When Zach Blevins and Cody Webb started C & Z Services LLC in 2017, their aim was to focus on what the two were good at. As the company grew and projects got bigger, that philosophy has not changed.
“Our backgrounds are in underground utility installation,” stated Blevins. “We have never done any other kind of dirt work, so we decided to stick with putting pipe in the ground and stay in our lane. We both worked for other companies and ended up working on the same crew at the last place we were both with. We talked about going out on our own, and we eventually did when we decided it would be in our best interests.”
Originally, the owners of C & Z Services wanted to focus on installing water meters for the city of Oklahoma City, but they realized there were good opportunities doing other types of work.
“There was better money doing smaller commercial jobs, and those turned into larger commercial projects, and that turned into doing subdevelopments,” said Blevins. “We still do municipal as well. That diversification has made a big difference for us.”
Blevins and Webb have done that while remaining a relatively small company. The owners remain hands-on and continue to work alongside five field employees. They also have two staff members in the office. Based in Purcell, Okla., the company has performed its services throughout the Sooner State.
“If you want to work, you have to go where the work is; you can’t limit yourself,” commented Blevins. “As small as we are, we can’t say we’re just going to concentrate on Oklahoma City. Fortunately, we have developed a list of repeat and new customers who have kept us busy because we believe in doing quality work. If you do that, people recognize it and want to continue working with you.”
Webb added, “What’s made us successful is that we work really hard, and we’re easy to work with. We stand by what we do, and it speaks for itself.”
Reinvestment leads to growth
Whatever market C & Z Services is working in, it offers installation of stormwater runoff, sanitary sewer and potable water lines. The projects vary greatly in size but have grown considerably from the first that the pair did together. A recent undertaking saw C & Z Services put in more than 800 feet of 8-inch water line, nearly 900 feet of 12-inch water line, 1,370 feet of 8-inch sanitary, several hundred feet of storm line, and six manholes for a residential subdivision over a several-week period.
“For one of our first projects, Cody and I each took $300 from our personal accounts to buy the materials and made $1,500 in profit,” recalled Blevins. “That was reinvested in the business and used to buy materials for the next, which was $5,000. We continued to reinvest to build the business and take on bigger projects. Last year, we did two that were over $1 million.”
“Typically, we are doing jobs that involve putting in a few thousand feet of pipe,” noted Webb. “We recently did one in Oklahoma City that was about 300 feet of domestic fire line, and that would be considered on the smaller end for us. The subdivision is more in line with where we want to be.”
Machine sized right for projects
On the smaller project, C & Z Services dug and set pipe with its Komatsu PC88MR short tail swing excavator. The company used its Komatsu PC290LC-11 excavator for the subdivision. Blevins and Webb worked with Kirby-Smith Machinery Inc. (KSM) Territory Manager Ryan Bebee to purchase the machines.
“Ryan and Kirby-Smith have been great to work with,” declared Blevins. “Anything we need, they have been quick to take care of it. The other companies that we worked for had Komatsu and dealt with Kirby-Smith, so we were familiar with both and knew Kirby-Smith would take care of us.”
Webb added, “The PC88 was our first Komatsu, and we went with it because of its lift capacity to set manholes. There isn’t a lot of equipment that size that will do that while also letting us get into tight spots and dig productively. We bought it about five years ago when we weren’t doing so many bigger jobs, so it was the right size for what we needed. We have not run into any issue where it couldn’t do what we needed it to. It’s been a perfect fit for us.”
C & Z Services acquired the PC290LC-11 about a year ago to increase efficiency on bigger projects where space is not an issue, which often involve putting in larger diameter pipe and digging wider and deeper trenches.
“There’s a lot that goes into that such as setting trench boxes,” explained Blevins. “The PC290 doesn’t struggle with the weight. We set a lift station with it that was about 20 feet by 20 feet and 21 feet deep, and it had no issues handling that.”
C & Z Services utilizes Komatsu Care Complimentary to perform routine services on its equipment for the first 2,000 hours or three years. KSM technicians perform the work at C & Z Services’ convenience to help limit downtime.
“Kirby-Smith contacts us to let us know when a service is due and schedules it,” described Blevins. “It’s great that they can do it on-site and have it finished in short order, so we can get back to work right away. We like that they take care of it because they are the experts. We’re pipe guys, not mechanics. It takes a load off of us.”
Evolve if needed
The next step for C & Z Services will be to add a loader to the mix and look at additional expansion as it makes sense.
“We need a loader to move some bulk material; that seems to be the only thing we’re lacking right now,” reflected Webb. “We’re going to keep on trucking and doing what we do because it’s worked for us. If we need to evolve as a company, we will.”
*The opinions expressed here are from the end user as quoted. The results described herein are those of these end users under certain conditions. Individual results may vary.
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