Kwest Group
Kwest Group is a 100% employee-owned US civil construction contractor delivering site work, underground utilities, industrial infrastructure, and environmental services to enterprise customers in the energy, petrochemical, rail, and federal sectors across nearly 40 states and the Caribbean.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2004
- HeadquartersPerrysburg, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Kwest Group does
Kwest Group (KWEST GROUP LLC) is a privately held civil construction contractor headquartered in Perrysburg, Ohio, founded in 2004 and operating since 2019 as a 100% employee-owned company under an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). The firm delivers complex civil construction services including site grading and mass earthwork, road and airport construction, erosion controls and SWPPP compliance, right-of-way clearing, structural concrete, underground utilities, retaining systems, power and pipeline access, industrial infrastructure, wetland protection and restoration, and piling/foundation systems. Headcount is reported in the 251-500 range, and the firm holds construction licenses in nearly 40 US states plus the Caribbean (including Guantanamo Bay), supported by regional offices across Ohio, Virginia, North Carolina, and Kentucky and dedicated training facilities in Port Clinton, OH and Hazard, KY.
The company organizes its work around four primary verticals: Energy/Renewables (serving utilities such as American Electric Power on transmission and renewable infrastructure), Petrochemical/Industrial (serving refiners such as Marathon Petroleum under an "Elite Contract Business Partner" relationship), Rail, and Federal/Public (serving the US Air Force, Department of Defense, and municipalities). Its core technology and competitive differentiation rest on a safety-first culture validated by 14 consecutive ABC STEP Diamond Awards, 11 consecutive ABC National Safety Pinnacle Awards, and the 2024 ABC National Contractor of the Year designation. Government contracting credentials include OSHA VPP Star Status, USDOL HIRE VETS Medallion Platinum, and State of Ohio Veteran-Friendly VBE certification.
Kwest Group operates a project-based business model, securing work through competitive bidding on RFPs for enterprise customers in regulated end markets. Revenue is recognized as professional services revenue upon delivery of awarded construction projects under multi-year contracts. Go-to-market is direct enterprise field sales targeting large infrastructure projects. Marketing presence is modest, centered on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and active participation in industry associations (ABC, AGC). The firm is led by President Ryan Odendahl (who has testified before the US House Committee on construction workforce issues) and Managing Member and CEO Mark Murray.
Kwest Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Kwest Group
- Legal name
- KWEST GROUP LLC
- Website
- https://kwestgroup.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2004
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Kwest Group is a 100% employee-owned US civil construction contractor delivering site work, underground utilities, industrial infrastructure, and environmental services to enterprise customers in the energy, petrochemical, rail, and federal sectors across nearly 40 states and the Caribbean.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Kwest Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Civil Construction Services
- NAICS
- Site Preparation Contractors (23891), Power and Communication Line and Related Structures Construction (237130), Utility System Construction (2371)
- SIC
- Heavy Construction Other Than Bldg Const - Contractors (1600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Civil & Site Works EPC (Earthworks, Roads, Drainage, Foundations) (EUAEADAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Right-of-way access, foundations & civil works for T&D projects (EUADAKAJ), Site Preparation & Civil Works (Clearing, Grading, Earthworks, Roads) (EUAMAFAA)
Keywords
Where Kwest Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Perrysburg
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices8 records
Markets served
Kwest Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Construction Services: Project-based professional construction services revenue. Company secures contracts through competitive bidding for civil construction projects across multiple sectors. Revenue is earned through delivery of construction services on awarded projects.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Project-based pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
Kwest Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Kwest Group is a civil construction company delivering complex site development and infrastructure services across energy, petrochemical, rail, and federal/public sectors. Its core offering spans 12 service lines including site grading, mass earthwork, road and airport construction, underground utilities, erosion controls, structural concrete, retaining systems, piling and foundations, industrial infrastructure, and environmental/wetland restoration. Services are secured through competitive bidding on RFPs and delivered across nearly 40 US states and the Caribbean.
Product overview
Kwest Group is a civil construction company offering a comprehensive portfolio of 12 core services organized around four industry sectors: Energy/Renewables, Petrochemical/Industrial, Rail, and Federal/Public. The services include Site Grading & Mass Earthwork, Road & Airport Construction, Erosion Controls/SWPPP, ROW Clearing & Maintenance, Structural Concrete, Value Engineering, Underground Utilities, Retaining Systems, Power & Pipeline Access, Industrial Infrastructure, Wetland Protection/Mitigation/Restoration, and Piling Systems/Piers/Foundations. These services are delivered as an integrated construction offering rather than discrete software products, with expertise spanning substation site development, transmission line access roads, rail siding construction, airfield improvements, and federal/public infrastructure projects. The company operates as a single unified construction services platform across nearly 40 states and the Caribbean.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Site Grading & Mass Earthwork Mass earthwork and grading services for site preparation, including excavation, embankment, and subgrade preparation for various construction projects. Targeted at enterprise clients in energy, petrochemical, rail, and federal/public sectors.
- Road & Airport Construction New construction and improvement of roads and airfield infrastructure, including runway extensions, pavement installation, and associated drainage systems. Delivered to municipal, federal, and private clients.
- Erosion Controls/SWPPP Storm water management and environmental compliance services including installation, maintenance, inspection, and reporting of erosion control devices and best management practices.
- ROW Clearing & Maintenance Right-of-way clearing and maintenance services that complement sitework development and access construction, ensuring environmental controls are in place.
- Structural Concrete Reinforced pavement, pads, sidewalks, curbs, shallow foundations, and walls installation across multiple states and international locations.
- Value Engineering Alternate and cost-effective project solutions providing safe, efficient, and budget-friendly options to solve complicated project issues.
- Underground Utilities Underground utility installation including storm water management, sanitary sewers, waterlines, and duct banks across public, private, and federal sectors.
- Retaining Systems Retaining wall projects from emergency restoration of slips in steep terrain to low-profile decorative retaining walls, executed to complex designs.
- Power & Pipeline Access Access construction for power and pipeline projects with responsive teams capable of operating in diverse environments including emergency and disaster response.
- Industrial Infrastructure Industrial infrastructure project execution including site development, foundation installation, and work within terminal facilities around existing underground utilities.
- Wetland Protection, Mitigation & Restoration Environmental services for installing, maintaining, inspecting, and reporting erosion control devices and best management practices in sensitive areas, supporting projects such as wetland construction with Ducks Unlimited.
- Piling Systems, Piers & Foundations Various driven foundation or shoring systems including driven pile foundations, pier construction, and shoring for various project types.
Quantifiable outcome
- Zero recordable incidents on many projects due to safety-first culture
Companies that use Kwest Group
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Kwest Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Kwest Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC)corePrimary industry association membership. Kwest Group actively participates in ABC programs, achieving top national recognition including 2024 National Contractor of the Year and multiple Safety Pinnacle Awards. ABC membership provides access to training programs, networking, and industry advocacy.
- Associated General Contractors of America (AGC)corePrimary industry association membership. Active participation in AGC safety and construction excellence programs, including receiving the 2024 AGC National Construction Safety Excellence Award.
- Marathon Petroleum CorporationflagshipElite Contract Business Partner status with Marathon Petroleum. Kwest Group serves as a trusted contractor for petrochemical and refinery construction projects, demonstrating capability in hazardous industrial environments.
- American Electric Power (AEP)flagshipStrategic transmission infrastructure partner with AEP, having received AEP Transmission Contractor Safety Awards in 2018 and 2021. Ongoing relationship for power transmission and utility construction projects.
- Ducks UnlimitedminorEnvironmental partnership for wetland construction and restoration projects. Collaborative work on environmental mitigation and habitat restoration construction.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Kwest Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- RailWorks: Rail infrastructure construction and maintenance services provider — direct peer in Kwest's Rail vertical, with comparable track bed, rail yard, and bridge construction capabilities.
- Granite Construction: Heavy civil construction company with operations in transportation, water resources, and energy markets — comparable to Kwest on site grading, earthwork, road construction, and underground utilities.
- Quanta Services: Large publicly traded infrastructure construction firm specializing in electric power, oil and gas, and renewable energy transmission and distribution — directly overlaps Kwest's Energy/Renewables and Industrial verticals with comparable civil/site work scope.
- MYR Group: Specialty electrical construction firm focused on T&D and commercial/industrial electrical work — directly comparable to Kwest's transmission and substation work for utility clients such as AEP.
- MasTec: Major infrastructure construction company serving utilities, oil and gas, rail, and government end-markets — closely comparable to Kwest's four-vertical segmentation and civil/site execution model.
- Primoris Services: Infrastructure construction firm providing civil, pipeline, utility, and energy services — overlaps with Kwest's power and pipeline access, underground utilities, and industrial infrastructure services.
- Sterling Infrastructure: Diversified heavy civil construction firm serving transportation, water, and infrastructure end-markets — comparable scale and service mix to Kwest, particularly on site preparation and underground utilities.
Broad incumbents
- AECOM: Global infrastructure consulting firm with construction services across transportation, water, and energy markets — broader incumbent serving many of the same end-markets as Kwest.
- EMCOR Group: Large mechanical and electrical construction services provider for utility, industrial, and infrastructure clients — comparable to Kwest's electrical/instrumentation and industrial infrastructure scope at much larger scale.
- Burns & McDonnell: Large employee-owned engineering, architecture, and construction firm serving utilities, industrial, and government clients — comparable to Kwest's energy/utility and federal/public verticals with broader self-perform EPC scope.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Kwest Group social profiles
Digital presenceKwest Group compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance11 records
Kwest Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Kwest Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Kwest Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Kwest Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Kwest Group
What does Kwest Group do?
Kwest Group is a civil construction company delivering complex site development and infrastructure services across energy, petrochemical, rail, and federal/public sectors. Its core offering spans 12 service lines including site grading, mass earthwork, road and airport construction, underground utilities, erosion controls, structural concrete, retaining systems, piling and foundations, industrial infrastructure, and environmental/wetland restoration. Services are secured through competitive bidding on RFPs and delivered across nearly 40 US states and the Caribbean.
Is Kwest Group a public or private company?
Kwest Group is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Kwest Group founded?
Kwest Group was founded in 2004. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Kwest Group based?
Kwest Group is headquartered in Perrysburg, United States, in the North America region.
How does Kwest Group make money?
One revenue line is on record: construction Services.
Who are Kwest Group's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are RailWorks, Granite Construction, Quanta Services, MYR Group, MasTec, Primoris Services and Sterling Infrastructure. Broad incumbents are AECOM, EMCOR Group and Burns & McDonnell.
Does Kwest Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for Kwest Group.
What industry is Kwest Group in?
Kwest Group's product category is Civil Construction Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAEADAA, Civil & Site Works EPC (Earthworks, Roads, Drainage, Foundations), with a secondary code of EUADAKAJ, Right-of-way access, foundations & civil works for T&D projects. Its NAICS code is 23891 and its SIC code is 1600.