Our History

A group of people posing in front of a schmidtlein excavating sign

Winners of the Small Business of the Year award by The Topeka Chamber of Commerce in 2007

Pictured in lower center are Louise and Ben Schmidtlein, the original owners.  Their surrounding children have all been part of the business ownership and success:


  • Barbie Swartzman
  • Linda Rohr
  • Dave Schmidtlein
  • Diane Menke
  • Bernard Schmidtlein
  • Alice Ziegler
  • Danny Schmidtlein
  • Tony Schmidtlein
  • Colleen Kramer
  • Brian Schmidtlein

1951

A sign for b.j. schmidtlein general contractor

A Small Business was Founded


Ben Schmidtlein, President, was sole proprietor of B.J. Schmidtlein, General Contractor, which he founded with the assistance of his wife, Louise Schmidtlein. Ben Schmidtlein, non-active in day-to-day matters, maintains a role as advisor to the Company.

1976

A yellow and red tractor is parked in the dirt

First Piece of Excavation Equipment Purchased


This Case tractor was the first purchased piece of equipment used for excavation services, when it was purchased to excavate a basement addition.

1985

The logo for schmidtlein excavating inc. is yellow and black

Business Incorporation


Schmidtlein Excavating, Inc. was incorporated.

1989

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Heartland Park Racetrack

Topeka, KS


Complete mass excavation services of over 1,000,000 CY for initial construction of Heartland Park Topeka Racetrack

1989

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Best Buy

Topeka, KS



1989

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17th and Wanamaker St Improvement

Topeka, KS



1990

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  • A yellow excavator is loading dirt into a red dump truck

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Stormont Vail Hospital Radiation Center

Topeka, KS



1991

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  • A muddy field with a tanker truck and a bulldozer

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  • A yellow bulldozer is sitting in the dirt on a construction site

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Sam's Club

Topeka, KS



1992

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Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas

Topeka, KS



1993

A large dirt field with a few buildings in the background

Kohl's

Topeka, KS



1994

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Hayden High School Expansion

Topeka, KS



1997

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  • A photo of a construction site taken in 1993

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Lowe's

Topeka, KS



1999

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  • A picture of a bulldozer in the dirt with a caption that says ' southern excavation '

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  • An aerial view of a highway under construction

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  • A picture of a dump truck being loaded with dirt

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  • A dump truck is being loaded with dirt by an excavator

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  • A black and white photo of a caterpillar grader

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Heartland Park Temporary Dirt Track

Topeka, KS



2002

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Hummer Sports Park

Topeka, KS



2005

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  • A path leading to a body of water surrounded by trees

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  • A yellow excavator is working on a bridge over a body of water

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  • A bridge over a body of water with a yellow excavator in the foreground

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  • A cat excavator is working on a bridge over a body of water

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  • A cat excavator is working on a bridge over a body of water

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  • A person walking down a concrete path in a park

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  • A large crane is lifting a bridge over a body of water

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  • A yellow cat excavator is under a bridge over a body of water

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  • A cat excavator is working on a rocky shoreline near a body of water.

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  • A bridge is being built over a body of water

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Lake Shawnee West Trail

Topeka, KS



2007

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  • A large pile of dirt is being worked on by construction vehicles

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  • A construction site with a large crane in the background

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Topeka Blvd Bridge at 1st St

Topeka, KS



2008

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  • A yellow excavator with the word cat on it

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  • Two bulldozers are working on a construction site

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  • A cat excavator is digging a hole in a field

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  • A yellow dump truck is parked next to an excavator

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4th St and MacVicar Ave Improvement

Topeka, KS



2009

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  • A green john deere tractor is driving through a dirt field

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Home Depot Rapid Deployment Center

Topeka, KS



2010

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29th Street between Urish Road and Wanamaker Road, Topeka, KS



2017

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  • An aerial view of a construction site with tractors and bulldozers

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  • A construction site with a row of green pipes in the dirt.

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Reser's Fine Foods Plant

6th Street and Croco Road, Topeka, KS



2024

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  • A truck is spreading fertilizer on a dirt field.

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  • A bulldozer is spreading fertilizer on a dirt road.

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  • A bulldozer is driving through a muddy field.

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Shawnee County Family Park

21st Street and Urish Road, Topeka, KS



2024

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  • A dump truck is parked in front of a brick building behind a chain link fence.

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  • A large building under construction is behind a chain link fence.

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Washburn Rural High School CTE Addition

Topeka, KS



2024

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  • A concrete walkway leading to a building under construction.

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  • A building under construction with scaffolding and a sign that says sdg on it.

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  • A sign for the rita bitt art gallery and sculpture garden

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Washburn University Recital Hall

Topeka, KS



Integrity is the foundation of everything we do

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