fewer fossil fuels in the mixing process.

“We’re probably most visible on our highway and road work, but we also do a lot of private subdivisions, tennis courts, parking lots, driveways, churches, etc.,” said Jim. “You can see our work throughout St. Louis and St. Louis County as well as in Franklin, Crawford and Jefferson Counties. We’ve also traveled to perform work in Indiana, Illinois and Arkansas, but our bread and butter work is in Missouri. We do a lot of repeat business with entities that have worked with us for decades. They know and trust our work, and it’s great to have those relationships on which to build.”

Jim and Chris both agree that one of the main benefits of their membership in AGC of Missouri is the relationships West Contracting has built within the industry across the state. Chris serves on AGCMO’s Highway Division Board and the company regularly attends the AGC/MoDOT Co-op meetings. “It’s good to come together with our colleagues to improve the industry,” said Chris. “Our industry relationships also have helped us as we introduce new materials and technologies.”

In addition to AGCMO, the company is active in the Missouri Asphalt Pavement Association (MAPA), with Steve Jackson serving on the MAPA board. West also is a member of the National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA), the SITE Improvement Association and the American Public Works Association (APWA), among others.

N.B. West team conduxting work at the Spirit of St. Louis airport in Chesterfield.

The Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre and the theater at the St. Louis Zoo demonstrate N.B. West’s concrete capabilities.

What’s next for West Contracting? Jim says the company will continue to invest in technology and equipment. “We think it’s very important to stay current with the ever-changing technology in today’s construction equipment. We continuously invest in equipment so our crews have the latest technology with which to work. It makes us more efficient, safer and better at what we do.”

The investments don’t end there. The company has invested in the latest accounting and project management software, so its professional engineers and office staff also are equipped with the tools they need.

“It’s all about continuous improvement,” observed Jim. That statement meshes well with the company’s tag line on its website, “We’ve been improving your ride since 1956.”