March 11, 2021

This paid piece is sponsored by Journey Group. 

Somewhere in between paving roads and repairing concrete, while cracked sidewalks were sealed and parking lots got asphalt overlays, people came together.

Culture was built.

And word started to spread.

This was the kind of place you wanted to work.

“You’re not a number here. You’re a name,” said Jeff Melsha, foreman of a paving crew at Black-Top Paving, a business unit of Journey Group.

He would know. After 30 years in the industry working other places, Melsha followed his former foreman to Black-Top five years ago.

“They care about you on a personal level besides just being an employee,” Melsha said.

He saw it last fall, when his mother passed away.

“They gave me paid time off. They sent a card. They sent flowers. They made me feel like I’m part of a family,” he said. “They have great benefits, probably the best pay in the area for this industry. But it’s more than that. It’s a family-oriented place. We’re all a team.”

That team is growing and currently looking for more asphalt laborers and equipment operators, concrete finishers and laborers, and truck drivers. The team has to grow because, even though it’s only March, Black-Top already is looking at a busy season ahead.

“We’re at about 60 percent capacity right now,” said division leader Ryan Kerkvliet.

“So if you have projects in mind, you should be reaching out. We have capacity for parking lot maintenance, but we already have a good number of paving projects lined up. Due to COVID last year, parking lot maintenance projects were canceled or delayed due to the uncertainties. We look forward to that work returning this year and helping businesses fully welcome their customers back.”

Aside from asphalt and concrete, Black-Top Paving has added mainline curb and gutter services.

“We now have the ability to do all site surfacing work, whether that’s new building sites or new developments/streets. We can now self-perform all of the surfacing work, giving us the ability to serve the growth needs that Sioux Falls is experiencing and expecting.” Kerkvliet said.

The project demand is driving workforce needs, he continued.

“A lot of our positions make very good money,” Kerkvliet said. “Our teams enjoy being outside. If you are interested in a career with us but don’t have experience, we’ll train you and do it in a respectful way, and we have many career path opportunities available.”

Brian Barber has seen that firsthand. He initially got into construction at age 22, left the industry to work as a cook at various Sioux Falls restaurants and returned to construction several years ago. Four years ago, he followed a foreman and co-workers to Black-Top.

“I like the people I work with,” he said. “I’m outside, I enjoy the fresh air, and it’s a good work environment.”

At Black-Top, “they’re always willing to teach you how to do things,” he continued. “And they’re always looking out for your safety.”

While he began as a general laborer, he did it for a season and then became an operator.

“There are ways to move up,” he said. “I see myself sticking around and learning to run more equipment the longer I stay. You get what you give. If you have a positive attitude, it brings back a positive response.”

Black-Top also has growing diversity among its team.

“We’ve really enjoyed adding to our Spanish-speaking workforce and have found that employees are driving that growth as they tell their friends,” Kerkvliet said.

“They’re on social media talking about their experience with us, and we really try to cater to their needs, too, with translators and bilingual leaders.”

Black-Top even offers a bilingual premium for employees who demonstrate they can speak two languages.

Melsha, who now leads a team of about a half-dozen people, said he has enjoyed getting to know new co-workers.

“We have some guys on our crew who speak both languages very well,” he said. “It’s great having them around because we have others still learning English, and they help us with communication. But while we have diversity, it doesn’t matter who you are as long as everybody is doing their job.”

He’s pretty sure he’ll be retiring at Black-Top because he enjoys work so much.

“It’s got great benefits, and it’s just a good place to work. You’re expected to put in a hard day’s work, but you’re rewarded for it.”

Longtime clients such as the University of Sioux Falls experience that positive culture too.

“They take care of their clients,” president Brett Bradfield said. “They finished a road a year ago out by our stadium and an extension on 77th Street, and the quality of work was fantastic. They upgraded a cul-de-sac prior to the pandemic and did incredible work. And if we ever have issues, they fix them in a very customer-oriented way.”

USF also benefited from a new product called Mastic, which is made for larger cracks that can’t be sealed and allows clients to avoid more major repairs.

For Bradfield, who helps connect students with careers, it’s the type of organization he’d recommend.

“Business is the top major at USF, and I would tell any student who had an opportunity at Journey and Black-Top they’re a great company. And the culture-building part of it is so key. It’s a feeling like you’re part of something larger. You have the ability to contribute and collaborate meaningfully. I’ve dealt with a lot of people at the company from leadership through the staff, and the experience is consistent from top to bottom.”

Ready to get connected with careers or services at Black-Top Paving? Click here to get started. Plus, it has never been easier to connect with Journey. Walk-in interviews are being held every Monday in March from 3 to 6 p.m. at Journey’s headquarters, 4500 W. 58th St.