At 16 years old, Ron bought his first tractor in his hometown, Brownsdale, MN. Ron is a self-made man and has never been employed by another contractor. With limited education, he built Sandstone Management from $1,250 borrowed money and a rented backhoe. The company has succeeded for over 25 years as a direct result of integrity, hard work, and dedication.
Ron's grandson, Brandon Van Vleet, has been involved with Sandstone Management almost all of his life. At age 5, Brandon took control of his grandfather's CASE 580 rubber tired backhoe for the first time. It was obvious from an early age that he had an interest in learning the business. Ron taught Brandon about the business and instilled in him the major values that Ron learned from his father. After learning the ropes of the business, Brandon expressed to Ron that he would like to become a part of the company. On January 1, 2011, Brandon took ownership of Sandstone Management.
Brandon has increased the company from a small operation to what is now a well established site development contractor. Sandstone Management is continually growing through the incorporation of skilled employees, new equipment, and technology. The future of Sandstone Management looks promising.