TEAM
Keith Record
Executive Vice President and
President, Midwest
Keith serves as Executive Vice President and President of Revive's Midwest division, Excel Utility Contractors, where he is responsible for the management and strategic direction of Excel. Keith founded Excel in 2008 after 30+ years of working in the telecommunications industry. Leveraging his many customer contacts and vast utility knowledge, Keith executed a plan that resulted in Excel growing at more than 25% per year for more than a decade.
Keith began his telecommunications career with Wright Tree Service as a laborer in 1978 before transitioning to Schatz Underground Cable in 1982. During his 20 years of employment with Schatz, he advanced to Vice President and under his leadership grew the company to 500+ employees and worked on projects totaling nearly $1 billion in revenue. Following the purchase of Schatz Underground by Orius Corporation in 1999, Keith was promoted to Vice President of the East Region. The region consisted of the legacy operations of Schatz Underground as well as eight other companies installing telecommunications and broadband utilities which were also purchased by Orius Corporation. Before beginning his career in the utilities industry, Keith proudly served in the Navy for four years and since then has overseen and worked projects at over 75 military bases.
Dustin Darrah
Executive Vice President, Operations
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Dustin serves as Executive Vice President, Operations where he is responsible for Excel's Telecommunications and Power divisions, as well as its Safety and Fleet departments.
Dustin has been in the utility contracting industry since the early 1990s. Dustin joined Ditch Witch in 1996 where he quickly progressed through the ranks and attained Top 10 National Salesperson of the Year. In 2000, Dustin took his previous field experience and customer relationships and started Darrah Contracting Inc. Dustin grew Darrah Contracting from a handful of operators to over 45 professionals managing a range of customer projects for AT&T and Ameren and partnering with some of the largest underground utility contractors in St. Louis. In December 2021, Dustin sold Darrah Contracting to Revive Holdings. Dustin holds a Bachelor of Arts in Marketing Management from Missouri State University.
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Larry Harness
Vice President, Telecommunications
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Larry serves as Vice President in Excel’s Telecommunications division.
Larry brings more than 30 years of experience in the utilities industry. Larry started his utilities career in 1988 as an Operator and over the next 13 years worked his way up to Foreman, Project Manager, and eventually to a Division Manager with Schatz Underground in 1999. During his two-year tenure as Division Manager, Larry managed more than $33 million worth of projects across the United States. In 2001, Larry joined his father’s business (Alliance Underground Communications Construction) and in 2010 Larry and his business partner acquired the business from Larry’s father. During his time at Alliance, Larry worked on more than 2,500 projects. In 2024 Larry and the entire Alliance team joined Excel Utility Contractors. Larry also spent four years in the Army National Guard and two years as an Inactive Ready Reservist.
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Mike Hasenstab
Vice President, Power
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Mike serves as Vice President in Excel's Power division.
Mike brings more than 30 years of experience in the industry and has worked for some of the largest Power and Telecommunications companies in the country. For the last 20 years, Mike has focused on the underground electric field. He has worked his way up from an aerial ground hand/laborer to Vice President.
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Mike thrives in challenging situations that have helped him grow into his current role. Mike’s biggest passion and commitment are safety, being on time, and being under budget for each job. His attention to detail and lust for over-performing has kept his customers returning year after year to meet their project needs. Mike believes that our customers’ problems are our biggest problems, meaning customer satisfaction is #1. Mike has received numerous awards in his career ranging from Crew of the Year, to Manager of the Year and has also been Safety Champion four times.
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Jean Howell
Vice President, Controller and
Senior Operations Manager
Jean serves as Vice President, Controller and Senior Operations Manager where she is responsible for leading Excel's finance and accounting functions, as well as assisting with overall operations, including bidding, bonding, insurance, licensing, permitting, subcontractor compliance, and procurement.
Jean began her career in the telecommunications industry in the early 1990s in a variety of roles within the financial and administrative teams of emerging and established utility construction companies. Jean established herself as a highly dependable and proficient team member and quickly rose through the ranks progressing from such roles as locate specialist, payroll clerk/lead and cost-to-complete lead. Early in her career, Jean learned how to analyze blueprints and engineering specs firsthand from owners and senior operators in the field which has enabled her to focus on project profitability analysis and to drive work-in-progress and job costing efforts across Excel. Jean is a proud U.S. Navy veteran having served honorably for four years abroad and within the U.S. She was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal and a Letter of Commendation for her service.
Steve Klein
Vice President, Water
Steve serves as Vice President in Excel's Water division.
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Steve brings 25 years of experience in the utilities industry; beginning his career in 1999 with Kiewit where he helped build a long-haul backbone for LEVEL 3. Steve then moved to Byers Engineering where he had responsibility for design, field work, inspection, and project management of a long-haul backbone build from St. Louis to Chicago. In 2007 Steve joined Hutchins Telecom where he spent 12 years, eventually becoming Vice President of Operations. In this role, Steve was responsible for all aspects of underground utility work, including municipal water and sewer projects. Steve then worked for himself for a few years performing water and sewer installations before eventually joining Excel in 2023.
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Steve worked on a dairy farm to help pay for his college education where he also learned several important lessons that have served him well in his career – how to be an equipment operator and independent leader, as well as the value of a strong work ethic.
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Steve holds a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management, with a minor in Business, from Southern Illinois University’s School of Engineering.
Clayton Payne
Vice President, Telecommunications
Clayton serves as Vice President in Excel's Telecommunications division.
Clayton brings more than 10 years of experience in the underground utility installation industry. Prior to joining Excel, Clayton was both an owner and senior manager for an independent utility contractor for more than seven years. Clayton’s area of expertise covers a broad scope of underground installation of fiber networks, both long haul backbone and fiber to the home. Clayton also has experience in underground gas, electrical, and water installation having supervised and led several significant projects in the space over the last half decade. Clayton has served in every position available in the field including laborer, operator, locator, Construction Manager, Project Manager, company owner, and Vice President. While serving in the United States Air Force, Clayton gained a unique and effective work ethic that he applies every day in managing the projects he leads.
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