MVG Construction
aka Mid-Valley Gravel Company CCB 4428
OUR FAMILY BUSINESS
Ray and Barbara Ellis started Mid-Valley Gravel Co. in 1967, when Ben Ellis, Ray's Dad, was forced to shut down his lumber mill in Philomath as a result of the closing of the local saw mill. The Ellis's started processing and selling bar run gravel from Herbert and Laura Brown's farm (Barbara's family home) on Stahlbush Island. Art Helkey joined the business family about this time, and took turns with Ray, learning to run a dragline crane, dozer, and dump truck.
Mid-Valley Gravel incorporated in 1969 and has been in the construction and rock products business ever since.
We are now located on Clemens Mill Road in Philomath OR. Here you will find our office, shop, and black basalt rock quarry. Mark Ellis, DeeDee Ellis, and Austin Ellis are currently involved in the business with Ray and Barb still providing direction and encouragement. You will generally find DeeDee in the office, Mark on his excavator on our most challenging job site, and Austin trying to stay ahead of Mark with layout and materials. Ray and Art work part time, checking in to see how things are going and offer advice on current challenges.
About 90% of our business is comprised of providing construction services, while about 10% is manufacturing and sales of rock products. Having two quarries gives us a competitive edge in bidding local construction work. The rock products business also helps us provide year round employment for the majority of our employees along with winter construction work, facilitated by low ground pressure equipment. We drill and process our own rock at both the Philomath and Coburg Quarries. Larry Weir manages our Philomath Quarry. Larry McMahan and Greg Hager manage the Coburg Quarry.
The business has always had a strong female presence, first with Barbara's involvement in setting up the business and corporation, running the office for many years and continuing to be involved with personnel management, advertising and sales. In more recent years, DeeDee has run the business, managing finances, equipment, and personnel. Mid-Valley Gravel became a formally recognized woman owned business in 2011.
We are licensed by the State of Oregon to do both Commercial and Residential Construction at the highest level. We have been accredited by the Better Business Bureau since 2009. We are members of the Associated General Contractors and Oregon Concrete and Aggregate Producers.
We currently average about 40 employees. Our estimators on staff are: Ken Pellett, Art Helkey, and Will Chilton. Dave Foster and Jennifer Middlestetter manage our office. Ken Pellett runs our construction division. Will Chilton and Don Pellett are superintendents, supervising and supporting multiple projects. Todd Mahr, Juan Alvarez Escobar and Austin Ellis are our foremen.
Carmelo Escobar Salazar and Luis Carranza are junior foremen. All are excellent, very experienced equipment operators.
We have an exceptionally skilled and experienced core group of employees that share our values and have become part of our business family. They share our goal of contributing to our community. We do this by providing quality work at a reasonable price. We also donate to local organizations like the Gleaners, the Philomath Food Bank, Philomath High School, Corvallis and Philomath Boys and Girls Clubs, and the Scouts. Most important, we are dedicated to providing a positive supportive work environment to support the health and growth of our employees.