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Early morning light cuts across the yard at Hermes-Parker Concrete. Trucks hum as crews gather their gear, and a massive concrete pump truck glints under the sunrise. To most people driving by, it looks like the start of another workday. To the partners at Hermes-Parker Concrete, it’s a reminder of what steady work and family teamwork can build.
Hermes-Parker Concrete began as a leap of faith for two sets of brothers who are cousins: Jason and Jeremy Hermes and Matt and Mark Parker. Before they joined forces, the Hermes brothers spent years in the field, working with local contractors on large-scale concrete jobs. They learned the trade, pouring foundations and finishing commercial slabs. Matt Parker worked at the same company, handling project estimating and management from the office. Together, they learned the technical details and the business pressures of the concrete industry—tight schedules, unpredictable weather, and the need for precision with virtually no room for error.
In 2004, with a few tools and a handful of employees, they set out to start their own company. “We started small, with hardly any equipment and no money to account for,” Mark says. “But we believed in what we could do.”
What they didn’t have in capital, they made up for in credibility. They turned to Civista Bank, who also believed in what they could do. With Civista’s help, Hermes-Parker secured its first line of credit—critical funding that allowed them to buy equipment, hire help, and take on new projects. “They vouched for us along the way,” Mark says. “They helped us get what we needed to start growing.”
“Before the business even started, I knew the families well,” says Rich Finneran, Senior Vice President/Regional Marketing Executive at Civista Bank. “Jason and Jeremy’s mom, Ann Hermes, actually worked at the West Perkins Ave branch where I started my lending career years ago. So, when they came to us with their idea, it felt natural to help them get started. We believed in them from day one.”
From Office to Field
Two years later, the business was expanding, and the team needed more help in the office. That’s when Mark, who had been working outside the concrete world, joined the company full time. With a business degree from Bowling Green State University and an MBA from Cleveland State, Mark brought a new level of structure to the operation.
“I had no concrete experience at first,” he says with a laugh. “But I knew the business side. My brother taught me the estimating, and my cousins taught me the technical parts.”
In the years since, Mark has handled estimating, project management, payables, receivables, and more. His brother Matt oversees foundations and field coordination, while Jason Hermes manages scheduling and labor. Jeremy Hermes leads one of the company’s primary field crews. Each person knows their lane, but they all share a commitment to quality and community.
For the business, one major turning point came with the purchase of its first concrete pump truck. Owning (as opposed to renting) the equipment gave them freedom to schedule pours without delay and take on bigger, more complex projects.
“Sometimes you’re pouring a slab on a second or third floor, or you’re working in a tight space,” explains Mark, noting that pump trucks essentially get concrete where mixer trucks can’t drive. “The pump truck shoots the concrete through a long hose to exactly where it needs to go.”
When Hermes-Parker wasn’t using the truck, they rented it out to smaller contractors as a source of passive revenue that helped offset costs and strengthen relationships with other builders. It even became a community favorite at Sandusky’s annual “Touch-a-Truck” event, where children can explore heavy equipment up close. “It looks like a fire truck, and it’s always the star of the show,” Mark says.
The pump truck at work, pouring concrete for a new building at the South Central Trojans high school.
Growing Through Challenges
Like many contractors, Hermes-Parker faced challenges in the early years. The concrete industry depends on timing, weather, and cash flow. A single project delay can ripple through weeks of schedules and budgets.
“We’ve had lean years,” Mark says, noting economic downturns. “You just keep doing the right things and trust that it pays off.”
Over time, Hermes-Parker refined focus. They chose to pursue regional commercial work—projects big enough to be complex but small enough to manage locally. They also began investing in their future. About a decade ago, they bought property on a former grain elevator site and built a new 12,000-square-foot office and shop. As the business grew, they added another building of the same size to store materials and equipment.
Today, Hermes-Parker employs around 45 people. Many have been with the company for more than a decade, and several have grown from entry-level laborers into supervisors. “We’ve had guys start out pushing wheelbarrows who now run their own crews,” Mark says. “That’s something we’re proud of.”
The Craft Behind Concrete
Concrete work demands strength and precision. In commercial projects, crews rely on detailed blueprints and specialized technology to make sure floors, foundations, and sidewalks are poured at exact elevations and slopes. Hermes-Parker uses laser-guided machines and 3D systems to measure surfaces and make sure each pour meets the engineering design.
“People think concrete work is all muscle,” Mark says, “but our crews have to read architectural, structural, and civil drawings. They have to understand the materials, the grades, the tolerances. It’s technical work.”
Before pouring slabs, the crew must ensure the space is properly prepped and meets engineering’s specifications.
Weather adds another layer of difficulty. Pouring concrete in extreme heat or cold can affect how it sets and hardens. “You’re dealing with nature every day,” Mark says. “Some days it’s 90 degrees, some days it’s 30. Our guys are out there in all of it.”
The company’s dedication shows in the projects they complete. They’ve built everything from car dealerships and senior living centers to schools and sports stadiums. One of their most visible projects is Sports Force Parks at Cedar Point, a massive youth sports complex in Sandusky. “That one’s special,” Mark says. “Most people see the sidewalks, but they don’t realize there are miles of hand-formed curbs our crews poured by hand. It’s the kind of work most people never notice, but we do.”
Giving Back to the Community
Hermes-Parker’s name is familiar throughout the Sandusky area, not just for their work but for their generosity. They sponsor local schools, baseball and softball teams, community events, and county fairs.
“A lot of people ask for sponsorships, and we try to say yes when we can,” Mark says. “We just believe in supporting the community that supports us.”
The crew at work pouring concrete at the Lorain County fairgrounds.
A Banking Partner That Knows Their Business
From the beginning, Hermes-Parker has banked with Civista Bank. What started as a small line of credit to get the business off the ground has grown into a full partnership that supports nearly every aspect of the operation.
Civista has helped the company finance property purchases, equipment upgrades, and facility expansions. The bank also provides day-to-day support through treasury management and deposit services. “It’s just easy,” Mark says. “We know who to call, and we get an answer right away. We’re not getting passed around a big corporate bank.”
A few years ago, for example, Hermes-Parker faced a challenge that many businesses encounter: check fraud. Scammers created counterfeit checks that looked identical to the
company’s real ones. “It was frustrating,” Mark says. “They washed the names off real checks and replaced them with their own. It took us a while to catch.”
Civista stepped in to help. The bank worked with Hermes-Parker to recover funds and introduced them to a service called Positive Pay. With Positive Pay, every check the company issues is verified against an authorized list before it’s processed. If something doesn’t match, Civista contacts the business for approval. “It gives us peace of mind,” Mark says. “It’s nice to be proactive instead of reactive.”
Civista also helped Hermes-Parker set up a Business Money Market account, which lets them earn interest on idle funds, and a zero-balance sweep account, which automatically moves excess money into savings and back as needed. “It’s nice to finally use our money to make money,” Mark says. “For years, we were borrowing. Now we’re in a place where we can grow with our own capital.”
“When they first started, things were tight,” says Civista’s Rich Finneran. “They faced some challenging times in the early years. But they stuck with it, kept working hard, and built something solid. Now, when you drive by their yard and see all the trucks lined up, it’s a great feeling knowing we helped them get there.”
That longtime connection is a big part of why Hermes-Parker continues to bank with Civista.
“They know us, they understand our business,” adds Mark, “And they’ve been there for us through every stage.”
Why Local Matters
For Mark, the value of working with a community bank goes far beyond the numbers. “We see these guys at church, at ballgames, around town,” he says. “They know our families. They’ve been part of our story for 20 years. It’s like an extension of our business.”
Finneran agrees. “It’s rewarding to see how they’ve grown, not just as a business but as part of the community.”
That kind of relationship, Mark believes, is what keeps local economies strong. “You can go to a national bank, but you’ll never get that personal touch. Civista understands where we came from and where we’re going. That means something.”
The team working on a project at the beloved Cedar Point amusement park.
Experience the Civista Difference
For more than a century, Civista Bank has helped local businesses like Hermes-Parker Concrete grow from ideas into cornerstones of their communities. Our philosophy is simple: strong relationships build strong businesses.
Whether you’re a contractor, manufacturer, or small business owner, we can help you take the next step. From equipment financing and commercial real estate loans to treasury management
tools that protect your payments and help your cash work harder, our local experts are here to support your goals.
When you bank with Civista, you’re partnering with people who understand what it takes to build something lasting—because they live and work right here, too.
Let Civista help you reach your next level of growth. Visit civista.bank/business to learn more.
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