Chris Meyer’s introduction to the company founded in 1962 by his grandfather James A. Rogers Sr. was on the ground level. James A. Rogers Excavating had by then already become a respected name in central Arkansas construction. Meyer learned the excavation trade under the tutelage of experienced equipment operators and became well versed in the kind of quality work expected of the operation.
“My first day on the job in 2006 put me behind a flag, flagging traffic on Maumelle Boulevard,” Meyer said. “That day taught me more than just getting out of the way of a moving vehicle. It taught me awareness, and I had to learn to multitask quickly. Once I started running equipment, it only amplified.”
Having worked his way up through the team and learned the business from the inside out, Meyer bought the company from his grandfather in 2016 and has served as president and CEO ever since. Still, stepping into the C-suite came with challenges of its own. Meyer found himself balancing both the weight of a family legacy and his personal vision for growing beyond the company’s comfort zone, all while getting a handle on managing organizational needs from the office rather than the field.
“This business is not for the faint of heart,” Meyer said. “It is truly one of the most competitive, most rewarding but most stressful jobs I think there is. One split-second can change the outcome of an entire situation. I had to learn to slow down and really understand the situation before I reacted.”
As he grew into his position at the top of the org chart, Meyer set the tone and direction for the future of the James A. Rogers name across the region. Meyer has taken the company from a $4 million operation to a $30 million one, now with a statewide footprint and sister companies rounding out the organization’s capabilities. The operation has expanded well beyond central Arkansas and developed a team of talented professionals right alongside.
“The team we have in place is the foundation of our company,” Meyer said. “The success we are reaping right now is due to their dedication and drive.”
Smart acquisitions, such as quarry operation McHenry Cos. — now McHenry & Meyer Cos. — and utilities infrastructure stalwart NOEC Construction, have allowed James A. Rogers to extend its lineup of services and position itself as a capable partner for projects of all kinds, from residential site prep to complex highway and municipal work. The company has likewise deepened its industrial capacity, public-works investments and infrastructure modernization to ensure it remains at the forefront in supporting statewide development.
“Our team is made up of experts who know how to use their equipment effectively while staying safe, on schedule and on budget,” Meyer said. “We bring decades of experience and personal investment in every project we take on. Clients trust us not only because of our track record but because we treat each job as if it were our own, ensuring it’s done right the first time.”
Key to Meyer’s leadership has been a focus on people — both those currently part of the James A. Rogers family of companies and those who may join in the future. Helping train up-and-coming professionals is just as important to the business as implementing the latest technologies and industry standards.
“Every project brings new challenges and opportunities, and it’s rewarding to watch our people gain experience and confidence with each job,” Meyer said. “There’s a lot of pride in knowing you played a part in building something that will serve your own community.”
In addition to supporting Be Pro Be Proud, an industry group that works to elevate the trades as a viable career path, the company hires and trains young workers just beginning their professional journeys. Meyer and his executive team also make it a point to pour into employees, encouraging them to make meaningful contributions not simply in the workplace but in their personal lives, as well.
“I have always kept my team in mind and respected them,” Meyer said. “This business does not work with just one person. It takes a team of people to have a successful project. We try to really have a family atmosphere at work where everybody feels like we’re taking care of each other, and it’s a team aspect, rather than just a ‘me’ aspect.”
The company’s focus on philanthropy can be seen from the road — literally. James A. Rogers Excavating is involved in some form or another with more than 15 nonprofits benefiting a wide range of causes, and the company’s dump trucks are even wrapped with nonprofit logos to help spread awareness even further.
It is important that James A. Rogers Excavating, NOEC Construction, and McHenry and Meyer Cos. truly strive to be invested in the communities they serve, Meyer said.
“What are we doing this for if we’re not giving back to the people that built us?” he said. “Without our community, we’re nothing.”
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James A. Rogers Excavating,
McHenry & Meyer Cos.
16800 West Baseline Road, Little Rock
Offices in Hot Springs, Little Rock and Springdale
501.455.2439
James A. Rogers Excavating in Little Rock began as a small, family-run operation and has grown over the course of six decades into a respected and established name in the Arkansas construction and excavation industry. Chris Meyer purchased James A. Rogers Excavating from his grandfather in 2016 and has been hard at work building upon the foundations laid by James A. Rogers Sr. back in 1962. Combining a traditional work ethic with modern technology, James A. Rogers Excavating uses advanced equipment to deliver precise, efficient results. The team of more than 100 skilled professionals is known for handling projects of all sizes — from residential site prep to complex highway and municipal work — with a focus on safety, timeliness and customer satisfaction.
