Billy Todd grew up running Case Construction equipment and racing dirt bikes in the Flagstaff, AZ area. “I might be a little bit of an adrenaline addict,” he confessed. “I liked the speed of racing and I enjoyed working on the side of some of the steep hills in the area where we were doing site-prep for housing developments with Case backhoes.”
Fast forward 25 years and now Billy is the owner of his own construction company in Flagstaff. “I don’t race much anymore. With the business and family there’s not a lot of time left over for racing. But I’ve found that owning a small business can be just as exciting and as big of an adrenaline rush as racing ever was.”
Todd’s dad is still a contractor in the area. Growing up, Todd learned the business from working for his dad operating equipment on jobsites in the area. “I grew up operating equipment and learned the business on the jobsite,” he explained. “My dad’s business is mostly residential construction. We did mostly site prep work along with digging footings and final grading. We did a lot of work on steep hills where some of the big residential developments were going in. You had to know what you were doing and it taught me how to be a good equipment operator.”
“When I went out on my own and started 108 Excavating, I named the company after the number that I wore when I was racing,” explained Todd. “My dirt bike racing is one of the things that define who I am so I felt it was a fitting name for the company that I started. It’s worked out really well.”
Another defining factor for Todd was choosing to continue running Case Construction equipment when he branched out with his own company. “I’ve been running Case equipment since I started working for my dad. I grew up running a Case backhoe – we felt it was the most stable, powerful backhoe on the market. Some of the jobsites we were on were extremely steep. You just didn’t feel comfortable unless you were in a Case backhoe.”
Today 108 Excavating has 20 employees and provides a variety of construction services for the Flagstaff market. Ranging from trenching, foundations and hardscapes all the way to land clearing, site prep and demolition, Todd’s company is ready to take on a wide variety of construction projects.
“We’re set-up to do a lot of different kinds of work in the Flagstaff area,” said Todd. “We’ve got a great crew of experienced operators. Without great people, you really can’t get a lot done. So we feel fortunate to have the team that we have working for us now.”
Of course, equipment also plays a key role. “Equipment is what makes your people productive,” he continued. “You’re not going to get a lot done if you don’t have good dependable equipment that can do the job. Equipment that is not dependable, equipment that breaks down – there’s just no time for that. It effects your schedule and, if it happens enough, you’re going to lose jobs and key people. We believe in giving our people great equipment so that they can be productive and happy when they are working”
Currently, 108 Excavating owns a fleet that includes 2 Case skid steers, 2 Case loaders, 4 Case backhoes, 5 dump trucks and a wide range of Case mini and standard-size excavators. They recently purchased a Rubble Master RM90 mobile crusher to add to their fleet.
“I’m comfortable that we have the right equipment for the jobs that we are doing and that we’re working with the right dealer,” said Todd. “That gives me the confidence to expand my business and take on more work. When we decided we needed to add a mobile crusher to our fleet, I was able to work with Titan to get a mobile tracked impact crusher that’s going to make our demolition operation way more efficient.”
“Construction has been in the family for 3 generations now. My dad started out working for my great uncle before he owned his own business. I started working for my dad before I started 108 Excavating. The equipment and support that I get from Titan Machinery continues to live up to my expectations and I look forward to continuing to grow with Titan as the partner that I trust for my construction equipment needs.”