1966

Today

6/28/09

Mike Sekulich
Residence: Stow Ohio
Job: President of Tallmadge Asphalt
I am married to my wife Pam. I have 4 children Gavin, Holly, Nikki, and Brandon.
I have four grandchildren.

The following article was in the April 9, 2007 Record-Courier.

Tallmadge Asphalt turns 60

By Deborah Guziak Record-Courier staff writer

BRIMFIELD - It's easy to see why Tallmadge Asphalt has been around for 60 years -just talk to MikeSekulich, president and owner of the business.

Sekulich is a cheerful people person who is interested in the person that crosses the threshold of his business. While it would be easy for him to go into his office every day, he doesn't. Instead, he's a visible part of the community - and not just Brimfield.

"It's important to us to give back to the community; to help someone out," he said. "My dad was a giver. He didn't want anything."

The business that bloomed through the years to include sealing, striping, asphalt, concrete and other services was started in 1947 by Sekulich's father, Edward.

"During World War II, he was building air strips in New Guinea," Sekulich said. "That's how he got interested in paving."

Sekulich joined his father's business fresh out of high school in 1966. His tools were a broom and dustpan.

"I had to work my way up," he said. He took over the business in 1985, and now his son, Gavin, is working his way through the company, which has 100 employees. His wife, Pam, is the treasurer/secretary. She brings Baxter, her 150-pound St. Bernard, to work daily.

"That dog is spoiled," Sekulich said, adding that his wife added ramps to her Navigator when she learned that the breed develops hip problems from jumping. "Can you believe that?"

Located at 741 Tallmadge Road, Sekulich calls his business a "one stop shop." Not only does the company offer asphalt paving, but it also offers concrete work. There also is asphalt sealing, asphalt striping, asphalt grade and asphalt retail sales and manufacturing. The facility also is the location of Tallmadge Trucking, another branch of Sekulich's business. The trucks are used to deliver asphalt to the job.

"We do everything from excavating and footers to the finished product," he said. "We strive for quality." Examples of his company's work can be seen on the roads in Tallmadge, Cuyahoga Falls and Stow; the track at Mansfield Speedway; and parking lots at Kent State University, among other projects.

His office overlooks the operations. Furthest away from his window are silo-type structures where the asphalt is made. A pile of used asphalt recovered from roads that had been stripped is piled near the structures. It is used as a base. Nearby his window is a very large garage where the equipment is stored. In the yard, workers' had pieces of equipment out and were preparing them for the upcoming season.

In his office are several photos of his family, including numerous photos of his grandchildren. There are a few models of muscle cars, including ones decorated with the Tallmadge Asphalt logo.

"I used to drag race," Sekulich said. "My son likes stock. He races now." Sekulich and his wife enjoy collecting cars and have 14, including a 396 SS Chevelle and a '79 Corvette pace car with zero miles on it. A late 1940s Dodge stake-body truck also is part of the collection. It had been his father's truck. The plan for the vehicles was to sell them to help finance retirement, but the couple fell in love with them.

"We can't part with them," he said.

The company does residential and commercial projects and can be reached at (330) 677-0000 or (800) 880-9966. The Web site is www.tallmadgeasphalt.com.