Featured by Komatsu Company-owned Dealers ·
From One Machine to Heavy Civil: SMI Featured by Komatsu
Komatsu's company-owned dealers profiled SMI Companies in a customer story video and in Komatsu East Insider magazine: how a veteran-owned erosion control crew grew into a heavy civil contractor.
This summer, Komatsu's company-owned dealer network told SMI's story twice: in a customer story video, and in a feature in the Summer 2026 issue of Komatsu East Insider magazine. Both follow how a veteran-owned erosion control crew grew into a diversified construction firm serving the East Coast.
Three people, a truck, a trailer and one machine
SMI began in 1997 as Site Maintenance Inc., started by Stephen Principe, his brother Andrew and one more partner with a single truck, trailer and machine. The work was residential and light commercial site maintenance. 29 years on, SMI runs heavy civil, site development, earthwork, stormwater and erosion control work across Maryland, Virginia, Washington D.C., Delaware and Pennsylvania.
“We've been running for almost 30 years and segued into SMI, or Site Maintenance Inc. And from there, we've just grown into not only just doing residential light commercial, but now heavy civil.”
Military discipline, family values
Stephen started in construction young, working with his grandfather, then served 13 years in the military before building SMI. The oldest of ten children, he credits much of his discipline to his mother, who the family called "the general." SMI is a Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB) and holds Maryland's Veterans Small Business Enterprise (VSBE) certification.
The new Maryland Supreme Court building in Annapolis
The video highlights SMI's work on the new Maryland Supreme Court building going up in Annapolis, a big moment for a VSBE-certified business. Out on that site is a Komatsu machine decorated with every branch of the military, American flags and SMI's VSBE certification.
“It's really a great thing, and the state of Maryland, the governor, everybody loves it. So, very patriotic, which is us and our company in a nutshell.”
Why SMI runs Komatsu
In the video, Stephen explains why Komatsu is SMI's equipment of choice.
“They've been phenomenal pieces of equipment for us. And the guys love them. They don't miss a hitch.”
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