What A.W. Oakes & Son does

A.W. Oakes & Son, Inc. is a fourth-generation, family-owned civil construction contractor headquartered at 2000 Oakes Road in Racine, Wisconsin. The company delivers a vertically integrated portfolio of heavy-civil services — earthwork/mass grading, sewer and water utilities, concrete paving, on-site crushing/recycling, and full-package site development — primarily to government/municipal clients (Wisconsin DOT, Waukesha County, Milwaukee County, City of Kenosha) and commercial developers (Crow Holdings, Becknell Industrial, CNH Industrial, Inspire Prairie Springs). Services are bid project-by-project through public RFPs and direct negotiation, with multi-year contract cadences typical of infrastructure work. The company is supported by an in-house DOT-regulated trucking subsidiary (Oakes Transportation) and intentionally restricts operations to a one-hour radius around Racine to keep crews local.

Technology is precision-construction automation rather than AI/ML. A.W. Oakes operates a full GPS-guided fleet covering bulldozers, excavators, motor graders, trimmers, and concrete paving equipment, using Topcon, Trimble, and Leica systems with local and GPS-corrected positioning. Stringless paving replaces traditional stake-and-string setups with 3D digital models, a dedicated drone department (formalized in 2019) handles surveying, take-offs, and progress tracking, and an owned Erie Strayer mobile central-mix batch plant enables in-house concrete supply. Together these support FAA P501-compliant concrete work and ACPA Gold National Award-winning municipal paving.

The business model is project-based, one-time-contract construction revenue across five service lines, monetized through competitive bidding on public infrastructure and direct sale to private developers and general contractors. Marketing is largely PR-driven — community philanthropy, industry awards, and direct project referrals — rather than performance/demand-gen. The company employs 200+ people across Southeast Wisconsin, is in the third-to-fourth-generation ownership transition (CEO Dan Oakes, President Max Oakes), and has no external investors or parent company.

Name

A.W. Oakes & Son

Legal name

A.W. Oakes & Son, Inc.

Website

https://awoakes.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1948

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

A.W. Oakes & Son is a fourth-generation, family-owned full-service civil construction contractor based in Racine, Wisconsin, delivering earthwork, utilities, concrete paving, crushing, and site development for government, municipal, and commercial developers across Southeast Wisconsin within a one-hour radius.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Civil Construction Services

NAICS

Water and Sewer Line and Related Structures Construction (237110)

SIC

Heavy Construction Other Than Bldg Const - Contractors (1600)

akta.pro primary industry

Site Remediation & Contaminated Soil Handling (IMAFAKAG)

Keywords

• Civil construction services
• Earthwork excavation
• Concrete paving
• Sewer water utilities
• Site development

Headquarters

HQ city

Racine

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Construction Services - Earthwork: Mass grading, excavation, and earthwork services for commercial, municipal, and state projects including site preparation, footing excavation, and landfill construction
2. Construction Services - Sewer & Water Utilities: Installation, maintenance, and repair of sewer and water utilities for municipal and commercial projects including water main, storm sewer, sanitary sewer, lift stations, and boring services
3. Construction Services - Concrete: Concrete curb, gutter, sidewalk, and paving services for private, commercial, municipal, state, and federal projects. Own concrete batch plant for in-house supply.
4. Crushing Services: Portable crushed concrete, asphalt, and aggregate production in the Midwest for on-site recycling and material supply
5. Site Development: Full-site package contracting combining excavation, grading, utilities, concrete, crushing, technology, and survey services from beginning to end of projects

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

A.W. Oakes & Son is a full-service civil construction contractor providing earthwork, sewer and water utilities, concrete paving, crushing and aggregate recycling, and integrated site development for government, commercial, and industrial clients across Southeast Wisconsin. The company self-performs mass grading, utility installation, curb/gutter/paving, and demolition/remediation, supplemented by owned GPS fleet, stringless paving, drone surveying, and an in-house mobile concrete batch plant.

Product overview

A.W. Oakes & Son is a full-service civil contractor offering a vertically integrated portfolio of construction services. The core offerings include Earthwork Services (mass grading and excavation with GPS precision), Sewer & Water Utilities Services (installation and repair for commercial, municipal, and state projects), Concrete Services (curb, gutter, paving, and full reconstructions with in-house batch plant), Crushing Services (portable recycling of concrete and asphalt), and Site Development Services (full-package contracting combining all services). Technology Services enhance all operations through stringless paving, GPS machine control, drone surveying, and 3D modeling. Additional supplementary services include site assessment, environmental remediation, hydro-excavation, and demolition. The company operates as a single unified contractor rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Earthwork Services Mass grading and excavation services utilizing GPS equipment for high-precision work on residential, commercial, landfill, and site development projects in Southeast Wisconsin.
• Sewer & Water Utilities Services Installation, maintenance, and repair of sewer and water utilities across Southeast Wisconsin for municipal, state, commercial, and residential projects, including water main, storm sewer, sanitary sewer, lift stations, and boring services.
• Concrete Services Full-service concrete construction including curb and gutter installation, paving, stringless operations, patching, flatwork, specialty projects, and complete road reconstructions, supplied by an owned in-house concrete batch plant.
• Crushing Services Portable and stationary crushing operations that recycle demolished concrete and asphalt into usable fill materials, reducing landfill waste and providing cost-effective aggregate for construction projects in the Midwest.
• Site Development Services Full-site package services combining excavation, grading, utilities, concrete, crushing, technology, and survey work for complete site development from beginning to end of commercial, industrial, and residential projects.
• Other Services (Remediation, Demolition, Landfill, Hydro-excavation) Additional construction services including site assessment, preliminary budgeting and permitting, value engineering, commercial and residential development support, landfill construction, environmental and soil remediation, railroad spur construction, hydro-excavation, sweeping, erosion control, and demolition.

Quantifiable outcome

• Won ACPA Gold National Award for Excellence in Concrete Pavement for STH 50 project in Paddock Lake, WI
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Kriete Truck CenterscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLong-standing partnership with Kriete Truck Centers for Mack truck fleet. A.W. Oakes equips fleet with Mack Granite, Pinnacle, and Anthem models. Partnership enables uniform equipment purchasing through direct relationship, with Kriete providing trucks and service support.
• Leica GeosystemscoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partnership for stringless paving technology. Leica Geosystems provides advanced guidance systems enabling GPS-based paving equipment operations without traditional string lines.
• KomatsucoreTechnology or IntegrationEquipment manufacturer partnership. A.W. Oakes tests new bulldozer models and provides feedback; received 'Brand Management – Customer of the Year' award in 2022. Strong collaborative relationship for equipment development and technology adoption.
• Consolidated Construction Co.majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Central Storage & Warehouse freezer facility expansion project in Caledonia, WI. Oakes provides underground utilities and site preparation while Consolidated handles freezer facility construction.
• Antioch Pizza ShopminorOthersLocal business partnership providing pizza lunches for construction crews during Paddock Lake project. Example of company's commitment to supporting local businesses in communities where they work.
• Bukacek ConstructionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for construction of 7,000 sq. ft. office space addition on Oakes Road, completed by Bukacek Construction.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• M.A. Mortenson Construction: Minneapolis-based national general contractor with a strong civil/site development practice serving industrial, renewable energy, and infrastructure markets. Operates as a broader incumbent with overlapping civil capabilities across the Midwest, including SE Wisconsin industrial projects.
• Boldt Company: Appleton, WI-based employee-owned general contractor delivering industrial, commercial, and power construction services across the Midwest. Comparable on industrial/site development work in Wisconsin, but broader in scope than A.W. Oakes' civil specialty.
• Hoffman Construction Company: Heavy civil contractor delivering site preparation, earthwork, and infrastructure for industrial, mining, and energy clients across the U.S. Comparable on earthwork and site development scope, though larger and more geographically dispersed than A.W. Oakes.

Regional players

• Zignego Ready Mix Concrete: Waukesha, WI-based ready-mix concrete and aggregate producer serving Southeast Wisconsin contractors. Adjacent to A.W. Oakes' concrete and crushing operations; could be a peer on aggregate supply and concrete delivery rather than direct civil-construction competition.
• Kraemer Brothers: Plain, WI-based general contractor serving commercial, industrial, and institutional clients across Wisconsin and the Upper Midwest. Comparable on industrial project execution in the region, though less focused on heavy civil earthwork and utilities than A.W. Oakes.

Direct peers

• R.G. Huston Company: Middleton, WI-based contractor providing earthwork, excavation, site preparation, and aggregate production for commercial, residential, and municipal projects across Wisconsin. Closely matches A.W. Oakes' vertically integrated earthwork-plus-utilities offering.
• LaLonde Contractors: Waukesha, WI-based site work and utility contractor performing earthwork, grading, sewer/water installation, and concrete paving for municipal and commercial clients. Directly comparable on service mix, customer base, and Southeast Wisconsin geography.
• Vinton Construction Company: Manitowoc, WI-based heavy/highway and site development contractor performing earthwork, paving, and utilities for municipal and private clients. Closely comparable civil-construction service line and Wisconsin regional footprint.
• Payne & Dolan: Waukesha, WI-based contractor providing asphalt paving, aggregate production, and site work for highways, commercial developments, and DOT projects across Wisconsin and northern Illinois. Overlaps with A.W. Oakes on highway paving, crushing, and municipal contracting.
• James Peterson Sons: Medford, WI-based heavy civil and site preparation contractor serving Wisconsin and the Upper Midwest with earthwork, utilities, and structural concrete. Comparable regional scale, civil scope, and municipal customer mix.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@aw-oakes
• Facebookfacebook.com/awoakesandson
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aw-oakes-&-son
• Instagraminstagram.com/awoakesinc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about A.W. Oakes & Son