Brothers, President, CEO (Chris), Senior Estimator (Bradley), James A. Rogers Excavating
Brothers Chris and Bradley Meyer are carrying forward the legacy of their grandfather, James A. Rogers Sr., and his eponymous excavating company. As senior estimator, Bradley oversees estimating, bidding projects, project management and providing GPS modeling capabilities to the James A. Rogers team. Chris purchased the business from the pair’s grandfather in 2016, the same year Bradley joined the company as a laborer before working his way up as an operator, superintendent and general superintendent. Chris has overseen the rapid expansion of the company’s statewide footprint and capabilities. The addition of Hot Springs quarry operation McHenry Companies — now McHenry & Meyer Companies LLC — and utilities infrastructure outfit NOEC Construction, has given the James A. Rogers brand a well-rounded suite of services to offer both residential and commercial clients.
You both grew up around the family business, but how did you get to where you are now?
Chris: I started working for our grandfather when I was 18 years old. My first day on the job in 2006 put me behind a flag, flagging traffic on Maumelle Boulevard. I was taught how to do the work out in the field, so when I first bought the company, I had no idea how to run a business. I was two months from running the family company into the ground. I buckled down and bought us more time by getting about a million dollars’ worth of small jobs, and that gave me time to change some things internally where I would never let that happen again.
Bradley: I was just getting out of the Air Force and didn’t really know what I wanted to do for the rest of my life careerwise. During a vacation, coming back home, I decided to go to work with my brother for a day and came to the conclusion that it’s something I was really interested in. I got out of the Air Force and came back home in 2016, started going to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock for construction management and started as a labor hand out in the field. I went from labor hand to an operator to a superintendent to the general superintendent position, and now I am the estimator.
Tell us more about the work you do.
Chris: We do all types of demolition, even tearing the buildings down, plus earthwork, storm drain and flat concrete work. We set up road structures as far as gravel or whether it’s a paving, concrete curb and gutter, utility services, water and sewer.
What is one thing you have both learned from your time in the excavation and construction industries?
Bradley: I’ve learned that it takes a team to be successful in this industry.
Chris: The team we have in place is the foundation of our company. The success we are reaping right now is due to their dedication and drive.
In what ways are you involved in the community?
Chris: We are involved in more than 15 nonprofits benefiting a wide range of organizations. We even wrap our dump trucks so that we can help bring awareness to them. One of them is called One More for Brent, a nonprofit named after a friend of mine that was in an elevator accident. It provides lifetime hunting and fishing licenses to kids that would never really have the opportunity to spend time out in the outdoors.
Bradley: I’m also the Arkansas state rep for Valor & Honor Outdoors. It’s a 100-percent nonprofit organization that allows veterans, active-duty service men and women, and first responders opportunities to get out in the great outdoors.
Why is it important to you both to give back?
Bradley: We’re out here every day, building up these communities, so it’s important for us to show our face out there and to let everyone know that we’re not just in this to make a dollar. We’re in this to provide goods and services to the community, to let them know that, also, during times of need, especially whether that’s storm cleanup, snow, anything like that, whatever we can do to help out, just to let them know that we’re here.
What is the most rewarding part of your work?
Bradley: I love getting up every day and coming to work. I enjoy it. It doesn’t seem like a job to me, so I’m thankful for what our grandfather did and what he’s taught us. It’s made us into the people we are today.
Chris: Every project brings new challenges and opportunities, and it’s rewarding to watch our people gain experience and confidence with each job. There’s a lot of pride in knowing you played a part in building something that will serve your own community, and that’s something that never gets old.
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