LE SILLON

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Fall 2024

Synced for Success

 

Embracing a Vision and Pursuing a Goal

Clock Icon 7 MIN READ

At Mohawk Valley Mining's expansive quarry in Florala, Alabama, a tight-knit group of workers trickle onto the jobsite before the first rays of morning sunshine appear. The still, dark morning provides a temporary moment of serenity at the beginning of a day that promises to be anything but quiet. Within the towering walls of the mine, there is no shortage of rock to move and demand to meet.

Mohawk President Joey Rutkowski convenes the team for its morning meeting, discussing the day's goals with a palpable sense of urgency. Still a year away from his 30th birthday, Rutkowski displays a gritty tenacity and an unwavering commitment to the bigger picture. A dedicated athlete who dabbled in semipro hockey, Rutkowski brings that team-first mentality to Mohawk.

"Everyone here relies on this company to provide for their families," Rutkowski says, proudly watching his crew step up into the cabs of their machines. "We all have each other's best interests in mind, and we're all working toward a common goal."

Within seconds, the quiet of the morning has been abruptly replaced by the hum of machinery and crash of heavy rock.

Rutkowski calmly soaks in the commotion as he discusses the path that led him here.

"I grew up in the construction industry," he says. "I wouldn't be where I'm at without my family. The family dynamic is the key to our success here."

Mohawk Valley Mining is a key cog in the broader family business, which operates under the moniker Mohawk Valley Materials and operates across multiple states, including Florida and New York. Rutkowski's parents both played pivotal roles in the growth of that business, and his mother now serves as the company's owner.

But while a life in construction paved the way, the ongoing work in the mine represents a new chapter of the family journey. Surrounded by capable partners and equipment, Rutkowski is energized by that challenge.

"It's about having a vision and a goal," he says, delivering the words with confidence. "And I know we need to have a really good team to execute that vision."

Golden Opportunity

As a guy who values team and trust, Rutkowski sets a high bar for who he allows on his jobsite and into his circle.

One such person is Gary Lowry, who may not be a Mohawk employee but is a mainstay at the mine. Lowry is a seasoned veteran at Beard Equipment Co., the John Deere dealership in nearby Freeport, Florida. For him, the connections to John Deere extend all the way back to childhood.

"When I was growing up, the local John Deere agricultural dealer used to bring all of his equipment down on the train cars. And I used to ride my bicycle to the train depot and check those machines out as a kid," he says, pausing to reflect on the core memory. "I was hooked back then."

It wasn't long before a young Lowry decided that he wanted to be a John Deere dealer in his adult life, a path that ultimately led him to Beard Equipment. He relies on a simple formula to get his work done right. "Putting myself in the customer's position every time is my highest priority," he says, nodding to emphasize the point. "I tell them the truth, and I never break their trust."

When Lowry learned about a large mine that was on the market in Florala, he reached out to the Rutkowski family and relayed the opportunity. The city of Florala rests just a few miles north of the Florida-Alabama border, making it an ideal location for Mohawk, which conducts extensive business in Florida's booming market and needed a way to access raw materials.

"When you look at the growth in the infrastructure that's going into the panhandle of Florida and the type of projects that I was managing, we were purchasing a lot of rock," Rutkowski recalls. "There was low supply and high demand for rock."

The purchase of the Florala mine allowed Mohawk to pivot from being a consumer to being a producer, effectively allowing the company to create rock for its own needs as well as sell it to other customers. To call that calculation successful would be a massive understatement.

"We can barely keep our material on the ground," Rutkowski says. "It's up and out of here as fast as you can imagine."

Well-Oiled Machine

Identifying the mine as a possible business opportunity is one thing. Transforming the property into an efficient, productive, and profitable operation is quite another.

Mohawk boasts a fleet of more than a dozen John Deere and Wirtgen Group machines, ranging from wheel loaders and excavators to screeners and crushers. As Rutkowski watches the 870 P-Tier Excavator remove rock, he marvels at how one machine can make such a significant difference.

"The 870 P-Tier Excavator was a huge key for us," Rutkowski says, raising his voice over the sound of crashing rock. "In the mining industry, you can either blast or dig the rock. Having that machine to come in here and dig was a really important decision. For the first day we bought it, we saw the efficiencies it created. We almost doubled our production."

The 870 P-Tier is part of an expansive group of excavators that help feed the mine's lineup of Kleeman screeners and crushers, which take the raw rock and reduce it to the necessary specifications.

"They work together perfectly," says Rutkowski as he observes the equipment in action. "It's all about saving pennies and creating efficiencies. That's what we're doing with these machines."

The payoffs of these machines are hardly a surprise to Rodney Hammonds, who oversees equipment acquisition for Mohawk.

"Between the Deere and Wirtgen equipment, they offer enough variety to give us everything we need for our entire mining operation," Hammonds says.

He possesses a love for construction that runs deep. Even when he's spending time in the office, Hammonds leaves his windows open so he can hear the rumble of machinery in the quarry. To him, it's a source of comfort and a reminder of why he loves his work.

"I have been purchasing equipment for the last 10 years," Hammonds says. "In that time, I have bought many different products, many different brands. I always keep coming back to Beard and John Deere. We have had really good luck with their product, time after time."

The Bigger Picture

In an industry accelerated by equipment, Hammonds recognizes that he's still in the people business.

The city of Florala is home to just under 2,000 people. Over the past few years, the arrival of Mohawk Valley Mining has had a big impact on the residents in this small town.

"The people here love that we have helped bring great jobs to the area," says Hammonds. "We love being a part of that growing community. That's what I think of when I wake up in the morning. That's what helps keep me going." He is quick to note that this momentum is not confined to one community, forever.

"Construction keeps the whole area growing," says Hammonds, his eyes widening with excitement as he considers the possibilities. "They need the materials to get that work done. It motivates us for sure. We're looking to go deeper and go bigger in this mine and keep things moving forward."

While mining may still be a relatively new challenge for Mohawk, the company has seen its confidence — and its possibilities — grow tremendously in the past year.

And for a president who's always focused on the team around him, it makes a world of difference to have machines and people that deliver results each and every day.

"The trust factor is huge for me," says Rutkowski. "When you have the right people on your team — your family, your employees, your dealer, your equipment — it takes away that fear, and it builds that confidence."

Mohawk Valley Mining, LLC is serviced by Beard Equipment Co., Freeport, Florida.

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