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OUR STORY
1968 — 1980s
THE BEGINNING
The story begins in 1968, when Larry Barnett founded ERWS Inc. in the retaining wall industry. By the 1980s, the company is replacing failing railroad ties with stone, establishing the retaining wall work that would remain at the center of the business for decades.
2013
A NEW CHAPTER
More than 40 years later, Randy O’Neal takes ownership and continues the business as ERW Site Solutions, LLC. The company enters a new chapter with the same retaining wall work at its core.
2015
POSITIONED FOR GROWTH
By 2015, Randy sees an opportunity to take the business further and recognizes the need for additional capital to do it. Jack Matz comes into the business with the resources to support that growth, and ERW Site Solutions begins building toward something larger than the company it had been.
2019
BEYOND RETAINING WALLS
That growth takes a major step forward with the acquisition of LandTec, a commercial landscaping company. Landscape, irrigation, and maintenance become part of the business, beginning its expansion beyond retaining walls.
2020
ADDING ENGINEERING
A year later, DesignBuild Consulting Services joins the group. The independent engineering firm, licensed in 32 states, adds engineering expertise alongside the construction and landscape work already in place.
2021
TWO MORE COMPANIES
Growth continues on two fronts in 2021. Gourmet Grass, a Dallas landscape and maintenance company, is acquired in January and becomes part of LandTec. In May, Ratliff Hardscape joins the group, adding general contracting and hardscape services.
2022
MOVING INTO CONCRETE
Kaufman Concrete joins the following year, adding foundations and flatwork. What began as a retaining wall business now includes landscaping, engineering, hardscape, general contracting, and concrete.
2023
THE GROUP TAKES SHAPE
As the business continues to expand, Ratliff Hardscape acquires the commercial pool backlog of Gold Medal Construction in April. Later that year, the structure catches up with the growth: ERW Site Solutions becomes the parent-company brand, while the original retaining wall operation takes the ERW Retaining Walls name.
2024
OWNERSHIP PASSES TO THE EMPLOYEES
The next change isn't about adding another company. Jack Matz and Randy O’Neal sell 100% of the business to its employees through an ESOP. The decision makes the company employee-owned and gives the people helping build its future an ownership stake in it.
2025
ONE MORE NAME IN THE FOLD
Dickey & Son Concrete joins the organization, bringing its established foundation and flatwork business in Austin. It becomes the latest independent company to find a place within what ERW Companies has been building since its first acquisition in 2019.
2026
ERW COMPANIES
As the business continues to grow, the parent company becomes ERW Companies, a name that better reflects what it is today. ERW Site Solutions becomes the name of the retaining wall company, carrying forward the business where the story began.
