Heavy Work, Smart Business: The Kurk Inc. Story

Running a family construction business presents unique challenges, especially in demanding fields like concrete and excavation where attracting reliable talent is tough. Many companies struggle to blend tradition with the need for new technology and approaches to keep up. But Amanda Kurt, VP and Managing Partner at Kurk Inc., reveals how they've not only survived but thrived, expanding services and crews by tackling these issues head on. Therefore, learning from their experience offers a blueprint for building a resilient, profitable construction business that values both its people and its bottom line. Discover how Amanda navigates the complexities of managing a growing concrete and excavation workforce, integrating technology like GPS and total stations, and maintaining crucial boundaries in a family run operation. She shares the realities of the job, the strategies for finding young talent in a tight labor market, and the mindset needed for sustainable growth in today's construction world. Download the FREE Step-by-Step Guide to Recruiting & Retaining the Best Workers: https://www.CONEXPOconagg.com/recruit 🎯 BIGGEST TAKEAWAY [11:57]: "We don't shy away that it's physical and it's muddy because the worst thing I want is you to, you know, have this rosy picture of it and you show up and then you don't show up the next day." Hear Amanda discuss the crucial importance of transparency when hiring for physically demanding roles. KEY EPISODE TAKEAWAYS: ⚠️ LABOR REALITY CHECK [05:06]:"I mean, you have to keep feeding those concrete crews with younger people because it's just physically demanding."Face the tough truth: Concrete's physical toll means constantly finding new, younger talent is essential for long-term crewing. Ignoring this leads to burnout and shortages. Must-watch segment 👀 💡 PRECISION TECH PLAYBOOK [17:12]:"In concrete, we don't really use gps. We use a total station... because a lot of the concrete we're doing, we either need to be more accurate than GPS can give us... We use total station for everything on the concrete side and then we use GPS on the excavation side."Learn why choosing the right technology matters. 📈 SCALING FOR BIG WINS [21:11]:"We contracted... an eight building development... and it was just the amount of work. We couldn't do it with two crews. So we kind of remanned."See how securing a massive project forced Kurk Inc. to scale up by adding a new foundation crew, turning a capacity challenge into a major growth catalyst. Game-changing insight 🎯 CHAPTERS:00:00 - Amanda Kurt & Kurk Inc.02:52 - Business Evolution: Adding Excavation04:54 - Concrete Work: Physical Demands & Labor06:30 - Hiring Strategy & Mapping Career Paths08:30 - Tech Adoption: GPS vs. Total Station Use12:57 - Family Business: Working with Dad & Boundaries18:17 - Operations: Equipment Fleet & Crew Structure20:41 - Market Conditions & Scaling Up25:09 - Future Plans: Smart, Profitable Growth28:29 - Legacy, Next Gen & Work-Life Balance 🔗 CONNECT WITH AMANDA KURT & KURK INC.:• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-kurt/• Website: https://kurkwisconsin.com/ Thank you to our good friends over at John Deere Power Systems for sponsoring this podcast: https://www.deere.ca/en/engines-and-drivetrain/ #ConstructionBusiness #FamilyBusiness #ConcreteContractor