Contractors, landscapers and public works crews weathered sub-zero temperatures (and that was before the wind chill factor) to attend the third annual Pittsburgh Construction Expo Feb. 6 and 7.

The venue, the ExpoMart in Monroeville, Pa., a suburb of Pittsburgh, was filled with heavy equipment, exhibitors and attendees during the two-day show. More than 100 exhibitors vied for the attention of a steady stream of expo guests from western Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio.

The big news, in addition to a remarkably well-attended show in spite of the frigid temps, were the two grand prize winners of a 2007 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup and the 4-in-1 root grapple.

Terry Sullivan of J.C. Lee Construction, Hilliards, Pa., drove home the Dodge Ram, and Brian Miley of Miley Excavating, Westerville, Ohio, won the 4-in-1 bucket.

During the second day of the expo, 10 finalists’ names were drawn. Later all 10 gathered at the truck, with each receiving a key. Of the 10 keys only two could open the Dodge Ram’s door. Then, the two remaining finalists drew from two additional keys, this time only one would be genuine. Sullivan would draw the real key.

“I’m still not over it yet. It’s unbelievable,” he said. “I thought I was going to have a heart attack when my key actually opened the door. I called my wife and told her that I won a truck; she didn’t believe me. I’ve never won anything in my life like this.”

Sullivan is a labor/foreman of J.C. Lee Construction and has been with the heavy highway, concrete and drainage contractor for 21 years. Winning the truck couldn’t have come along at a better time for Sullivan.

“My birthday is Wednesday [Feb. 14] and we’re going to pick up the truck in McKeesport My old truck has 127,00 miles on it and this comes at a great time. It’s an excellent birthday present,” Sullivan admitted.

Sullivan also is a Pittsburgh Construction Expo veteran, having attended all three shows so far. “It’s our day out,” he said of his crew. “We know a lot of vendors, too, from working with them for so long; we get to chat with them a bit. It’s a good time.”

The contestant not drawing the winning key would win the 4-in-1 root grapple. That was Brian Miley of Miley Excavating, who was not the least bit disappointed that he took home the 4-in-1 root grapple.

“It was awesome. Something like winning a big prize doesn’t happen very often,” said Miley.

But does he have a use for the grapple? “Oh yeah, it will be my fourth one,” he said. “I use them for a little bit of everything, whether it’s for excavating and cleanup work.”

Miley is a foreman/operator for the commercial and residential excavating contractor his father founded in 1978. He has worked with the company in various roles since he was 14 years old.

Winning the grapple was, of course, well worth the trip to the Pittsburgh Construction Expo, but whether he won the grapple or not, Miley was happy he attended.

“It was the first Pittsburgh Expo I got to go to,” he said. “I thought it was a good show. There was a lot of equipment, and every company we spoke with was really nice. We learned quite a few things.”

With yet another successful show under its belts, CEG productions now turns its full attention to the upcoming Philadelphia Construction Expo in Reading Feb. 28 and March 1. For details on this show, call our office at 800/523-2200. We look forward to seeing you there as well as next year in Pittsburgh.

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