Local Business Owners Among 12 National Finalists for 2009 Contractor of the Year Award

Owners of Hershey, Penn.-based earthmoving firm honored for business achievements and industry representation

LAS VEGAS, March 2009 … Bob and Jeff Ebersole, owners of Ebersole Excavating based in Hershey, Pennsylvania, are among 12 national finalists for Contractor of the Year 2009, sponsored by construction equipment manufacturer Caterpillar Inc. and leading national trade magazine Equipment World. The brothers were honored at an awards banquet February 28, in Las Vegas where the top honor of Contractor of the Year was announced.

Each Contractor of the Year finalist is selected on the basis of company achievements, endorsements from customers and vendors and the contributions the company has made to the construction industry.

Ebersole Excavating specializes in residential site development, roadbuilding and utility work. Equipment World editors heard a variety of accolades when considering the company for this honor, including “their ethics are above reproach and they are heads above their competition,” “on two occasions, they’ve come to me with a check and said they were able to get the job done a bit cheaper” and “I wouldn’t use anyone else.”

All finalists received a four-day trip to Las Vegas and attended the NASCAR Sprint Cup race courtesy of Caterpillar, sponsor of No. 31, driven by Jeff Burton for Richard Childress Racing.

“Equipment World magazine is honored to recognize the integrity, hard work, and dedication of these exemplary men and women,” said Dan Tidwell, vice president, group publisher of Equipment World magazine. “This group of finalists represents the best of the construction industry. Their success is evidence of the perseverance, drive and strong values they embody.”

Local Caterpillar dealer Cleveland Brothers joins Caterpillar and Equipment World in congratulating Ebersole Excavating.

Now in its 10th year, the Contractor of the Year is sponsored by Caterpillar, the world's largest maker of construction and mining equipment; Safety.Cat.com, which offers an extensive offering of free industry-specific safety resources, and Equipment World magazine, the construction industry’s leading trade publication.