Nearly 400 employees welcomed the AEM Manufacturing Express to LeeBoy, a trailblazer in the paving industry for nearly six decades. Perched on a scenic hillside in Lincolnton, North Carolina, their headquarters overlooks the rolling Carolina hills, a fitting backdrop for a company rooted in innovation and community.
From humble beginnings in 1964, the late B.R. Lee and his wife, Nelda Lee, started making pavers in their garage in Charlotte, North Carolina. B.R. Lee was known to be a persistent and determined man, traveling to hand-deliver and sell his products across the country on the back of a trailer before returning to build more. From his first pull-box paver to releasing the industry’s first-ever self-propelled paver, he set the standard for the work ethic and entrepreneurial spirit that his company continues today. Over the years, LeeBoy has significantly evolved. The company was acquired by ST Engineering in 2006 and has grown to become a globally recognized brand for paving solutions. Their legacy as innovators is one they strive to live up to; just last year, they manufactured the first electric commercial asphalt paver and broom, marking the beginning of a new era of paving in America.
LeeBoy is a large presence in their community. Currently, they support nearly 500 jobs in Lincoln County. From organizing food and meal drives alongside The Corner Table to providing support and donations to the Crisis Women’s Shelter, they support a culture of giving back (even the unused food from today’s event was donated to a local women’s shelter for a tasty meal for their residents). Walking through LeeBoys hallways, you see flyers and posters pinned up on message boards, encouraging employees to take part in volunteer opportunities and give back to the community.
Employees have always known LeeBoy as a company that takes care of their people. B.R. Lee and Nelda set the gold standard for this expectation. They were known for maintaining a personal culture, even as they experienced rapid growth. For over 60 years, LeeBoy has provided opportunities for growth and success to their employees, and few stories embody this more than that of Ricky Jones.
A long-time LeeBoy veteran, Ricky currently serves as the Director of Manufacturing Engineering, Maintenance, and Research & Development at LeeBoy’s headquarters in Lincolnton, NC. However, his journey to this position began with a leap of faith. In 1995, Ricky, newly married and a first-time dad, needed a job to support his growing family. With local manufacturing openings scarce, he wasn’t particularly optimistic about his chances at LeeBoy, despite his experience as a skilled metal worker. Nevertheless, he was interviewed for a press brake and shear operator position, and he was determined to make his case to Keith Lee, son of the company’s founder, B.R. Lee.
“I told Keith, ‘If you can’t offer me a job, I’m going to head back to my truck, eat my lunch, and go on elsewhere,’” Ricky recalls. “I had no choice but to get a job that day.” Ricky’s straightforwardness caught Keith’s attention. Intrigued, Keith followed Ricky to his truck to see if he was serious. In a moment that would define both of their careers, Ricky gave Keith his peanut butter and jelly sandwich—and Keith, respecting his candor and determination, gave Ricky the job.
This coming February 5, 2025, Ricky will mark his 30th anniversary at LeeBoy, becoming the longest-serving, non-family employee—a testament to the opportunities at LeeBoy.
Ricky is just one example of how LeeBoy has long been a company where hard work and opportunity create lasting careers. His story exemplifies all that manufacturing can offer: it’s not just a job but a career path that creates possibilities and a sense of community for millions of people in the country. For nearly six decades, LeeBoy has demonstrated that manufacturing isn’t just about what we build but what we build together.
