History
Celebrating 77 Years of York Excavating
Celebrating Our Lineage
York Excavating Company (YEC), as we celebrate 79 years of dedication, hard work, and growth. From its humble beginnings in August 1947 to its current status as a reputable and thriving business, York Excavating Company has a rich history filled with remarkable achievements and a steadfast commitment to excellence.
Joseph Albert Stewart Jr. founded York Excavating Company in August 1947. Alongside his partner, Paul Murphy, Joseph established the company with a vision for growth and excellence; his leadership and foresight laid a strong foundation, setting YEC on a path to becoming a cornerstone business in York.
New Era of Ownership
The transition of leadership within YEC has been pivotal in its continued success. In 1982, Les Stewart, Joseph’s son, took the reins, bringing new energy and vision to the company. Les’s innovative strategies and dedication to excellence propelled YEC to new heights. His leadership was marked by a commitment to investing in top-tier talent and state-of-the-art equipment, ensuring that the company stayed ahead of industry standards. Under Les’s guidance, YEC saw significant growth and development. His heart of gold and dedication to the well-being of his employees created a culture of mutual respect and teamwork. Les’s emphasis on quality and customer satisfaction became a cornerstone of the company’s operations. Les continued to instill these values, preparing the company for future success.
The YECel Spirit
At the heart of York Excavating Company is the YECel – an employee who embodies hard work, strong work ethics, and good morals. These dedicated individuals are proud to be part of the YEC team and work diligently to uphold the company’s interests. The spirit of a YECel is what drives the company forward, ensuring its continued success and integrity.
Guiding Principles
York Excavating Company is built on guiding principles that shape our culture and operations:
- Invest in the Best: We invest in industry-leading talent, a rewarding team member experience, and state-of-the-art facilities and equipment.
- Mutual Respect: We promote an environment of mutual respect for all individuals, including our customers, our suppliers, and most importantly, our fellow team members.
- One Team: We are one team. We empower and encourage each other to interact openly and honestly, maintain a positive attitude, make decisions, and work together to correct mistakes. We hold one another accountable.
- Passion for Excellence: We share a passion for excellence and provide products and services of the highest quality.
- Customers for Life: We serve the needs of our customers at a level that fosters Customers for Life, who enthusiastically recommend us to others.
Commitment to Community and Employees
York Excavating Company’s primary goal is to continue growing and being profitable to provide employment opportunities for good people. We take immense pride in feeding 200-plus families: every excavation and every development is a testament to our commitment to creating a better future for our employees, their families, our customers, and the community. This vision drives us to continuously innovate, improve, and give back, ensuring that our legacy of care and excellence endures for generations to come.
Looking Ahead
As we celebrate 77 years of York Excavating Company, we reflect on the visionary leadership of Joseph Albert Stewart Jr., Les Stewart, and Jeff Walker. Their dedication, innovative strategies, and hearts of gold have shaped YEC into the thriving company it is today. We remain committed to our core values of hard work, integrity, and community commitment. Here’s to 77 more years of excellence, growth, and success for York Excavating Company.
–Setting the Standard in Site Development–
Let’s Build Something Together
Ready to Move your project from plans to progress?
Reach out today and let’s start building what’s next—together.
How Can Get Started?
Someone interested in starting a project with YEC should begin by reaching out early in their planning process to share basic project details and timelines. The best first step is to contact YEC’s team through the website’s “Contact” page, call the main office at (717) 755-0607, or email the estimating team with your plans and goals at estimating@yorkexcavating.com.
From there, YEC typically reviews your drawings, specifications, and schedule, then coordinates follow-up questions or a site visit if needed to understand access, soils, utilities, and phasing requirements. This allows the estimating and project management teams to collaborate on a clear, realistic proposal that aligns scope, budget, and timing before work begins.
Why Choose YEC For Your Next Project
YEC has over 78 years of proven precision, full-service site development, and a team that delivers complex projects on time, on budget, and right the first time—every time.
Contact Us
Corporate Offices
3180 E Prospect Rd.
York, PA 17402
Fleet Services Complex
4040 E Prospect Rd.
Yorkana, PA 17406
Fabrication Shop
3175 E Prospect Rd.
York, PA 17402