About Us
The Big River Story
Big River Contracting was founded by Dave and Ryan in January 2025, built on years of experience, a shared work ethic, and a simple belief: do quality work the right way.
Dave's Story
For Dave, working with heavy equipment started long before Big River was ever an idea.
Growing up, Dave watched his dad move massive amounts of dirt with heavy equipment—and he loved every second of it. From a young age, he knew he wanted to operate the biggest equipment he could get his hands on and build a career doing what he loved.
During his junior year of high school, Dave joined the Iowa Army National Guard. With a passion for operating equipment and moving dirt, becoming a horizontal construction engineer was a natural fit. Over the next 12 years, he gained extensive experience in heavy construction and earthmoving operations while serving his country. He eventually became a sergeant, taking on the responsibility of leading and training other soldiers.
After meeting his wife, Dave moved to Minnesota to support her career in the medical field. He joined Operating Engineers Local 49, where he continued to build his career as a heavy equipment operator.
That's where he met Ryan.
Ryan served as Dave’s foreman on numerous projects during their first few years working together. It didn’t take long for them to realize they made a strong team. More importantly, they shared the same expectations: work hard, take pride in what you do, and get the job done right.
For years, Dave talked about eventually starting his own company. Then, in 2023, he left for a year-long military deployment to the Middle East.
When Dave returned home in 2024, those conversations became more serious. After more than a few beers and plenty of ideas between Dave and Ryan, Big River Contracting went from something written on paper to reality.
In January 2025, Big River Contracting officially began.
Since then, Big River Contracting has continued to grow, building a strong client base and earning new customers through quality work, reliability, and word of mouth.
For Dave, Big River Contracting is more than a contracting company. It’s the result of a lifelong passion for heavy equipment, years of construction and military experience, and the opportunity to build something of his own alongside someone he trusts.
Today, Dave and Ryan bring that same experience, work ethic, and commitment to every Big River project—working hard, treating people right, and delivering work they’re proud to put their name behind.