It's full speed ahead for concrete company

BMCI Construction crews have been busy laying new curbs and gutters along Port Washington streets and surrounding areas this summer thanks in large part to an acquistion of a Fredonia company.

“For about the last four to five weeks, we’ve been going at full speed. It looks like it’s going to keep going for the rest of the season,” BMCI Construction owner Mark Foyse said.

The West Bend-based business acquired longtime municipal construction company T.P. Concrete of Fredonia in April. Former T.P Concrete owner Tom Paulus has served much of northern Ozaukee for 30 years and he continues his mission with BMCI. 

“As long as I feel good, I’m going to work,” Paulus said. 

Paulus said he began to consider selling his company in December because he would like to slowly transition into retirement. He said he is training a new manager to take over the municipal division of BMCI, which he expects to take about two years.

“A business owner wears about 10 different hats and I needed someone to help me with some of the management,” he said. “I needed to slow down.”

Paulus said he used to work with Foyse years ago, which made the transition go smoothly.

Foyse said the acquisition of the Fredonia company helped expand his business from primarily demolition and excavation projects to municipal curb and gutter work. It also increased his business by 50%. BMCI also does flatwork concrete and masonry projects. 

The acquisition also added 20 employees to BMCI’s manpower. The additional workers are an asset, Foyse said, because it is tough finding skilled workers. 

“Our biggest dilemma right now is getting skilled labor. I’ve been able to hire new guys, but they are fresh and I need to train them,” Foyse said. “I truly believe no one wants to work that hard these days.”

Since taking over the business, BMCI has been using some of its heavy-duty equipment such as a concrete conveyer on the municipal projects, which make work more efficient.

Foyse said he is maintaining T.P. Concrete’s name because of its longtime presence in the area. 

“It’s a very well-known name in the area and they’ve always been known for quality work,” he said.

Some of the projects the company is working on include installing new curbs and gutters in a new Grafton subdivision, the new Foxtown Commons in Mequon and the Cedarburg Fire Department. The company’s next project will be at Ozaukee High School, doing sewer work and installing downspout drains in the parking lot to help reduce ice in the winter.

The company also has projects in Random Lake, Fond du Lac, Sheboygan, Milwaukee, Waukesha and Racine. 

Foyse said there have been some challenges during the coronavirus pandemic such as ensuring social distancing and buying his crews bottled water instead of providing them a large jug. 

“We’re doing whatever we can do to minimize the same guys touching the same thing,” he said. 

Paulus said BMCI is in the process of moving his former business at 8407 Hwy. M to West Bend. He recently started a new business out of that location called Fillmore Restoration to maintain warranties from past projects.

“It’s the same trade but very low key,” he said, noting he will have one employee.

The curb and gutter season lasts until Thanksgiving and Foyse said he does his best to keep most of his employees on board during the off season working on other projects. He said he hasn’t had to lay off anyone in the past few years, but since adding 20 employees he isn’t sure if that will be possible this winter.

“I want to keep my guys working, but some of them welcome the break because their bodies take a beating,” he said.