When Ferreira Construction expanded its reach to Florida more than a decade ago, the vision was clear: build on strong relationships, diversify services, and invest in people and equipment that make a difference. Today, that strategy has helped Ferreira's Hobe Sound Division grow from a small marine operation into a major player in bridges, civil sitework and more.

"About 15 years ago, our division was a crew of 10 doing small marine jobs," said John Ciabattari, vice president of Ferreira's Hobe Sound Division. "Now, we have over 220 employees and hundreds of pieces of equipment just in this division."

Ferreira's local territory spans from southern Palm Beach County up through northern Indian River County. This stretch of Florida continues to see a surge in population and development, providing steady opportunities for a company with broad capabilities.

"Florida is booming with more than a thousand people a day moving here," Ciabattari said. "That means new roads, bridges, housing, utilities — the full package. We're positioned well to keep up with that growth."

The division's scope of work is intentionally diverse. In addition to marine work, Ferreira runs major Department of Transportation (DOT) bridge projects, civil sitework and even traffic signalization and lighting.

"When you do it all in-house, you control costs and coordination," Ciabattari said. "It's easier for the client, and for us, it means we can keep our people busy and move them where needed. That flexibility helps us balance our workload across sectors."

Ferreira's history is rooted in a strong family culture that extends to every job site. From its start in 1988 as Ferreira Trucking Inc., the company transformed into Ferreira Construction in 1993 and has continued to grow nationwide under president and CEO Nelson Ferreira's leadership.

"Nelson has grown this company into a billion-and-a-half-dollar operation," Ciabattari said. "He's the kind of leader who'll come to the site and work alongside the crew. That down-to-earth attitude filters through the whole company."

Ferreira's employees have been key to its growth and reputation as well. Many team members have stayed for years, building experience and trust that show up in the quality of work.

"We'd be nothing without our employees," Ciabattari said. "We focus on keeping them here with us — training, opportunities to grow and treating them like family."

Efficiency Through iMC

Ferreira's fleet has grown to match its expanding workload, with about 400 pieces of equipment dedicated to the Hobe Sound Division alone, including numerous Komatsu intelligent machine control (IMC) excavators and dozers purchased through Linder Industrial Machinery Company.

"When we took on a big sitework job last year, we leaned into Komatsu's intelligent machine control," Ciabattari said. "We bought a Komatsu PC490LCi-11 excavator and several Komatsu dozers — D71PXi-24, D51PXi-24 and D39PXi-24 models — that have made us more efficient. The operators love the technology and the visibility these machines offer."

The versatility of the Komatsu lineup is critical for projects that range from tight parking lot grading to large-scale earthmoving. Smaller dozers like the D39PXi-24 allow Ferreira to tackle precise work, while larger machines handle heavy cuts and fills.

"Those D39s are perfect for trim work and tight spots," Ciabattari said. "They're versatile, and our guys love them."

For Ferreira, the benefits of IMC go beyond the iron itself. The GPS technology has helped the company stay competitive amid labor shortages and training new operators.

"Once we saw what the intelligent dozers and excavators could do, we were sold," Ciabattari said. "We're at least 30 percent more efficient on finishing work, and it cuts down on survey costs. It's worth the extra investment every time."

Service Beyond Sales

This success is made possible by Ferreira's long-standing partnership with Linder and sales representative Dan Tafoya, who has supported the division for more than a decade. The trust built between the two companies keeps Ferreira's fleet modern and productive.

"Anybody can sell you a machine once, but service after the sale is what counts," Ciabattari said. "Dan checks in on us all the time and helps us find the right equipment for each job. It's never just about pushing a sale — it's about what fits our business."

Linder's dedicated GPS support team adds another layer of value. Ferreira's crews rely on that expertise to keep their technology running smoothly and projects on track.

"We have our own Komatsu GPS experts in-house, so they just have to make one call, and we'll fix the problem," said Tafoya. "We can also remotely tie into their machines without having to be on-site, which is fantastic. We can see what the operator is seeing and help get productive within minutes."

Ready to Grow

As the Hobe Sound Division looks ahead, Ferreira's commitment to balancing civil, marine and bridge work positions it to thrive during Florida's development boom. The company's investments in IMC equipment and trusted partnerships will continue to play a major role.

"I think we're in a good spot for what's coming next," Ciabattari said. "The state is still growing fast, and we're set up to grow with it. As long as we keep our people strong and our equipment up to date, the future looks good."

The foundation of Ferreira's success remains its people; its quality of work and the relationships built along the way. That approach has helped the company grow steadily for decades — and keeps it ready for whatever comes next.

"We put in the time for our people, our clients and our equipment," Ciabattari said. "It all goes hand in hand. That's what keeps Ferreira moving forward."

(*The opinions expressed here are based on the customer's specific experience. Results may vary.)