ON THE JOB 2025 | cat.com
When Adam Marsiglio and Justin Izzi started mowing lawns as teenagers in Westerly, Rhode Island, they never imagined that within a decade they would be running one of the region’s most trusted landscaping and construction businesses.
What began as two high school friends pushing mowers turned into A&J Landscaping, a thriving company with 30 employees and the capability to handle everything from residential landscaping to excavating on municipal utility projects.
Based in North Stonington, Conn., A&J Landscaping is not only known for creating beautiful landscapes, but for its ability to manage entire projects—from tearing down old homes to installing underground utilities, pouring sidewalks, and finishing with lush sod.
“We started cutting lawns after school… then once we graduated, we just kept going and adding capabilities. We knew that’s what we wanted to do,” recalls Justin, who started the business in 2007.
By 2010, the pair bought their first machine. After years of renting, they invested in a used Cat® 248 Skid Steer Loader. That decision would set the tone for expanding the company’s equipment fleet moving forward.
“We knew from the beginning that we wanted to go with Cat machines, mostly because of the high level of dealer support and the way the machines hold their value,” Justin says. Since then, nearly every addition to their fleet—now totaling 15—has been a Cat machine.
Today, the vast majority of A&J’s work centers on high-end residential landscaping and maintenance, and municipal construction that involves excavation as well as concrete and asphalt paving on town roads. The firm has two landscape maintenance crews. It also handles demolition work, and has a concrete crew that sets curbs, pours sidewalks, and develops catch basins.
Over the years, A&J has built a versatile lineup of Cat equipment, enabling them to handle a wide range of tasks:
Mini Excavators fit in tight yards and have surprising power for machines their size; three Cat 305 Mini Excavators are “running every day,” Justin says.
Wheel Loaders are utilized for material handling, site work, and snow removal.
Dozers and Backhoes: A Cat D4 dozer and a 416 Backhoe Loader, plus older loaders, are still working strong many years later.
Skid Steer and Compact Track Loaders: Essential daily-use machines for material handling and other tasks enable crews to keep jobs moving.
As Adam explains:
“Having the right machines and attachments is what makes it all possible. We planted a 12,000-pound tree once—it took the 930 Loader with forks and the 310 Mini Excavator to set it in place. Having the right attachments makes jobs like that possible.”
A wide range of Cat attachments is just as important as the machines themselves.
Cat BB124 Box Blade with Grade Control System:
“We have a grading box for the skid steers with the Trimble 3D grade control system,” Justin says.
“It’s a huge time saver—you can be right within the yardage for a concrete floor. It was very useful on a 275,000-square-foot building and multiple smaller warehouses.”
Hammers and Buckets:
“We use the B6 hammer a lot, and we switch it between the skid steers and minis for sidewalk and asphalt demo,” Adam says.
Every mini excavator is equipped with a quick coupler and multiple buckets so operators can adjust quickly for grading, trenching, digging, and material handling.
Snow Removal:
The Cat 906 Loader is a favorite.
“The 906 is our do-it-all machine… It’s powerful, compact, with great visibility—and when you’re in the cab for 10 to 15 hours, comfort matters,” Justin says.
“And heated seats are a definite plus.”
One of the biggest challenges A&J faces is working in New England’s densely populated coastal communities. Beach homes are often tightly spaced, with limited access for large equipment. That’s where compact Cat machines shine.
Justin points to the Cat 308 Mini Excavator:
“At first we were comparing it to the 310, but the 308 is more nimble and compact, which makes it perfect for septic work, plantings, and building retaining walls in tight spaces.”
Similarly, the Cat 305 Mini Excavators are indispensable. The smaller footprint doesn’t mean compromise—it means productivity in spaces where other contractors may struggle.
“They’re perfect for road work, sidewalks, and backyards where space is tight, but you still need productivity,” Justin says.
From powerful hydraulics to modern cab features like heated seats, Cat machines keep crews productive during long shifts.
“The difference in creature comforts between our original 2003 machine and our 2022 skid steer is night and day,” Justin notes.
While the equipment itself drives much of A&J’s success, both Adam and Justin agree that H.O. Penn’s support is what keeps them loyal.
“We have the personal phone numbers of our sales rep, Tim Schofield, and our product support specialist, Phil Malloy,” Justin says. “We can call them nights and weekends, and they take care of us. They’re definitely over the top with the kind of support they provide.”
Schofield brings a unique perspective as a former owner of an excavation business.
“You can call him at midnight or 5 a.m. and he’s there. And because he’s run the machines, his advice carries weight,” Adam says.
“Every time we buy a machine, Tim always comes out and walks us through everything to make sure we know how to run it and get the most out of it.”
As a former Cat mechanic with 30 years of experience, Malloy provides technical expertise.
“I’ll call Phil about an issue, and he either walks me through it or tells me exactly what needs to be done,” Justin adds.
Remote updates and diagnostics from H.O. Penn make the process even easier.
“The first time Phil did a remote flash software update, I didn’t even realize it happened—the machine just worked better the next day,” Justin says.
“That’s what we pay for, and why we stick with Cat equipment and the team at H.O. Penn.”
“Cat equipment also holds its value the best of all brands,” Adam states.
Justin agrees:
“Sure, you can buy another brand cheaper up front, but five years later it may have little or no trade-in or resale value. Cat machines still have good resale value.”
A&J often trades in older machines or sells them locally. Sometimes, they keep older equipment as backup.
“Once it’s paid for, we like to hold onto our machines. Even if it’s older, it’s still reliable,” Justin says, pointing to a 1986-model backhoe that performed without a hitch when other machines were unavailable.
Looking ahead, A&J Landscaping sees Cat machines and H.O. Penn as integral to their continued growth—whether it’s high-end residential landscaping, municipal roadwork, emergency utility calls, or snow removal.
“We invest in our employees, our equipment, and our business,” Justin says.
“We want to have the best of the best. That’s why we choose Cat equipment from H.O. Penn.”
Adam adds:
“We’ve tried other brands. There are things we liked, but we haven’t found another brand that made us want to switch. With Cat equipment, we have everything we need—and the support behind it.”
A&J LANDSCAPING
Location: North Stonington, Conn.
Employees: 30
Dealer: H.O. Penn
Cat® Equipment Fleet:
259 Compact Track Loader
272 Skid Steer Loader
Mini Excavators: 305 (3), 308, 310
Small Excavators: 311, 315, 316
416 Backhoe Loader
Wheel Loaders: 906, 926, 930
D4 Dozer