For more information on Champion Motor Graders, contact: Woody Ferrell, Vice President Sales & Marketing 8844 Mount Holly Road Charlotte, North Carolina, 28214 Telephone: 704-392-1038 Fax: 704-394-0802

ALPINE SERVICES, INC. AND CHAMPION MOTOR GRADERS
PERFECT THE GROUNDS OF THE WASHINGTON MONUMENT

	With lengthy credentials for building and renovating some of the most prestigious athletic grounds in the country, Grove Teates of Alpine Services, Inc. was handpicked to grade the grounds around the Washington Monument in preparation for the nation’s 4th of July celebration.

GAITHERSBURG, MD - When Alpine Services got a call from Washington with an offer they couldn’t refuse, the company knew they could rely on Champion Motor Graders to help get the job done.

“For me, it’s all about relationships in this business. I’ve always known I could count on Champion Motor Graders and when this job came in, it was no different,” said Grove Teates, President of Alpine Services, Inc., based in Gaithersburg, MD. Teates was brought on to perfect the grounds of the Washington Monument and when Teates himself broke ground, Champion Motor Graders was there.

Alpine has been in the business of precision grading since 1986 and the business evolved in 1994 to include prominent athletic fields - jobs that require a keen eye as well as advanced laser control technology. Some of the fields Alpine Services has finished include the Washington Redskins’ FedEx Field, Bowie State University, the Colorado Rockies' Coors Field, Holman Stadium, University of Maryland’s Shipley Field, California Angels’ Edison International Field, Georgetown University’s North Kehoe Field, West Point Military Academy’s Clinton Field, Myrtle Beach Pelicans’ Coastal Federal Field, and the Kansas City Chiefs Arrowhead Stadium, to name a few. The company has worked in all 48 states but remains a small, family operation with six full-time employees.

Although Teates had repeatedly turned down the Washington Monument job over a two-week period, he was finally persuaded. However, there was one stipulation – Teates would run the grader himself. “This was precision grading at its rawest form. And it’s the only contract I’ve ever signed that named me as the operator,” said Teates with a laugh.

From the first fireworks display marking its dedication in 1885 and each subsequent Fourth of July, the Washington Monument has been the backdrop to mark the independence of the U.S. from Britain. The Washington Monument usually refers to the large white-colored obelisk in the center of the National Mall in Washington, D.C. It’s an American Presidential Memorial built to honor the nation’s first President. The Washington Monument reflection can be seen in the aptly named Reflecting Pool, an edged rectangular pool extending westward in the direction of the Lincoln Memorial. Today, thousands of visitors walk the site, while government employees play recreational football at the national park.

Alpine’s first assignment at the Washington Monument required about three weeks of work grading approximately 45 acres. With no grade stakes or laser points to guide the grading, the entire job was done by eyes. It was for this reason that Grove Teates was hand-picked for the job. “It was going to be a tough job and we were very busy with other projects. I really didn’t know if we could get it done but when your government calls, it’s hard to say no,” said Teates.

Grove Teates, President of Alpine Services, Inc., appreciates the responsiveness he gets from the hydraulic system in his Champion C80 Graders, as well as the service response he gets from the people at Champion Motor Graders.

“The first day on the job site I was joking with Gary Abernathy at Champion that I needed a bigger blade,” recalls Teates. Alpine Services normally works with a 10-foot moldboard. “Three days later a bigger blade arrived from Champion. I was very impressed.” The new moldboard was a 14-foot custom fabrication that took the Champion C80 Grader to new heights in accuracy. The larger blade allows for a wider stance and better control and better response from your grader. “Because we couldn’t use the lasers, we had to blend in as much as possible. This surprise new blade certainly made the job that much easier for me,” said Teates.

Alpine’s second assignment was to return to the grounds in the fall and grade the site’s football fields. This also included installing a significant amount of drainage in several key areas to resolve long standing wetness issues. The Champion, again, was paramount in completing the tasks.

“We are only too happy to help out a client like Alpine Services and hopefully, make their job that much easier,” said Gary Abernathy, President of Champion Motor Graders. “At Champion, we are always conscious of our relationships. Continuing to build on them, by offering the best service and product we can, is how we stay in business.” This is the sort of relationship Champion is known for – personal service, attention to detail and dependable equipment.

“You can't underestimate the importance of suppliers,” said Teates. “Champion has come through for us on so many occasions and it’s relationships like that you know you can build on,” he said. Teates began working with Champion after finding the hydraulic valve system on Champion Graders is well-suited to the laser controls. After completing the Washington Monument project, he added a second Champion Grader to the Alpine equipment fleet. “I visited the factory in Charlotte and Gary Abernathy took the time to talk to me - he spent two hours with me,” he said. “I know I could call them at any time and they will do their best to help me out. It gives someone like me peace-of-mind having a direct connection like we do with Champion. That doesn’t get any better in our business.”

Alpine Services offers the bases for artificial turf fields as well as full service to a variety of natural grass fields including a variety of rootzones such as the native soil, amended native soil, Alpine sandwich, sand cap and high performance sand fields. Each type of field is designed for maximum performance and receives the same careful attention for which Alpine is known nationwide.

For more information on Alpine Services, Inc., contact:

Grove Teates, President
5313 Brookeville Road
Gaithersburg, MD 20882
Phone: 800-292-8420
Fax: 301-963-7901

Champion Motor Graders, one of the newest companies in the construction equipment industry, can look back on a long and successful history. Their head office and manufacturing facility is located in Charlotte, NC. At this plant, they manufacture five basic models of single axle, tandem and All Wheel Drive Motor Graders with operating weights ranging from 12,000 to 15,500 lbs and have done so for over 25 years.

For more information on Champion Motor Graders, contact:

Bryan Abernathy, Vice President Sales & Marketing
Champion Motor Graders
8844 Mount Holly Road
Charlotte, North Carolina 28214
Telephone: 704-392-1038
Fax: 704-394-08029