Employees Key to Growth for AMS

We hear a lot of similarities between contractors across the country and the lack of skilled workers is just one of those shared sentiments.

A National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) survey conducted in June 2016 shows that shortages of labor and subcontractors have become more widespread than they were a few years ago. Survey results show 56% of builders across nine key trades report some or a serious shortage in skilled labor - up from 21% in 2012.

This shortage leaves many companies, like AMS Sealers based out of Rockford, IL., in a big jam, especially when their business is one that’s continually growing.

In attempt to combat that, Asphalt Maintenance Systems (AMS) president Nick Yoss has worked diligently at hiring, educating and then keeping good employees on his staff.

“Employees have always been my biggest challenge,” Yoss says. “We have overcome that by implementing a very good training program, AMS University. We train our guys not just on how to stripe a line but on the product that they’re using. They learn how it’s made, which product to use for this and that, how to rebuild the equipment, how to maintain it and more.”

The Power of Technology

Since starting his business in 1998, Yoss has expanded his company from one location in Cedar Rapids, IA to five location is four states.

“In 1998 I was a junior in high school,” Yoss says. “I was walking through Menards one day and saw the display for sealcoating. I grew up in the paving industry; My dad owned a large paving company in Janesville, WI., but never did the maintenance side, so I thought this would be a good way to do something I was familiar with but differentiate myself from him. So I went across the street to Staples and had cards made, and like that, I was in business.”

A few years into the business, Yoss was having a tough time retaining employees and developed AMS University to better serve the needs of both his employees and his company.

AMS has also implemented an online program to bring available information to our customers and employees on one platform.

With this platform, employees can log in, clock in and out of jobs, view work orders, edit job summaries, upload documents & images in real time.

Customers can view their estimates, check on job progress, review documents & Images, sign off on work and view and pay invoices.

“This really has helped to streamline our business,” Yoss says.

Continued Growth

From the opening of one location in 1998 to today, AMS has grown to serve the whole lower 48, with a main service of the whole states of Florida, Iowa, Indiana, Wisconsin, & Illinois. 

“Obviously we aren’t going to drive to California for one McDonalds, but unlike most nationwide companies, we don’t sub out work. We self-perform 95% of our work so we can keep control of our customer service.” 

Customer service is paramount to Yoss as AMS dedicates numerous resources to both marketing and customer service, which he feels go hand in hand. 

“I spend a lot of my marketing budget on having open houses and getting the customer involved,” he says. “We let them come out and ride on the striper and laydown lines so they can see it’s not that easy to hit the mark and get a straight line. 

“I contribute our success to knowing our products, having good customer service, and charging what needs to be charged so we can do the job right. I always tell my customers that it’s a good thing if the contractor you hire is making money cause then you know he will do the job right.” 

Yoss plans to open more locations in the future with franchising not out of the question. 

“We will be opening more locations, there are plans to franchise also,” he says. “We’re not considering a franchise where you just pay a bunch of money for a name and a manual, but a franchise that fills you full of work the minute you open.” 

2016 marks the second year AMS has made the Pavement Top Contractor list as the company continues to grow.  

“I think it is a very big accomplishment to be named as a Top Contractor,” Yoss says. “Pavement Magazine and NPE are big contributors in the asphalt maintenance field.

“When you think that just within a 60 mile radius of where I’m sitting right now there are over a 100 pavement maintenance contractors, and to multiply that by the whole country, that’s 100s of thousands of pavement contractors; and to be in the top 100 means a lot.”