Built from the Ground Up

Todd Brannigan started Groundbreak Excavation with one machine and a reputation for doing things right. Twenty years later, we run a 12-piece fleet and have completed more than 500 projects across Central Ohio.

Todd Brannigan, Founder of Groundbreak Excavation

Todd Brannigan

Founder & Owner

Twenty Years of Moving Dirt the Right Way

I grew up around heavy equipment. My father ran a small dozer operation in Licking County, and by the time I was 16 I could grade a pad better than most grown men. After finishing my operators certification, I spent seven years working for two of Columbus's larger site work contractors learning the business from the inside out.

In 2004, I bought a used CAT 320 excavator and started taking small residential jobs. Word spread fast. By year three, we were handling commercial site prep for developers across Franklin and Delaware Counties. Today, Groundbreak has a 12-piece fleet, a crew of 14, and a project list that ranges from single-family lot clearing to 80-acre industrial park development.

We're not the biggest excavation company in Central Ohio. That's intentional. Every job that goes out under the Groundbreak name gets my personal attention. I sign off on every estimate, I'm on the job site for every mobilization, and I take every phone call from a client. That's not going to change.

Licensed Bonded Insured OSHA 30 Ohio Contractor

Our 12-Piece Fleet

Every machine is maintained on a strict PM schedule. We own what we run. No rental equipment surprises on your job.

Komatsu PC290 Excavator

2021 — 218 HP

Primary dig unit. Hydraulic thumb, 32 ft depth.

Komatsu PC138 Excavator

2020 — 107 HP

Mid-size utility excavator. Tight access sites.

CAT 308 Mini Excavator

2022 — 57 HP

Zero-tail-swing. Residential and confined areas.

CAT D6T Track Dozer

2019 — 175 HP

GPS-equipped. Mass grading and clearing.

John Deere 700K Dozer

2018 — 130 HP

Secondary push unit. Finish grading.

CAT 623K Elevating Scraper

2020 — 365 HP

Large cut/fill earthmoving. 21 CY capacity.

Volvo SD115B Compactor

2021 — 115 HP

Smooth drum soil compaction. Pad prep.

CAT CP44 Padfoot Compactor

2019 — 97 HP

Cohesive soil compaction. Trenches and fills.

Kenworth T880 Dump Truck ×2

2022 — 18-Wheeler

On-site material hauling and export. 18 CY.

CAT 140 Motor Grader

2020 — 175 HP

Precision final grading. Road base work.

Lowboy Trailer

Talbert 55-ton RGN

Equipment transport. Self-contained mobilization.

Hydraulic Rock Breaker

NPK GH-18 — 9,600 ft-lbs

Mounted on PC290. Ledge and boulder breaking.

What We Stand Behind

We've been doing this long enough to know what separates a good excavation contractor from a great one.

Safety First

Every crew member holds a current OSHA 10 certification. Todd holds OSHA 30. We follow a strict excavation safety protocol on every site, including daily equipment walk-arounds, competent person inspections, and confined space protocols.

Accurate Bids

We visit every site before we quote it. Our estimates include a full breakdown of equipment time, operator hours, disposal fees, and contingency. No lowball bids, no surprise change orders.

Scheduled and On Time

Construction schedules are tight. We commit to mobilization dates and we hold them. If there's a delay, you'll hear from us before you need to call. Communication is not optional on a Groundbreak job.

GPS-Grade Precision

Our primary dozer is GPS grade-control equipped. We can grade to within 0.1 ft of design without constant survey staking, which means faster production and lower cost to you.

Responsible Disposal

All spoils, concrete, and debris are hauled to licensed disposal facilities. We keep documentation of all tipping receipts and can provide environmental compliance records on request.

Owner-Accessible

Todd's number is on every contract. You're not going to get routed through a call center when you have a question. We're a small company because we want to stay accountable to every client we take on.

Our Safety Record

Zero lost-time incidents in the past seven years. Not luck. Process.

Zero Lost-Time Incidents

Seven consecutive years with no recordable lost-time injuries on any Groundbreak job site.

OSHA 30-Hour Certified

Todd Brannigan holds OSHA 30 general industry certification. All crew members hold OSHA 10.

Daily Toolbox Talks

Every job day starts with a crew safety meeting. Hazards, tasks, and emergency procedures reviewed every morning.

Full Documentation

MSDS records, equipment inspection logs, and competent-person certifications maintained and available on request.

Central Ohio Service Area

Based in Columbus. We operate across a 90-mile radius with no additional mobilization surcharge for most projects within this area.

Central Ohio aerial view

Central Ohio

90-Mile Service Radius

Counties Served

Franklin Delaware Licking Fairfield Pickaway Madison Union Morrow Knox Perry Hocking Ross

Let's Talk About Your Project

Site visits are free. Estimates are detailed and honest. Give us the scope and we'll give you a number you can build a budget around.