Third concrete company enters Springfield's mix

Hawkins gave notice that he was leaving his position as director of sales and marketing for Springfield’s Conco Companies April 22 to start his own concrete business. Hawkins’ company, Regional Ready Mix Inc., will focus more on residential construction than Springfield’s two established competitors, Conco and Springfield Ready Mix Co.

Hawkins said he’s not worried about being able to find customers for his new business.

“I’ve been in the business for 31 years, and the market has grown to a point now where we’re ready for the third company here in Springfield, and I’m going to be that company,” Hawkins said.

Tom Baird IV, who is assuming Hawkins’ duties as sales director with Conco, said the new competition shouldn’t be a problem.

“Randy’s been with us for 31 years, and while it was a little bit of a surprise, we feel it’s going to be business as usual,” he said. “We have good relationships with our customers, and so really there’s not a whole lot we’re doing in response to it.”

Hawkins’ business plans call for 15 employees and a 10-truck fleet for his northwest Springfield location, 1819 N. O’Hara Ave.

It’s a $2 million initial investment for Hawkins, whose company will be the only 100 percent locally-owned ready-mix company in town.

Competition

Springfield Ready Mix is a subsidiary of Monarch Cement Co., a public company in Humboldt, Kan., while one of Conco’s shareholders is Overland Park, Kan.-based Ash Grove Cement Co.

Springfield Ready Mix General Manager George Innes declined to comment on Hawkins’ plans.

Springfield Contractors Association Executive Director Sheryl Letterman said she’s not sure whether there is room for a third ready-mix company in Springfield.

“(Hawkins) would know better than I would know,” Letterman said. “I couldn’t second-guess him on that.”

Customer base

Hawkins said he intends to sell to the Springfield market, focusing on residential, light commercial and do-it-yourself applications, and he hopes to be ready to operate by July.

Hawkins has contracted for stone with local aggregate supplier Leo Journagan Construction Co., but he is working on getting a quarry of his own in Stone County.

Conco employs about 175, including sales staff and site workers, through its four ready-mix concrete plants and two aggregate quarries in Galloway Station and Willard.

Baird declined to comment on specific revenue figures, though he did say

revenues for 2005 are up over the same time in 2004.

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