Masonry Magazine May 2007 Page. 14
Contractor to Contractor
MCAA MEMBER CONTRACTORS RESPOND TO THE INDUSTRY ISSUES OF THE DAY.
Darrell Evenson
Davidson's Masonry Inc.,
Salem, Ore.
Since 1955, Davidson's Masonry has specialized in masonry projects across the Midwest. Darrell Evenson became an apprentice bricklayer for the company in 1963, and later purchased a portion of Davidson's Masonry in 1984. Under Evenson's leadership, the company surpassed the founder's largest year in sales, and has reached a sales volume of $5 to $6 million since. Evenson took some time to share with Masonry the keys to his company's success, where he sees the future of the masonry industry heading, and how he has helped grow his business.
Masonry: Tell us a little more about the history of your company.
Evenson: Davidson's Masonry was started in 1955 by two brothers, Gordon and Jim Davidson. They started with fireplaces and moved up from there. Their father was a bricklayer as well, and all three have 50-year gold cards.
Masonry: To what do you attribute this growth and continued success?
Evenson: Our growth and success is due to a lot of good, dedicated people and doing our jobs well. Word of mouth by other contractors always helps.
Masonry: Davidson's Masonry offers services ranging from architectural consultation to comparative skin pricing to stone selection review. How have these additional services helped your business grow?
Evenson: These services are fun to do. By doing some of this, you meet a lot of architects, contractors and developers. You have input on what the projects are going to be and look like, which is nice.
Masonry: Your company completes everything from residential structures to schools and government projects. To what do you attribute this broad portfolio?
Evenson: All this boils down to good, universal people, and our crews are just that. And lots of hours and hard work. [Whether the project is] large or small, we can do them all!
Masonry: Oregon can face extremely cold temperatures several months out of the year. How do you deal with these temperatures when you're completing masonry work for a living?
Evenson: It's not that bad, or I guess I should say that we get used to it. We cover for the rain, and that works about 90 percent of the time. Cold and snow we only go so far with, and then we will pull the pin. Usually we will only get two weeks of really cold, snowy weather here in the valley.