In his nearly 30 years at C.S. Davidson, Mike Stiely has risen from a temp agency hire to Materials Testing and Public Improvement Inspection Manager, a role in which he ensures the construction quality of the company throughout the region.
Inch by inch, road by road, Mike Stiely follows the curb-building crew, checking for level on driveway entrances, looking for flaws in concrete, and ensuring that stormwater drains are properly installed and supported. For nearly three decades, Mike has been bringing a depth of quality to C.S. Davidson’s work, doing so now as Materials Testing and Public Improvement Inspection Manager.
A graduate of Shippensburg University with a degree in land use, Mike joined C.S. Davidson as its first temp agency hire. Early in his career, he discovered a passion for fieldwork and construction. He had no interest in spending his working hours behind a desk.
A quick climb
He began as an Inspector in 1995 and rose to Manager of the Inspection Department by 1999. Over the years, his role and team expanded as they served municipal and private clients. In 2003, there was an internal push to improve the quality of services offered by C.S. Davidson. Mike proposed the creation of materials testing services for the company.
“I went to Dave Davidson and John Klinedinst and said I’d like to start testing services at C.S. Davidson,” Mike says. “They always gave me opportunities.”
With the support of the company’s leadership, Mike spent a year researching and laying the groundwork for what has become a key offering.
Expanding C.S. Davidson’s range
Mike’s dedication paid off, and in March 2004, C.S. Davidson began serving its clients with its materials testing services. Starting with Mike as the first technician, the agency has grown significantly over the past 20 years, employing multiple testing technicians and evaluating various construction materials for municipal and private clients.
In field and laboratory tests, the Materials Testing team ensures that concrete, soils, aggregates, and bituminous pavement meet the rigorous standards for public improvements. The team conducts field and laboratory tests for projects, including roadway paving, building foundations, and bridge decks.
On the inspection side at C.S. Davidson, Mike and his team ensure that civil engineering and architectural projects meet strict structural integrity guidelines and comply with contract specifications. The team’s expert inspections include sanitary sewer and storm sewer improvements, water line installation to paving, and curb and sidewalk improvements.
Mike’s expertise has been key to the company’s ability to deliver high-quality, long-lasting results, and his leadership has helped to build a culture of excellence and reliability in materials testing and inspection. The hands-on work brings him a sense of fulfillment in his job.
“I’ve never woken up in 29 and a half years and thought, ‘I’ve got to go to work again today,’” he says. “I’ve always liked working for C.S. Davidson.”
Dedication to a culture
One of Mike’s latest inspection and materials testing projects was at an industrial park in Manchester Township. The inspections and tests focused on various aspects of a multiphase project that incorporated a new road, an intersection with a new stoplight, sidewalks, stormwater drainage, multiple 500,000 to 1,000,000-square-foot warehouses and police barracks. Mike was the primary inspector, overseeing quality control for C.S. Davidson’s municipal client.
Mike’s other inspections and materials testing have included projects at Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center, Penn State Health Holy Spirit Medical Center’s outpatient facility in Camp Hill, and the expansion at York County Prison.
Part of his love of the job is rooted in the company’s culture, which Mike describes as one where employees are encouraged to pursue ideas and voice their concerns and suggestions.
“People have asked me why I’ve stayed so long,” said Mike. “I’ve always been able to ask our leadership questions. I may or may not have liked their answer, but I respect the fact that they always gave me an answer. That type of ‘open door’ policy has continued from Dave Davidson, PE, and John Klinedinst, PE, to current President and CEO Kerryn Fulton, PE. Knowing that leadership is always looking out for our client’s best interests and that of our employees is what I have always appreciated about working at C.S. Davidson.”