Mike Bross: Paving the way for the next generation

A lot can change in half a century. But the things that really matter in life — like the importance of hard work and building relationships — stay the same. Just ask our own Mike Bross, Vice President, who recently retired after 50 years of leadership and innovation in heavy construction.

After witnessing the evolution from paper and pencil to software-based estimating, online bidding and stringless paving, Mike has pretty much seen and done it all. He shares why good people are the foundation and a few tips for anyone looking to start or continue to succeed in the industry.

Working hard to grow

Construction is in Mike’s blood. His father, Chester, bought a construction company in 1966, and Mike jumped in to help with the family business at the ripe old age of 14. His father taught him the importance of hard work from a young age.

“My dad said, ‘You will work. You’re not gonna mess around,’” Mike said. “So I worked. And when I got out of college, I went back to the family business.”

The company had a hand in everything from dirt to bridges and paving, then started to specialize in asphalt when some of that work started to slow down. And in 2019, Mike brought all those years of hands-on knowledge he’d gained when Chester Bross Construction became part of the Emery Sapp & Sons (ESS) family.

Part of a larger family

What was it like merging with a larger company? For Mike, becoming an ESS employee-owner relieved a little stress and offered some financial stability.

“I had more people to help and access to more resources and equipment. It really made me enjoy the last five-plus years of my career. And the success and financial gains have really surprised me,” Mike said.

The transition also brought plenty of changes — new people to meet, new systems to learn — but luckily, he had new friends by his side to help guide him through.

“My dad always told me to listen and learn (and not talk too much), so that’s what I did. The ESS team really supported me. Andy Baker has pretty much been my right-hand man and took over the computer and parts of the job I didn’t really want to do,” he said.

Mike’s favorite part of the job (other than the people)? Building something from the ground up, from dirt to pipes to paving and bridges. And one Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) asphalt project in particular really made him proud.

“The governor of Missouri wanted to invest in the roads and allotted additional dollars in 2022 for route asphalt overlays on low-volume roads throughout the state. We’ve spent about three years working on those overlays across Missouri,” he said.

“There were a lot of people involved, including (co-CEO) Tim Paulson, (Executive Vice President) Brandon Finn and (Assistant Vice President) Andy Baker. Our team worked hard. It was a turning point that made the north asphalt operations leaders at ESS.”

Success from the ground up

Whether you’re fresh on the job or still have a few years to go before you officially hang up your hard hat, Mike has a few tips for success:

Safety comes first. Safety is a full-team priority. Whether you’re in the trenches or supervising, always pay attention.
Stick with it. It’s hard work, but it will pay off in the long run. Don’t give up.
Pick your battles. Whether you’re dealing with a customer or a Department of Transportation, you don’t have to win them all.
Keep learning. Try to learn something every day. Take advantage of the people around you and what they know.
Make friends. ESS has great people. Get to know them and support each other.