On the Road for Three Generations
From our base in Cavalier, North Dakota, Mayo Construction has been building roads across the state for over 100 years. In 1923 our founder Joe Mayo purchased a steam engine with the intention of starting a custom harvesting business. However, he soon found his talents better suited to road construction, which has remained the family business for three generations. During World War II, Joe sold his equipment to help with the war effort. Following the war, his son Jack rebuilt the company and expanded its capabilities. In the late 1970s Joe’s grandsons Tim, Greg and Joe once again reformed the company to focus on paving.
Today our specialty remains asphalt paving. With two portable asphalt paving plants and auxiliary equipment, our crew is capable of placing nearly one million ton of paving materials every year. In addition to new road construction, we’ve expanded our capabilities to include asphalt restoration specialties such as milling and microsurfacing.
Mayo Construction competes mostly on the open market through the competitive bid process on government contracts, typically ranging from $550,000 to $10 million in size. We operate as a non-union, general contractor with approximately 150 employees during peak summer construction season. Annual sales typically range from $50 million to $100 million.
In 2012, Mayo Construction officially became a 100 percent employee-owned company. By having an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), Mayo Construction is able to give our employees ownership interest in the company in the form of shares of company stock.
Mayo Construction celebrated 100 years of business in the summer of 2023.
Company Timeline
The company is founded by Joe Mayo with one steam engine, some crude construction equipment, and a small herd of horses.
At the height of World War II, the US government seizes control of Mayo’s equipment to build the Alaskan-Canadian (Alcan) Military Highway to act as a critical Army supply line to assist in the Allied efforts.
After a multi-year hiatus, Mayo Construction resumes its operations now titled Joe Mayo and Son.
Joe’s son, Jack, assumes operating control of the business as Joe heads into a well-earned retirement.
Joe Mayo and Son has grown from a father-and-son operation to a thriving business with 350 employees completing work in five states. Jack decides to sell off the hard assets of the business as he moves on to other ventures.
The next generation of the Mayo family restart the business and continue their family’s proud legacy. The new business is named Mayo Construction as they start from scratch with no more than eight employees.
With the business now thriving, the Mayo Family makes the company 100% employee-owned, a tradition that continues to this day.
The company proudly celebrates its 100-year anniversary.
Mayo Construction competes mostly on the open market through the competitive bid process on government contracts, typically ranging from $550,000 to $10 million in size. They operate as a non-union, general contractor with approximately 130 employees during peak summer construction season.
From Standard Practice to Paving Specialties
From city streets to state highways to airport runways, Mayo Construction completes dozens of projects across North Dakota every year. Whether we’re the primary contractor or working as a subcontractor, we offer a variety of services that encompass the latest asphalt paving techniques. Our core technical skills include hot mix asphalt production and laydown, milling, gravel placement, urban development and minor excavation. We’re proud to be the first and one of the only North Dakota contractors that offers microsurfacing. No matter where the job takes us, we combine our experience and expertise with the skills of highly-qualified local subcontractors to ensure we meet and exceed the requirements of every job, every season.