AD&E Construction, Inc. Takes Advantages Of
The Building Boom In North Alabama

 Alvin Gibson, who had experience in stadium construction as well as commercial projects on Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, founded AD&E in 1992. In the early 1990s, the company built numerous auto parts stores across the Southeast US. Now the company focuses primarily on serving the booming residential market in fast growing Madison County. The company clears lots, rough grades and handles concrete work such as basements, slabs, driveway, curbs and gutters. Two-and-a-half years ago, AD&E began building houses.

           “We do a little bit of all of it now,” says Alvin’s son, Daniel Gibson, Production and General Manager for the homebuilding side of the business. 

            By expanding into all aspects of homebuilding, the company gained more control of its projects.

            “We can control our destiny basically,” Daniel relates. “If I need something, I can make it jump.”

            The site prep side of the company has approximately 60 employees and subcontractors working for it now, Daniel says, while the number of homebuilding employees and subs varies by project. AD&E performed the site prep and concrete work for 400 homes in 2006. In addition, the company closed on 26 homes it built in 2006, says Daniel, and has from 35 to 40 planned for 2007.

            Finding and keeping employees is a challenge AD&E faces along with everyone else in the business. It appears the employment situation will remain for the foreseeable future. However, one problem the company no longer faces is with equipment.

            “We used to face a challenge equipment-wise, but I think we’ve got that settled down now,” Daniel says.

            AD&E made the move into Caterpillar equipment. The company’s local dealer is Thompson Tractor Company, which supports AD&E through both its Cat Rental Store and earthmoving equipment division. Depending on how busy it is and the weather, AD&E will handle routine maintenance and repair or let Thompson handle it, Daniel says.

AD&E currently owns a 939C Track-type Loader, 315C L Hydraulic Excavator and 420D Backhoe Loader it obtained from Thompson Tractor Company. In addition, the company bought four 226B Skid Steer Loaders; 246B Skid Steer Loader and 268B Skid Steer Loader with track systems; and CP-433E and CP-563D Compactors from the Thompson Cat Rental Store. Rental equipment includes a 320C L with hammer, two 226Bs and a 236B Skid Steer Loader. A specialized attachment that has seen a lot of use is a HM312 Mulcher.

“The mulcher on that 268 is one of the best assets we have right now,” Daniel says, “because it has the ability to go in and grind up the underbrush you used to have to haul off. Now you just leave it (the mulch), and it’s better for the environment all the way around.”`

The company usually first rents equipment and will purchase when it’s clear it will have additional work for the machines. And it appears AD&E will have plenty of opportunities in the future. Daniel sees continued growth in the Huntsville area housing market. “We’ve got a lot of people coming because of BRAC,” he says.

            The BRAC (Base Realignment and Closure) Commission will have a huge impact on area. The Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce estimates more than 4,700 military and civilian employees, and supporting contractor employees, eventually will be relocated to Redstone Arsenal and surrounding defense contractors by 2011. Add in the family members for those relocated, and the area anticipates residential, commercial and infrastructure construction to meet the needs of more than 10,000 new residents in the near future.

A 226B Skid Steer Loader is one of seven skid steers the company operates at construction sites in Madison County, Ala.