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Kris Thomas grew up around heavy equipment and recalls his uncle and step-grandfather teaching him how to operate a dozer when he was a young boy. By the time he was in high school, he was running an excavator and gaining experience with other heavy equipment.

Thomas also likes 鈥渢earing down things that are in the way鈥� and construction sites, and he found a way to combine all of these interests through Ironeagle Construction Inc. Formerly known as Ironeagle Excavation, Thomas started his business in 2012.

鈥淚 just like seeing how people do this kind of work and I thought I could do it a different way and give people the opportunity to work in construction,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 want to open the door and give people a chance. Even if they don鈥檛 have a lot of experience, I want to work with them.鈥�

With a team of union subcontractors, Thomas provides excavation, grading, demolition, land clearing, site prep for utilities, asphalt paving, and rotomilling concrete sidewalks and driveways. His clearing services include snow plowing during the winter months.

A new member of NAMC-Oregon, Thomas says the organization has helped him meet other contacts and learn about jobs to bid on. It鈥檚 also given him an opportunity to share some advice with other small business owners who work in the trades.

鈥淚 would just say if you know what you want to do, start out with doing some demolition jobs and try to go from there,鈥� he says. 鈥淪tart out doing little projects and then try to move up.鈥�