Superior Bowen announces new president

Superior Bowen has promoted Amanda Mohr to president of the company - the first president outside of the namesake since its inception seventy-three years ago.

Previous president and CEO, Trey Bowen, will remain CEO.

“Amanda has demonstrated an ability to partner with the team to drive results and facilitate continuous improvement. She brings a combination of intellectual curiosity, a can-do attitude, and a collaborative nature that fits well with us culturally,” said Bowen.

Mohr has almost 25 years of experience as a financial executive focused on delivering value through organic and acquisitive growth, improving financial and operational performance, and developing talent. Prior to joining Superior Bowen in early 2020, Mohr worked for Summit Materials, Inc. as a regional chief financial officer.

“I’m stepping into a role with a company that already has a culture of continuous improvement, a strong leadership team, and a long history of safely serving its customers and community. It’s a privilege to work alongside the Bowen family and I’m excited for the opportunity to build on the company’s momentum,” said Mohr.

Founded in 1948, Superior Bowen is one of the largest asphalt paving and sitework contractors in the Midwest.

Superior Bowen expands, acquires O'Donnell and Sons and two asphalt plants

Superior Bowen, one of Kansas City’s largest site-work and road contractors, has acquired O'Donnell & Sons Construction, an Olathe-based, third-generation family business founded in 1973.

In addition, Superior Bowen has acquired the Olathe and Louisburg asphalt plants of the Hamm Companies, based out of Topeka, Ks.

The double-down expansion maintains the company's commitment to Johnson County, Ks, while further extending its industry-leading capabilities.

"The acquisition of O'Donnell & Sons Construction, as well as the Olathe and Louisburg plants of the Hamm companies, were the perfect opportunities to continue that growth-focused strategy. We're proud to keep this key component of our region's economy in local hands," said Trey Bowen, CEO of Superior Bowen.

After a period of underinvestment, the State of Kansas has significantly increased its planned infrastructure spending for 2020 and beyond.

Superior Bowen already operates one asphalt plant in Olathe; the acquisitions will add the capacity required to serve the growing economic development needs of the area.

The acquisitions also leverage the company’s September 2019 investment in XBE, the leading science and technology platform for horizontal construction.

By building its robust management infrastructure on innovative software, Superior Bowen is able to scale with the needs of its market and lead the way in helping other horizontal construction companies achieve similar efficiencies.

"Superior Bowen exists to build things of lasting value. By adding the talented employees of O'Donnell & Sons to our experienced team, we'll be able to build even more of our community together,” Bowen said.

Superior Bowen paves way for growth and diversification with new HQ, hires

Superior Bowen is capping off its 70th year with new Crossroads digs and a flurry of projects in the pipeline.

The third-generation asphalt and paving contractor is growing its SiteWorks portfolio, recently winning contracts for Metro North Mall’s redevelopment and Johnson County’s new Indian Creek Library, while building its bread-and-butter business of large paving projects such as the Ford Claycomo Assembly Plant and Cerner Corporation's Innovations Campus.

“We’ve been incredibly busy and continue to diversify into business ventures necessitated by expansion and growth,” said Brian Johanning, Superior Bowen vice president of business development. “We are continuing to beef up our corporate resources and strengthen our foundation for growth.”

Superior Bowen doubled its footprint when it consolidated operations into a 30,000 square feet office in the historically renovated McQueeny Lock Building, 520 W. Pennway. Previously, staff had been cobbled together in a workshop and three mobile trailers adjacent to one of the company’s six asphalt plants at Manchester Trafficway and I-70.

The makeshift campus embodied Superior Bowen’s trademark grittiness and offered clients an up-close view of the plant and equipment, but Owner Trey Bowen recognized that the company needed a change of scenery to grow. After searching unsuccessfully in the West Bottoms for new digs with plentiful parking, Bowen opted to join Centric Projects and Inspired Homes in the century-old brick building.

“When it came to recruiting and retaining the next generation of talent, we needed to be where that talent wanted to be, and that is here in the Crossroads,” Bowen said. “This is an established, vibrant area.”

Superior Bowen also added four positions to its leadership team in 2018, hiring new vice presidents of marketing, human resources and business development, as well as a new safety director. Each hire is more than just an employee; they’re an investment in Superior Bowen’s future.

“When people come here, they don’t leave. During the Great Recession, nobody was laid off,” Bowen added. “We have room to grow here, which is purposeful.”