Aspire Construction Group has a long history in excavation, land grading, and site preparation, shaping its journey in the excavation and grading business.. Before it was Aspire, it was Specialty Grading, a company that had been moving dirt and shaping the land since 1995 under Shawn and Tanya Denny.
In 2022, Susie purchased the company with the intention of preserving its legacy while also building a future for herself in the U.S., influenced by the guidance of a trusted friend who presented themselves as an industry expert. Coming from outside the excavation world, she relied on this person’s knowledge and experience, only to later discover that their guidance was filled with deception and self-interest. But what started as a straightforward deal quickly went sideways.
Trust was broken, money went missing, and the business was sinking—fast. Susie was never supposed to be out in the field, running the day-to-day, but when everything fell apart, she had two choices: walk away or fight for it.
She chose to fight.
That’s when I stepped in to help her rebuild—not as industry veterans, but as people who refused to let a good company die because of someone else’s greed. And that’s why this blog exists.
So, What is This Blog About?
We’re not here to act like we’ve got it all figured out—but we are here to share firsthand experiences in the excavation and grading business journey, covering industry challenges and solutions. We’re here to share the real lessons, real mistakes, and real wins as we turn Aspire into the company it was meant to be.
This blog isn’t some corporate fluff piece filled with perfect success stories. Instead, we take a deep dive into the realities of the excavation and grading business journey, offering insights from real experiences. We document both the wins and the hard lessons learned along the way. It’s a raw, honest look at what it takes to keep an excavation and grading company running.
What You Can Expect
✅ Lessons From the Trenches – What’s worked, what’s failed, and what we’re still figuring out. ✅ Business Insights – From pricing jobs to handling slow-paying clients, the real-world side of running a business. ✅ Project Spotlights – The good, the bad, and the muddy. ✅ Industry Red Flags – Things we wish we knew before getting into this business. ✅ Behind-the-Scenes Challenges – Because sometimes, it’s not just about moving dirt—it’s about moving mountains.
Building on What We’ve Learned
Aspire has a growing collection of past blog posts covering excavation, grading, and construction topics. While some of these posts were written before we fully embraced this “learning in public” approach, they still hold valuable insights—and we’re not tossing them aside.
Instead, we’ll be referencing and updating them as we go, using them to supplement our new lessons and show how our knowledge has evolved over time. If something we wrote last year now feels outdated? We’ll call it out, adjust, and keep building on it.
Think of this blog as a living archive of our excavation and grading business journey, evolving with each lesson we learn and every project we tackle.—not just a collection of polished articles, but a record of how we’re figuring things out in real-time.
Why This Matters & Internal Connections
We are building a knowledge base that continuously expands. Throughout our posts, we will reference earlier insights to ensure a strong foundation for learning and improvement.
We know we’re not alone in the excavation and grading business journey. There are countless contractors, builders, and small business owners out there facing the same struggles, dealing with the same industry headaches, and trying to figure it all out as they go. This blog is for them, too.
If you’re looking for real, unfiltered insights into the excavation and grading business journey, check out this resource on excavation safety best practices, and explore our related post on The Importance of Proper Slope Drainage. to dive deeper into industry standards and safety tips. (without the corporate BS), you’re in the right place. If nothing else, you’ll see what it really takes to rebuild from the ground up—both in business and in the dirt.
Let’s Build Something Together
This journey isn’t just about us—it’s about the entire industry learning, adapting, and getting better. We want to hear from you. Have a story to share? A lesson you’ve learned the hard way? A challenge you’re facing? Drop a comment, send us a message, or let’s talk.
🚜 Need excavation, land grading, or site preparation done by a team that understands quality and precision? Contact us here.
We know we’re not alone in this industry. Many contractors, builders, and small business owners face similar struggles, deal with the same industry headaches, and work through the same learning curve every day.. This blog is for them, too.
If you’re looking for real, unfiltered insights into the excavation and grading world (without the corporate BS), you’re in the right place. If nothing else, you’ll see what it really takes to dig out of a hole—literally and figuratively.