Stacy & Adam Stevens Took the Entrepreneurial Leap Together: This Time it’s Her Turn

Being married, Stacy and Adam Stevens already felt as though they made a good team in many ways, including business partners. For years, they have been part owners of a crop and cattle farm in Livingston County. However, the farm was Adam’s passion, while Stacy worked full-time as a Professional Engineer (P.E.).   

In early 2022, Stacy became aware that a local precast concrete production facility might be up for sale. Lakelands Concrete Products, a staple of the community employing about 50 locals, and holding a 70 + year quality reputation, was too good of an opportunity to pass up.  Stacy’s experience in designing bridges and pre-cast culverts and passion for the industry drove her conversation quickly from “should we, or could we”, to “how do we”. That’s where the SBA loan products came into play and helped their vision become a reality. 

Stacy and Adam reached out to M&T Bank to discuss the financial plan to purchase the long-standing business.  Through the support of an SBA 7(a) loan, in early 2023, Stacy and Adam became the proud owners of Lakelands Concrete Products, Inc.  Then in late 2023, they closed on an SBA 504 loan through Pursuit CDC to purchase all the property correlated to the business, which included 9 separate tax parcels, the 63,000 square foot main plant, an office, and a mechanic shop - all together 85.13 acres of land.

In less than two years, she’s already grown the business to add 13 new employees.  She’s built an internal infrastructure, and provided opportunities for her, now 63, employees to grow within the company. She’s also become DBE certified, moved to a new strategic planning process and has completed many big projects (including producing over 1,000 precast concrete panels in over 80 different sizes for the new Highmark Studium – home of the Buffalo Bills).

It may not have all been easy, but with her grit, and the SBA resources there to support her, Stacy is just getting started.  “I knew the industry was on the cusp of real growth, and I’m excited and ever-driven to make something more with this company”, says Stacy.