Aaron's journey started early on; he recounts memories of
playing with his father's little Kubota tractor and backhoe in the backyard. “I
was 6 or 7 years old. I would get home from school, grab the keys, and go dig a
hole,” he fondly recalls. His early exposure to heavy machinery laid the
foundation for his future career.
The fire service also played a significant role in Aaron's
life. Growing up in a family with a strong history in public service, he
naturally gravitated towards firefighting. Joining the fire department at 14 as
a junior member, he followed in the footsteps of his father and great uncle.
“It was about helping the community and doing something good,” Aaron explains.
After spending numerous years driving trucks and working in
fire service roles, Aaron made a pivotal decision to start his business. This
decision was significantly influenced by the desire to spend more time at home
following the birth of his son. “I was on the road 12, 13 hours a day. I wanted
to be home more,” he says.
Word quickly spread about Aaron’s new endeavor. Leveraging
the power of social media, particularly Facebook, he started getting job
requests ranging from storm cleanups to driveway repairs.
The business growth was rapid, and soon he found himself
needing to formalize operations with insurance, workers’ comp, and the
establishment of an LLC. Despite the complexities, Aaron managed to navigate
through them with support from fellow entrepreneurs and fire service
Aaron’s journey wouldn’t have been possible without the
support of his family and fire service community. His wife, Jenea, played a
crucial role in managing the business's backend, setting up invoicing systems,
and handling administrative tasks. “She does all my computer work. I just punch
in the numbers,” Aaron notes with appreciation.
Balancing his full-time job as a firefighter with running a
growing business was challenging, but the supportive environment in the fire
service allowed him to manage both. “I work 10 days a month at the fire
department, and my schedule allows me to run the grading business on my days
To those firefighters contemplating starting their own
business, Aaron’s advice is simple: “If you think you want to do it, bite the
bullet and do it because it will pay off in the end. You never know if you're
going to be successful until you try it.”
Aaron's story is a testament to the incredible spirit of
entrepreneurship within the fire service community. It highlights the
importance of passion, perseverance, and support from family and colleagues in
achieving success.
Connect with Aaron:
https://www.facebook.com/martingradingexcavating
· Sam Massa, CEO & 24/48 Host: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sammassa/
· Chelsea Lassen, Marketing Director & Producer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelsea-lassen/
· Spencer Carter, Videographer: https://www.instagram.com/spencervisual/
Marina
Hunter, Graphic Designer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marina-hunter/
· Allison Saxon, Marketing
Specialist: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tabithasaxon/
Follow our podcast on social:
· TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the24_48podcast?lang=en
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If you want to help us support first responder-owned
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“The 24/48” is brought to you by HiViz LED Lighting //
Produced by Chelsea Lassen // Assisted by Spencer Carter, Marina Hunter, and
