Emmett Valley Construction Inc. paves a parking lot for Caruthers Unified School District.

Family is important to Jesse and Alisa Emmett of Emmett Valley Construction Inc. Their children, from left, Charlotte, Jesse Jr. and Taylor.

Back in 1997, recent high school graduate Jesse Emmett could be found every workday on a paving machine, seated right next to his dad, Ronnie. The two would drive two hours each morning from their home in Fresno, California, to work sites across Modesto. From Ronnie, Jesse learned the ins and outs of laying asphalt on roads, bridges and parking lots.

Today, Jesse is President and CEO of Emmett Valley Construction Inc. (Emmett Valley). Headquartered in Fresno, Emmett Valley provides construction and site-preparation services to commercial, residential and governmental entities throughout the region, from Bakersfield to Sacramento. In addition to paving and grading roadways, bridges and parking lots, Emmett Valley’s projects include land clearing, demolition, earthwork and general construction services.

While running a successful business makes life a whole lot busier, Jesse holds fast to his roots. He and his dad can still be found on job sites, working side by side on paving, grading and other construction projects.

“Family is extremely important to us,” says Jesse’s wife, Alisa, co-owner, corporate secretary and chief financial officer of Emmett Valley Construction. “We could not do what we do day to day without their help. Plus, Jesse likes being out there with his father, his brothers, Justin and Cody, and the rest of the crew.”

With the help of family, the two manage a team of 87 employees. Emmett Valley serves as general contractor or subcontractor on heavy-duty construction and site-preparation projects, such as hospital buildings, retirement centers, retail centers and Walmart stores. “Emmett Valley does both large and small projects—anything from paving a home driveway to serving as general contractor on large, federal construction projects,” Alisa says.

Learning to Dance

Family is what motivated Jesse and Alisa to form Emmett Valley in 2006. High school sweethearts, Jesse and Alisa endured years of separation as Jesse traveled each day to Modesto, and Alisa went away to college. When the two married in 2005 at the ages of 25, they wanted to start a family, and they wanted Jesse closer to home. With a case tractor and paving blade, Jesse began knocking on doors in his hometown. “Jesse went from homebuilder to homebuilder, doing small projects like preparing home sites for construction,” Alisa says.

Those early years were tough for the newlyweds, who were not only adapting to life as a couple, but life as business partners. “I was working as an assistant principal when we decided to start Emmett Valley, but I resigned to help the business,” Alisa says. Working side by side in a small home office, the two often stepped on each other’s toes. “I actually resigned twice during that first year of business—drafted formal resignation letters, too,” Alisa laughingly recalls. “I remember him writing ‘Declined!’ on one of my resignation letters in large red ink.”

Alisa attributes those tough early months to their headstrong, perfectionist personalities. Alisa managed payroll and invoicing, while Jesse carried out the project work, often drafting project estimates by hand on canary yellow pads. “Jesse would work up the estimates, and I’d check his math,” Alisa says. “We had blueprints all over the kitchen in those early years.”

In time, the couple’s work process became more seamless. “We each found our niche within the company and learned how to dance together without stepping on each other’s toes,” she says. “No one told us how to run a successful business. We had to work at it. After each project, even today, we ask ourselves what went well and what we could make better. We are constantly learning and improving.”

The Right Way to Do Business

The company holds a C-12 license, which allows Emmett Valley to do all types of earthwork and paving projects. “I like to say that our type of license allows us to do any project that doesn’t require a nail,” Alisa says. The company also holds a Class A license, giving them the ability to bid as a general contractor on a wide array of construction projects. As a general contractor, Emmett Valley manages a variety of subcontractors on a project site, including concrete, electrical and landscaping subcontractors.

Alisa says that years of working as a subcontractor schooled them well for their role as a general contractor. “We’ve had some great experiences and some not-so-great experiences with general contractors, where you’re begging to get paid for your work. I remember in those early years running to the mailbox, excited that we got paid and that we could, in turn, pay our employees.

“As a general contractor, we know what an integral role our vendors and subcontractors play in the success of a project,” she says. “Our truckers and material suppliers get paid even before we do, and our subcontractors are always promptly paid. It’s the right way to do business.”

Dedication to Quality Work

Noteworthy projects include a new-build project for Valley Children’s Healthcare in Merced County. “We prepared the site for the foundation of Valley Children’s new hospital building and cut all the parking lots. Later on, we came back in to do the paving and finishing work,” Alisa says.

Other major projects include two Walmart stores in Bakersfield and several retirement centers across Sacramento and Clovis. “One of our most memorable projects was for the City of Kerman. Emmett Valley served as general contractor for improvements made to Kearney Boulevard. We paved and graded the roadway and coordinated electrical and landscaping work. It was a high-profile project and an opportunity for many in the area to see the quality of work we do.”

Alisa attributes the company’s success to word of mouth.

“Customers who first gave us a chance back when we started are still our customers today. We may have grown into a large company, but we have never lost sight of our values and where we come from. We work hard, and we do what we say we’re going to do,” she says.

Family Atmosphere, Strong Safety Culture

Emmett Valley relies on a team of employees dedicated to doing quality work. “We take the approach that if this were your house or your building, how would you want the work done?” Alisa says. “You’d want the best people working on your project. Our people are the best, and they take pride in their work.”

The company also prides itself on its family atmosphere. “We know our employees and know what’s going on in their lives—who’s having a baby, who’s having surgery. As the company grows, it can be hard to get to know everyone, but that tightknit company culture is an important factor in what makes our business successful,” she says. Emmett Valley’s low rate of employee turnover is testament to how it treats its employees, according to Alisa. “We watch out for one another, just like you would a member of your family,” she notes. That includes watching out for each other’s safety on and off the job site. “Employees receive extensive safety training, and each day begins with an analysis of the day’s job hazards.”

A safety contractor spot checks job sites, ensuring that safety protocols are followed, and employees are recognized for exemplary safety performance. “Our Experience Modification Rate (EMR), which measures safety performance, is extremely low at 0.62. We couldn’t do that without a strong safety culture and our employees’ commitment to safety,” Alisa says.

In addition to creating a positive, safe work environment, Emmett Valley also strives to be a good corporate citizen. The company participates in toy drives and donates to the Marjaree Mason Center, which supports and empowers adults and their children affected by domestic violence. “We’ve given to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Wounded Warrior Project, Make-A-Wish America and Catholic Charities Diocese of Fresno. We are part of this community, and we feel it’s important to help others,” she says.

Juggling three children and a business is not easy for Jesse and Alisa, but they still manage to make time for each other. “Thursday night is always date night,” Alisa says.

“We step away from the business and from the children, and we hang out and have a good time. Spending time with each other reminds us why we formed this business in the first place, and why we work so hard at what we do.”