The Capital District of New York has had a strong economy for the past several years, which has benefited area companies such as Suburban Contracting and Development Corporation.
The company is a land development contractor that purchases area land, site clears it and develops is so that it is suitable for area builders to construct homes on or develops land under contract owned directly by area home builders. According to David Schrader, president of the company, plentiful state government jobs, a high concentration of colleges and universities coupled with abundant hospitals and healthcare facilities, plus the opening of several new high-tech industries, has created a strong housing demand in the Albany area. Saratoga Springs and its summertime activities also have contributed greatly to the region’s expansion.
As the area has grown, so has Suburban Contracting and Development. The company currently has 15 to 20 employees and, at times, has as many as 30 to 35. Currently, Suburban is billing out several million dollars each year and the company’s equipment inventory consists of approximately 18 major pieces.
With only a John Deere 450 dozer, Schrader started in the contracting business more than 30 years ago in the Clifton Park area. Suburban Contracting was formally named in 1991. Today, Schrader has 18 machines, a fleet of dump trucks, including support vehicles. Schrader has fought hard to build and maintain the business in an ever-changing economy. That’s where Nortrax comes in.
“We have been purchasing equipment from Nortrax [previously known as K.C. Canary] since 1972 and we have had Deere machines in our fleet ever since.” said Schrader. “We enjoy a very strong relationship with Nortrax and very rarely feel the need to purchase equipment anywhere else. Over the years, the service department has been extraordinary — especially the efforts of service manager Scott Breeno. Fortunately, we experience very few equipment breakdowns of any significance. But when the occasion does arise, Nortrax provides the parts, service and equipment to back us up.”
Schrader mentioned that management and staff, particularly Dave Mattison, Nortrax sales representative, in all departments “have always been there” for his company. “Loyalty and allegiance have become a natural by-product of our relationship over the years.”
Mattison first met Schrader at a job site that included three adjacent developments. The first was Cortland Manor, an upscale, private development covering a 20-acre (8 ha) area. At each development, Suburban was responsible for the excavation, paving and installation of all utilities and sewers. Peacock Glen (Phases 3 and 4) consists of a 112 lot residential development encouraging mid-market homes and is spread over 90 acres (36.4 ha). Summer Hill (Phase 3) is a 17 lot mid-market development that includes 15 acres (6 ha). When you look at these three developments combined, Suburban was responsible for 15,000 ft. (4,572 m) of roads, and 65,000 ft. (19,812 m) of utilities. The project was started in May of 2001 and completed in late November 2001.
Suburban’s future looks bright. It has four firm projects that it will be starting very soon and four others that are in various stages of the design and approval phases scheduled for start-up later in 2002.
Currently, Suburban has 12 pieces of Deere equipment in it fleet, three of which were purchased this year: A JD 200-LC excavator, a JD TC-44H toolcarrier, and a JD 650H dozer. The dozer features a first for Schrader and his fleet — a heated and air-conditioned cab and all-hydrostatic drive. He also is pleased with the JD 200-LC excavator. “It’s tight, fast, extremely responsive, and the cab is very comfortable. The machine is made in a very versatile size that allows for easy transportation from site to site. It seems to fulfill a wide range of applications and covers an important size demand within our group of excavators.”
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