Shea Concrete Products builds 75-year legacy on trust and industry-leading product quality and service
During the holiday season, we often associate a red farm truck with hard work and generosity, whether that means bringing home a Christmas tree or delivering gifts to a neighbor.
A certain red delivery truck holds the same meaning within the precast concrete industry.
Shea Concrete Products is a third-generation, family-owned-and-operated precast concrete supplier in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Founded in 1949 by Ernie Shea, Shea Concrete has been serving the industry for 75 years and is often recognized by its red delivery trucks on the road.
Shea’s brightly colored trucks may capture the attention of its customers and consumers, but it’s what happens inside the walls of Shea that stands out.
A TRUSTED PARTNER
Before Shea Concrete became what it is today, it was strictly a backyard operation with six employees – three of whom were Shea family members – working come rain or shine to get concrete poured and products made and delivered.
Bob Flores, the general manager at Shea for more than 40 years, has been a part of Shea for 57 years and was one of those six employees in the beginning.
“Everything was outside, and we were working year-round on barely any sleep,” Flores said. “We had these A-frame stripping trucks that we would strip the molds with, and we were pouring ten yards of concrete with either a ready-mix truck or, on Saturdays, we would pour with our quarter-yard mixer. It was all very primitive.”
Shea built a strong reputation over time and began growing when Ed and Judi Shea bought the company from Ed’s father in 1983. Their main goal was to help Shea reach its full potential. Under the ownership of Ed and Judi, Shea expanded to different markets and acquired several businesses to get where it is today, but it was not always easy and at times was even risky.
When Ed bought New England Precast, he had to put up everything he owned for collateral to purchase the business. Shortly after, the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, occurred.
“I thought to myself many times that I might lose everything, but things kept going and going,” Ed said. “It took a lot of gumption to put everything like that on the line, but it’s the best decision, besides getting married, that I ever made.”
It was risks like those that grew Shea’s reputation even further – something that Ed’s father hesitated to do.
“My father wouldn’t have taken as many chances as I have, but it’s just a different regime today,” Ed said.
Just like Ed put his trust in the industry, business and economy, people started putting their trust in Ed.
“Ed is the type of person that you can trust with a handshake,” said Greg Stratis, president of Shea. “He’s a person that’s got great authority that everybody respects, and I try to do the same as he did.”
Stratis worked a few summers at Shea while attending college. He then went on to work as an electrical engineer at Raytheon for six years. He later returned to Shea, where he first started in production, and has been with the company for 31 years since he started working full time. He worked his way up to president of the company in 2017. He tries to maintain the same trust and company culture that Ed and his wife created.
Ed’s reputation as trustworthy helped Shea acquire several companies that have become the multiple Shea facility locations today. When the owners of those companies were looking to sell, Ed was the first person they reached out to.
“They respected Ed and knew that Ed would take care of their employees and their customers the way that they wanted them to be taken care of,” Flores said.
Flores explains it first happened in the early 1980s with a company called Septic Tank Inc.
“Ray Greenwood was the gentleman’s name that owned it, and he and Ed had a great relationship,” Flores said. “And he approached Ed, and he said, ‘You know, Ed, thinking of retiring, and I’d like to sell the business … would you be interested?’ Of course, Ed jumped at the opportunity.”
Ed was able to grow the business, increasing sales and customers, and that’s when other businesses looking to sell started to reach out, such as Utility Precast, which Shea purchased in 2010.
Respect for Shea goes beyond Ed and extends to the entire company.
Concrete Sealants Inc. (ConSeal) and Shea have been working together for more than 20 years, buying sealant and collaborating on training exercises. Both companies share some of the same values and have developed a strong relationship over time.
Their biggest collaboration has been the geothermal system at Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts. The system was installed underneath the field and then sealed using sealant from ConSeal.
“Let’s say if there’s a failure in the field that could make national news … so there is a certain level of trust there that I think has been built over those 20 plus years,” said Jesse Wingert, president of ConSeal. “That mutual respect just drives a stronger relationship.”
It is relationships built on trust and respect that helped Shea grow into what it is today.
INVESTING BACK INTO SHEA
Shea currently has four locations across the New England area: Amesbury; Wilmington and Rochester, Massachusetts; and Nottingham, New Hampshire.
The diversification of Shea not only allowed the company to grow significantly, from a single location to its four current locations, but it has been a key driver of the company’s expansion over the past couple of decades.
“Diversification has definitely been a big change since I’ve been here,” Stratis said. “We’ve done a lot of investing in the company over the years, and we’ve grown quite a bit … in Amesbury we added a brand-new production facility and a brand-new office headquarters.”
Diversification has been a strategic priority for Shea to expand its capabilities and market reach all while maintaining the optimization of its existing operations and product lines. Shea is in the process of adding a brand-new production facility at their Nottingham location, which is scheduled to be completed in 2025.
“You know, it took a lot to build a company the way we have,” Flores said. “It certainly didn’t happen overnight.”
Along with Shea’s diversification, the company’s expansion brought on a larger customer base, which only made Shea stronger. When Shea acquired companies, it also acquired more customers and more opportunity.
“We aim to maintain personal relationship with customers, even as the business has grown significantly,” Stratis said.
Customers have always complimented Shea on its continuous efforts to improve customer service and its commitment to providing quality service and products.
Stratis says Shea’s red delivery trucks act as billboards in a way, reminding people that Shea is a top precaster in the industry.
“We take pride in our ride,” Stratis said. “Customers will reach out on social media and compliment the truck on its cleanliness and how well it’s maintained. Our goal is that the cleanliness of these trucks represents the company in a way.”
Another investment back into the company is employee training. Shea values education, whether it is hosting seminars for their customers or providing leadership training for their employees.
Aside from hosting its own educational events and training, ConSeal provides Shea with training in leadership, best practices and general training on products in the precast industry and how they are best used.
“[Shea] has a core value of education and continuous improvement and continuous education, and that is a core value that we share,” Wingert said. “And so being able to help support them where we can, and they’re continuing to educate their employees, their customer base, their specifier base … we enjoy partnering alongside them to educate the industry on best practices and best management style.”
A BIG MILESTONE
Shea Concrete Products turned 75 last year — a milestone that many don’t hit.
“I never thought I’d be here for all of this, but to see all the changes and to see how this company has grown and the reputation that it has and the culture that Ed and Judi have developed here,” Flores said. “I’m just proud of it.”
The company may have grown and changed within those 75 years, but one thing that has stayed consistent is the company culture.
When Ed bought Shea, not only was it his intention to expand, but it was also his intention to create an atmosphere where employees and customers felt at home.
Stratis notes how the family feel never left the company, even as Shea started to expand and change. Shea recognizes its employees’ anniversaries publicly on social media and gives out awards to each individual. Shea cares for its employees as much as they do for their customers.
“Not many companies make it this long. You know, you have to have the right people in charge as you grow, and a lot of people miss the boat there, but we’ve been very lucky, and I’m very pleased that we have the family involved and probably more to come,” Ed said. “It’s been a great legacy.”
So, what’s next?
Shea will continue to expand and grow with their facilities, employees and customer base, but the company is hopeful for the next (fourth) generation to take over.
“Hopefully the next generation will still be Shea family,” Stratis said. “Hopefully, they will be interested in taking over and running the operations here. I know Ed Shea would like to see that, you know, keep it in the family.”
Stratis emphasizes the importance of training the next generation to ensure that the company’s values and culture are passed down.
By continuing to invest back into the company, Shea has opportunity to reach new heights and possibilities. Ed acknowledges all the hard work and grit it took to get to the place the company is today and is proud of all they have accomplished.
“In reality our secret weapon has always been our team members,” Ed said. “We have been fortunate to always have the right people in the right positions all these years.”