Humble Beginnings
Partners Excavating Company began as a partnership in November 1975, and became incorporated in October 1986 with Carl Berkey as president and sole owner. In June 1997, we moved to our new location on a 5-acre site just south of Harrisonburg, Virginia.
Our company entered a new phase when Seth and Adam Berkey became 2nd generation owners of Partners in January 2022.
We offer total site preparation — including installation of underground utilities — and asphalt paving. Project bids range from several thousand dollars to over $10 million, and include bonding capability. We perform a mix of commercial and residential work for both general contractors and individuals.
Humble Beginnings
Partners Excavating Company began as a partnership in November 1975, and became incorporated in October 1986 with Carl Berkey as president and sole owner. In June 1997, we moved to our new location on a 5-acre site just south of Harrisonburg, Virginia.
Our company offers total site preparation — including installation of underground utilities — and asphalt paving. Project bids range from several thousand dollars to over $10 million, and include bonding capability. We perform a mix of commercial and residential work for both general contractors and individuals.
approaching 50 Years
We currently employ 170+ people, over 30% of whom have been with the company 10 years or more. This exceptional work force and nearly 50 years in business combine to establish Partners with a solid reputation in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley area for quality workmanship, reliability, and integrity. Partners Excavating Company strives to develop and keep solid relationships with customers while exceeding expectations both on and off the job site.
Over 45 Years Strong
We currently employ over 120 people, 40% of whom have been with the company 10 years or more. This exceptionally stable work force and over 45 years in business combine to establish Partners with a solid reputation in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley area for quality workmanship, reliability, and integrity. Partners Excavating Company strives to develop and keep solid relationships with customers while exceeding expectations both on and off the job site.
Seth Berkey
-
Seth Berkey’s journey and connection to Partners began with his father, Carl Berkey, who founded the company a year before Seth was born. His official employment commenced in 1994, where he quickly learned the value of hard work within field operations. Seth pursued higher education at James Madison University, graduating with a degree in Finance. He naturally gravitated towards the inner workings of the company, eventually serving as its controller from 2000 to 2004. Following this role, he assumed the position of Vice President before ultimately becoming President upon his father's retirement.
Seth’s journey with the company has been unique; witnessing its changes and growth since his youth has grounded him in humility and respect for the hard-working individuals who drive Partners Excavating's operations forward. Additionally, his deep ties to the community where he has always resided instill in him a commitment to conducting business ethically, ensuring that the dreams of community visionaries can be realized with the assurance of quality and longevity.
Outside of work, Seth finds joy in exploring the natural beauty of the Shenandoah Valley with his family. He enjoys activities such as fishing, hunting, and contributing to various community boards, among other pursuits.
Adam Berkey
-
Adam Berkey has been an integral part of the Partners team since 1994. As the Vice President, he plays a crucial role in overseeing operations and ensuring efficient scheduling. His journey at Partners began at a young age, where he started by washing dump trucks and cleaning the shop. Over time, he worked his way up from laborer to running utility crews, serving as a site superintendent, and eventually becoming a project manager and Vice President.
Adam is passionate about enhancing operational efficiencies in the field. He takes pride in witnessing the growth of the Partners team, from individuals starting out in the trenches to achieving superintendent status. His commitment to integrity, growth, respect, and family aligns perfectly with the Partners culture.
Outside of work, Adam cherishes spending time with his wife and five children. You’ll often find him at the family farm in Broadway, enjoying the simple pleasures of life.
Adam’s journey from washing dump trucks to leading as Vice President exemplifies dedication, hard work, and a strong sense of family within the Partners organization.
Frank Oncken
-
Frank Oncken, has served as CFO at Partners since February 2022. He has held various executive roles throughout his career in Hampton Roads and the Shenandoah Valley. Most recently, he served as Vice President of Administration and Finance and CFO of two other construction companies in the Shenandoah Valley. He uses his passion for leadership and finance, as well as varied other interests and abilities, to head up the Administrative Department at Partners Excavating. Frank is married to his wife Meg and has twin boys, Eric and Andrew. He spends his spare time coaching youth sports, fishing, and traveling.
Brad Grove
-
Brad Grove, has been with Partners since 2005, currently serving as the Business Development Manager. His journey began as a general laborer, and he has since held various roles in field operations, including Operator, Foreman, Superintendent, and Project Manager. Brad’s expertise extends to managing the Estimating and GPS departments. Outside of work, he cherishes moments with his wife, Denise, and their three children: Zach, Brady, and Paisley.
Cyndi McDaniel
-
Cyndi, occasionally addressed as Mom or Mama by her colleagues, joined the Partners workforce in 2019. She holds the designation of SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) and maintains multiple safety certifications. Although her career initially did not revolve around Human Resources or Safety, she quickly gravitated toward these fields upon discovering her passion for ensuring employees' professional success and well-being outside of work. Cyndi is dedicated to delivering excellent customer service and providing a supportive, positive atmosphere for our team members. Apart from her HR and safety responsibilities, she also assists the marketing team in capturing content for our website and social media platforms.
In her personal life, Cyndi is grateful for her loving husband, two beautiful children, and the family's beloved German Shepherd named Chief, who keeps everyone entertained with his squeaky toys and frisbees. Outside of work, she finds joy in music, exploring the outdoors, and spending quality time with friends and family.
Marcia Stutzman
-
Marcia Stutzman, Office Manager at Partners, has been a part of the team since 2004. Throughout her years, she has performed nearly every office job at one time or another. Currently, she handles accounting and payroll, and serves as the office's computer guru. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems from Eastern Mennonite University and a Master’s degree in Accounting from James Madison University. In her spare time, she enjoys knitting, trivia, and playing the piano.
Ben Swarey
-
Bio incoming.
Greg Ours
-
Greg Ours, Estimator at Partners Excavating, began his journey in the field in 1983. Over the years, he transitioned into the roles of Paving Division Manager and ultimately Estimator. Drawing from his 20 years of experience in Utility Installation, Greg applies his expertise to his estimating duties. He enjoys sharing his knowledge in Paving with the community, offering guidance to those seeking driveway or parking lot paving solutions. Outside of work, Greg finds joy in playing golf, spending time at the cabin, and being with his four grandchildren.
Travis kelley
-
Travis Kelley has been part of our Estimating Team at Partners since 2019. He previously worked for a local mechanical contractor for 26 years and spent 22 of those years as an HVAC Estimator. Travis is the definition of loyalty and dependability. His faith in Jesus Christ is what drives him, and he desires to be known as honest and trustworthy.
In 1997, Travis married his high school sweetheart, Stormi, and together they have two daughters, Brooke, and Alyssa. Travis has a passion for being outdoors, especially for hunting. He serves as a deacon at his local church and is also part of the production team. Travis is an avid sports fan, following baseball, football, and hockey. He has a goal to see a baseball game in every MLB stadium, as well as visit every National Park, and he is slowly chipping away at the lists.
amy hopson
-
Amy Hopson joined Partners Excavating in 2019 as the Project Coordinator/Billing Specialist. Her daily work involves collaborating closely with Project Managers to track job costs and manage the billing process each month. Amy places a high value on effective communication and diligently follows through on tasks. When she’s not at Partners, you’ll find her enjoying quality time with her fiancé, Jeff, and their dog, Bo. At home, Amy’s passions extend to cooking and gardening.
Gisselle White-Palacios
-
Gisselle White-Palacios joined Partners as a Human Resources Generalist in 2023. Her journey in HR began in 2013 as a Human Resources Assistant, and she obtained her SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) certification in 2016. Passionate about recruitment, benefits, and onboarding, she thrives on fostering relationships with both internal and external clients.
Before relocating to the Shenandoah Valley area in 2013, Gisselle garnered valuable experience working for two large investment management companies. Her professional portfolio also includes roles within nonprofit and government agencies.
Gisselle holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business from the University of Massachusetts-Boston and is fluent in Spanish. Beyond her professional endeavors, she finds fulfillment in traveling, reading, and cherishing moments with her family.
Pat Kauffman
-
Employed with Partners since 2008, Pat Kauffman is often the first person everyone meets when they interact with our team – either on the phone or at our office. Vendors, customers, and potential employees often comment on their pleasant experience working with our team, and Pat is a huge part of making them feel welcome.
Behind the reception desk, Pat prepares invoices for payment by getting them scanned into our accounts payable system and routing them for approval. She helps keep Partners DOT compliant by maintaining Driver Qualification Files, and for many years, Pat has also entered employee time to prepare for weekly payroll.
Outside of the office, Pat enjoys photography, gardening, and spending time at the beach.
Brad Hilbert
-
Brad Hilbert has been with Partners since 2005. Starting as a dump truck and Lo-Boy driver, he has taken on additional responsibilities over the years. Currently, Brad serves as the Operations Manager, overseeing the daily activities of the hauling division. Often referred to as the “hub” of information at Partners, he keeps everyone informed about ongoing operations. When away from work, Brad enjoys family time, coaches Little League baseball and football, and actively participates in 4H and FFA projects. Plus, he’s a devoted Tarheel fan!
Bill Sheppard
-
Bio incoming.
Trent Fadeley
-
Trent Fadeley, our dedicated Concrete and Paving Division Manager, joined Partners in 2016, bringing over 24 years of site construction experience to the team. Known for his communication skills with both customers and crews, Trent ensures projects are not only completed in a timely manner but also within budget.
Beyond his professional expertise, Trent is an avid golfer, finding joy on the links. He also shares wonderful moments with his daughter at amusement parks and concerts, enjoys traveling, kayaking, and starts his days with early morning workouts.
Chris Ruddle
-
Chris Ruddle, project manager for Partner's Excavating, started his journey as a laborer in 2006. Through dedication and progression, he transitioned through various roles including operator, pipe foreman, and superintendent before assuming his current position. His affinity for working outdoors and with heavy equipment led him to pursue this career path, where he finds fulfillment in bringing clients' visions to life. Chris has learned that perseverance and commitment are crucial in overcoming challenging projects and meeting deadlines. Outside of work, he cherishes moments spent with his wife and children, indulging in his passion for the outdoors. His philosophy—"It is what it is, and it becomes what you make of it"—guides his approach to life and work
Chris Showalter
-
Bio incoming.
Elliott Peachey
-
Bio incoming.
William Weaver
-
William Weaver, General Superintendent, who has worked for Partners since 1997. In his years of experience he has had the pleasure of establishing many working relationships with several other contractors in the area as he helped in solving engineering issues on job sites. Working for himself on the family farm gave him the core values of working in the business world. His drive comes from planning the job before it starts, having the resources to do the job efficiently and to doing the job once. Hobbies are spending time with his friends, family and working in his woodshop creating masterpieces made from wood.
Jeremy Knight
-
Jeremy Knight, Project Superintendent for Partners Excavating, has served the company since 1998. His career at Partners began as a Utility Laborer, then he moved up to a Utility Foreman, now overseeing all aspects of Utilities and Earthmoving on projects from start to finish. After work, he enjoys traveling the roads with his wife on their motorcycle and spending time with his two daughters and two grandchildren.
Brian Comer
-
Brian Comer, began his career at Partners in 2010 as a laborer-operator and has since progressed through years of guidance and experience to reach his current position of Superintendent. As a young man, he always enjoyed operating equipment on the family farm, which helped him identify his desired occupation in life. One of the things he enjoys most is the challenges associated with being a Superintendent and the opportunity to assist clients in achieving their jobsite goals from start to finish, regardless of the task at hand. Outside of work, Brian finds pleasure in spending time with his wife and two children, engaging in tractor pulling, and tinkering with antique vehicles.
Forrest Hisey
-
Forrest Hisey started his journey with Partners in 2018. Prior to joining Partners, he worked in the building industry, specializing in residential construction, stone masonry, and landscape design. Transitioning into excavating, Forrest found a particular interest in the utility side of the work. He started as a pipe crew laborer, advancing to the role of pipe foreman, where he enjoyed the challenges of utility work and crew management. Currently serving as a site superintendent, Forrest appreciates the atmosphere at Partners, which has motivated him to progress in his career. He takes pride in his work, striving to deliver the best possible finished product to customers. The reputation of Partners for quality and craftsmanship aligns well with Forrest's values, making it an ideal fit for him. He finds fulfillment in overcoming challenges in the field and collaborating with customers to find solutions. During his leisure time, Forrest enjoys spending quality time with his wife and son, attending his son's baseball, football, and wrestling events. As a family, they engage in various activities such as working on home projects, camping, saltwater fishing, hiking, kayaking, and snowboarding.
Gary Harper
-
Gary Harper started at Partners in 1985 when there were only 10 employees. He began his career as a laborer and worked his way up to operator. After that, he continued to further his career path to become a superintendent. Over the 39 years that he has been at Partners, he ran the low-boy for 2 years, held the role of service manager for 25 years, and served as a snow removal supervisor for 5 years. On his days off, he loves spending time with his wife of 40 years, their three children, and their granddaughter.
Jason Rhodes
-
Jason Rhodes, Superintendent, joined Partners in 1994. As a young child, Jason was fascinated with backhoes and excavators, but he never imagined that operating them would become part of his career. Jason takes pride in the work he performs at Partners and finds satisfaction in the quality execution of a project. When he’s not working, Jason enjoys traveling, seeing live music, and camping with friends and family.
Jeff Schrimscher
-
Bio incoming.
Jerry Kimble
-
Jerry Kimble, Superintendent at Partners, has been with the company since 2006. Throughout his years, he has embraced the importance of taking pride in his work for the customers, finding fulfillment in delivering top-quality results. He enjoys the challenge that each new job brings and values the opportunity to connect with new people along the way. Outside of work, you can catch him hunting and fishing with his grandsons and vacationing on the beach.
Juan Cardoso
-
Juan Cardoso, Superintendent in the Asphalt Division at Partners, has been a part of the team since 2005. He truly enjoys what he does, with the greatest satisfaction coming from completing projects and seeing customers satisfied with the quality of the work delivered.
Seth Rhodes
-
Seth Rhodes, came on board in 2001 as a 20 year old farm boy with a love for equipment. Seth came up through the ranks as a laborer, equipment operator, and Class A CDL driver with the majority of the time operating a GPS Finish Dozer. Seth eventually moved into a leadership role, guiding crews and overseeing job sites from start to finish. He loves seeing the satisfaction on the customer's face when a project is completed with just some iron, diesel fuel, technology and hard work!
When Seth’s not at work you can find him working on his family farm with his wife and four children, growing cattle, poultry, and crops. He enjoys hunting, smoking meat, and just being Dad. He does NOT however enjoy helping his wife in her vegetable garden!
Shawn Showalter
-
Bio incoming.
Eric Yoder
-
Eric Yoder has filled multiple positions within the Partners team over the years. He started in the field in 2003 with pipe installation and equipment operation. However, his position transitioned in 2018 when Partners discovered his skill with numbers and his computer background. He began building models, loading those models into our GPS-enabled equipment, setting control points, and managing our GPS technology. Eric is also a Certified Remote Pilot and is responsible for flying the Partners' GPS-enabled drone equipped with high-tech imaging capabilities.
When not at work, Eric enjoys outdoor activities with his wife, hunting, and following sports.
