Masonry Magazine September 2006 Page. 16
Contractor
to Contractor
MCAA MEMBER CONTRACTORS RESPOND TO THE INDUSTRY ISSUES OF THE DAY.
Edwin Stevens
Stevens Masonry Construction Inc.
Newcastle, Pa.
For three generations, the Stevens family has laid a solid foundation for both their name and their business. With years of experience, Stevens Masonry has helped construct medical, school, hospital, retail, church, government, civic, non-profit, office and industrial buildings. President Edwin Stevens took time to talk with Masonry about the keys to his company's success, what he perceives as the industry's biggest misconception, and where the masonry industry is headed in the future.
Masonry: Tell us a little more about Stevens Masonry's company history.
Stevens: We were founded on May 2, 1986, by Edwin C. and Esther F. Stevens. We are a third-generation masonry company. The original company, founded by George W. Stevens, our grandfather, was continued by George C. Stevens, our uncle. The current company was founded by Ed and Esther, our father and mother, and is operated by Edwin G. and George M. Stevens.
Masonry: What do you think has been the key to Stevens Masonry's growth and success over the years?
Stevens: God's grace, for sure. A lot of mistakes have been made. I'm not a college graduate, but I'm an International Masonry Institute Contractor College graduate of the first class of February 2002. At this point in time, I think I'm working on a master's or a Ph.D. with as many mistakes as I've made. Without God's grace to help me through and keep this company out of bad situations, it'd all be over.
Along with that, I'd say hard work and perseverance. There's just no two ways about it. Nothing comes to you, you have to go fight for everything. You have to work hard, you have to persevere, and it has to be in your heart to chase this, because it can let you down in a whole lot of ways.
And then education the school of "hard knocks." A man or woman is lucky if he or she can learn from mistakes and still have time to change before it's all gone. That's been a learning experience and a big help for me.
Masonry: With three generations of Stevens working in the industry, do you think the years of family involvement have made your company stronger than the typical masonry business?
Stevens: I would think coming from a good family name helps a lot. My family name in this area probably started before World War II with my grandfather. When people heard the name, although there where different areas of construction and different owners, some things stayed the same: honesty, integrity and ethical work. We've just always had a good name. You hear that with employees and vendors. I also hear it to this day from people that worked with my grandfather, uncle and father that are now older, retired folks.
My grandfather learned the firebrick trade in a tin mill in the '20s and '30s. Then, through the depression, he was a bricklayer with Local 17 New Castle, Pa, then a masonry contractor and a homebuilkker. When World War II was over, my uncle and my dad came back from fighting and my dad stayed with my grandfa-