Massillon company’s work is on display from local parking lots to field surfaces at some of the nation’s best-known collegiate and professional athletic programs.
The road to success isn't always perfectly paved. Often, there can be rough patches.
For The Vasco Group, 4270 Sterilite St. SE in Massillon, solid planning, smart decision making and outstanding performance have made the journey relatively smooth.
Founded in 1967, Vasco is a leader in commercial paving and sports construction and surfacing. The company’s focus is developing the right surfaces for its customers, for work and play.
The Vasco Group includes Vasco Asphalt Co. and Vasco Sports Contractors in Massillon and Nidy Sports Construction in Longwood, Fla.
“Mike Vinton and his brothers founded Vasco Asphalt in 1967 as a driveway paving and sealcoating company,” said President Matt Savage. “The business kept growing, expanding into commercial paving and athletic surfaces.”
Savage joined Vasco in 2004. His brother-in-law, Vice President Glen Maurer, came on board in 2008.
Savage and Maurer worked with Vinton for several years. He taught them valuable lessons.
“You’ve got to fail forward,” Savage said. “You’re going to make mistakes, but you’ve got to learn, grow and get better from them.”
Vinton taught Maurer the importance of treating people well.
“You can’t take advantage of people,” Maurer said. “Treat them how you’d like to be treated. Do the right thing.”
Savage and Maurer agree people are Vasco’s most valuable asset. The company employs 150 — 110 in Ohio and 40 in Florida.
Several Vasco employees have been contributing for 10, 20 and 30 years,
and longer.
“We’ve been fortunate to have a great group of people,” Maurer said. “We’ve worked hard to develop a great culture here.”
Vasco Asphalt Co. is a full-service asphalt contractor known for quality paving and asphalt maintenance.
From new parking lots to excavation work to asphalt maintenance to sealcoating, Vasco Asphalt identifies and solves customers’ paving problems with quality products, workmanship and support.
Vasco Sports Contractors can handle any professional-quality athletic field or court project from start to finish — from football fields to tennis courts to running tracks. Vasco Sports is American Sports Builder Association (ASBA) certified.
Vasco Sports is contractor of choice for dozens of respected colleges and universities, including The Ohio State University and the University of Michigan.
Nidy Sports Construction — acquired by The Vasco Group in 2008 — also is a leader in sports facility construction. Nidy builds and maintains baseball fields, tennis courts, shuffleboard courts, football fields, running tracks — and virtually every other type of athletic field, court, track, path or play area imaginable. It also is ASBA certified.
Nidy Sports’ customers include Florida State University, the University of Florida, the University of Miami and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
“We work hard to become trusted advisors,” said Savage. “We develop close relationships with customers because we understand their needs and want to be part of helping them achieve their long-term goals.”
That focus has helped Vasco ride a wave of momentum for the past 15 years. Last month, the company held an open house for its recently renovated and expanded headquarters in Massillon.
Over the next few years, additional expansion wouldn’t be too surprising.
“We have a young, dynamic team,” Savage said. “We want to keep growing, but only at the right pace. We continue to look for opportunities to continue to serve our customers well.”
Today, 65 percent of The Vasco Group’s business is sports related. All of the company’s paving work is commercial business, except a small amount of residential work for a few large customers.
Most paving work is here in Stark County. Most of Vasco Sports’ and Nidy Sports’ business is within a four-hour radius of the Ohio and Florida offices.
Vasco’s ability to do it all — from excavating to paving to surfacing — makes it unique.
“We’re turnkey, so our customers don’t have to hire multiple contractors for different elements of their projects,” said Savage. “We want complete responsibility for our projects.”
Image is important at Vasco.
“Our team works hard to provide a professional look, from our facilities to
our equipment to our finished projects,” said Savage.
That look doesn’t go unnoticed. It’s been vital to the company’s continued growth.
Vasco’s core values also include giving back. About 25 community organizations receive support from the company. Savage, Maurer and other staff members sit on various boards within the community.
The future might not be perfectly paved, but The Vasco Group can expect a smooth ride as it continues to develop surfaces on which people can work and play.