A Message from our President, Matt Malone
As we move through January, I would like to take a moment to reflect on what was truly a great year for Kurtz Bros. in 2025. Our results were driven by the hard work, creativity, and execution of our teams across the company, with standout contributions from several major projects. Work with Cliffs, the Painesville and Conneaut sediment inflow and management, and the NEORSD ash hauling project all played a meaningful role in our success and showcased our ability to deliver complex solutions at a high level.
Beyond projects, we also saw strong momentum in our core business. Overall topsoil sales grew significantly, and our stores did an outstanding job welcoming and onboarding new customers. That combination of project strength and everyday execution is what makes our business resilient and positions us well for the future.
Looking ahead to 2026, we are excited to build on this momentum. We plan to expand on the success we achieved in hardscapes in 2025, the opening of our new Broadview Heights store, and launching our new website, which will introduce wholesale online purchasing and create new opportunities for growth and customer engagement.
We do enter the year with some challenges. The ongoing salt shortage has put us behind where we would normally expect to be this winter, and we will have some catching up to do once spring arrives. Even so, I am confident in our team’s ability to adapt, respond, and execute, just as we have time and again.
With the extreme cold, please continue to look out for one another and take the extra steps needed to stay warm and safe, whether you’re working outdoors, in the yards, driving, or supporting our operations from inside. Slowing down when needed, using the right gear, and watching for changing conditions makes a real difference. Your safety always comes first.
Thank you to everyone for an outstanding year and for the energy you continue to bring into 2026. I’m proud of what we accomplished together and excited about what lies ahead.
Finance, Ryan Caruso
Congratulations! December finished strong in a record year!
December closed with Sales up 60% over last year and our loss for the month was cut in half compared to last December. Given the seasonality of our business, winter losses are expected but limiting those losses are a win and a meaningful contributor to our overall success in 2025.
2025 Year in Review
- Sales up 29%
- Gross Profit up 60%
- Gross Margin up 4.9 points
- Net Income more than doubled
- EBITDA up 98%
Key Highlights
- Product Sales up 11%
- Landfill Losses down 37%
- Transportation Revenue up 45%
- Project Revenue up 150%+
- Project Income up 4x
Staying focused in 2026
One of the challenges of having a record year is not letting the large numbers and big year-over-year swings distract us from the fundamentals of the business. If we remove the impact of our projects’ success and focus on our core operations, we can clearly see areas for improvement.
We also normalized year-over-year comparisons excluding items such as the $1M insurance proceeds from 2024 grinder fire and factoring in our return to full rents at all sites.
When looking strictly at the core business:
- Sales are up 11%
- Cost of Sales are up 15%
- Gross Margin down 0.6 points
We’ve seen a modest decline in our Gross Margin over the past couple of years. As costs continue to rise, it’s critical that we stay disciplined identifying areas for improvement, cost savings and revenue opportunities that drive bottom-line growth.
Again, congratulations on an outstanding record year. Let’s stay focused and see if can match, or improve upon it, in 2026.
Business Development, Jason Ziss
No submission.
Commercial Sales, Peter Zappola
As a new year begins, it’s the perfect time to reset, refocus, and set fresh goals. For a sales organization, having a clear sales plan isn’t just helpful — it’s essential. Preparation drives performance, and reviewing last year’s results gives us valuable insight into what worked, what didn’t, and where we need to sharpen our approach moving forward.
Success starts with strong relationships. That means staying connected with existing customers, seeking out new opportunities, and continuously looking for ways to grow our business. Right now, the Sales Team is actively preparing pricing for commercial customers, upcoming projects, and our distributor partners.
Before we know it, winter will be behind us and spring will arrive fast and full of opportunity — just like it always does. That’s when we show the market why we lead with unmatched quality, service, and value — and why we’re so proud of what we do.
As you head into conversations and negotiations, remember this simple truth: nothing happens until somebody sells something.
Operations, Aaron Brockway
Operations across our sites continue to stay busy as we head further into the season. At Bridgeview and Avon, teams have been hard at work grinding and screening mulch, ensuring high-quality material is ready to meet customer needs. North Canton has also remained productive, focusing on screening and loading compost to support ongoing demand. In addition, the Ash project has been successfully completed—another great accomplishment made possible by the hard work and coordination of our teams. Thank you to everyone involved for keeping operations running smoothly and safely.
Stores, Tammie Hattery
2025 brought many changes, and accountability was at the forefront—particularly around sales performance and store appearance. While these expectations led to some difficult management terminations, they also allowed us to reset and move forward stronger. I’m genuinely excited about the new team we have in place and the momentum we’re building together.
One major win this year was tackling long-neglected yard and store repairs. A significant amount of work has been completed, putting us in a much better position as we head into the new year.
2026 Motto: “Ballin’ on a Budget”
Due to the heavy investments and expenses in 2025, our focus for 2026 will be smart spending and operational efficiency—Ballin’ on a Budget.
Store Updates
Willowick and Broadview are nearly ready to open as the “new” stores. While there is still some yard work to complete, we are on track to be 100% ready by March 1st.
A HUGE shoutout goes to:
· Brandon (Broadview)
· Jon and Wendy (Willowick)
Thank you for navigating the moves and setups—this was no easy task.
Honorable mentions to Luca (Hudson) and Tim (Akron) for stepping in and helping with labor wherever needed. Teamwork like this makes a real difference.
Operations & Supply Challenges
· Salt: We ran out of both bulk and bagged salt, and due to the ongoing shortage, it does not look promising for additional supply.
· Training: January will bring focused training opportunities for managers, with emphasis on HR topics and NetSuite.
· Yard Waste Program: We’ve implemented changes to both reduce inflow and increase revenue. One key adjustment is increasing rates and eliminating dumping permits at our northernmost stores.
· Restocking Fees: Tremendous improvement here:
2023: 0 customers charged
2024: 8 customers charged
2025: 56 customers charged
This shows real progress in enforcing policies and protecting margins.
Thank you all for the hard work, adaptability, and commitment through a year of major change. We’re in a solid position moving forward, and I’m confident in what we’ll accomplish together in 2026.
Marketing, Traci Ward
All wheels are rolling and the marketing train is officially full steam ahead!
We are just days away from going live with our brand-new website, only weeks from kicking off the season, and a few short months away from what we’re all hoping will be warmer, sunnier weather. It’s an exciting time across the company, and marketing is moving fast to support what’s shaping up to be a big year.
In 2026, we’ll be taking a more earth-driven approach to our messaging — leaning into our roots, sustainability efforts, and waste-to-resource story. From organics recycling and engineered soils to material recovery and responsible reuse, we truly do a lot of incredible things for this beautiful earth of ours.
Now it’s time we highlight them. 🌎
You’ll start seeing more storytelling around who we are, where we came from, and how the work we do every day helps make the good earth better — for our customers, our communities, and the environment.
Human Resources, Tiffany Bean
For those who missed the announcement at the Christmas party…..
Congratulations to our 2025 Employee of the Year – Kelly Hattery!
Congratulations to our 1st runner up, Chris Horn!
Congratulations to our 2nd runner up, Holly Zelenskas!
2025 W2’s
Your W2 for 2025 is ready! Tax forms are ALWAYS available in the ADP app and website to download!
Paper copies are being mailed. If you opted into online statements only you will not receive a copy in the mail.
We encourage all employees to opt out of paper copies–choosing electronic W-2s helps protect your personal information by reducing the risk of mail theft or fraud. Opting out of paper delivery is a simple way to keep your data secure while also being faster and more environmentally friendly.
To view online: log into workforcenow.adp.com and navigate to Myself > Pay > Pay & Tax Statements
To view in the app: navigate to Pay, choose the Tax Statements tab at the top
Energage Survey
TODAY IS THE LAST DAY for our workplace survey! You received an email about this earlier this month– it is not spam! This is being conducted by a third party. Each employee receives an individual survey link to prevent multiple responses. Your honest feedback is incredibly valuable, and participation is strongly encouraged. Please take a few minutes to complete the survey and provide us with your feedback.
Performance Reviews
By now, employees should have completed their self- evaluations in ADP. THANK YOU or taking the time to reflect on your accomplishments, challenges, and goals over the past year! The review cycle is now moving into the next phase, where managers will review submissions and prepare for performance discussions. Please stay tuned for upcoming timelines and next steps as we continue through the ADP performance review process.
Open positions
As a reminder, internal job openings are posted through our ADP Career Center.
Check out the page to view and apply! Go to Myself > Talent > Career Center
You can also refer someone to an open position and earn the $500 Referral Bonus!
New medical cards
If you are enrolled in KB’s medical benefits, you should have received a new medical card with our updated pharmacy information.
You can also view your medical cards through the HealthJoy app.
