Where Experience Meets Execution

Heavy civil construction services with precision, safety, and innovation, shaping North Central Montana from the ground up.

Where Experience Meets Execution

Heavy civil construction services with precision, safety, and innovation, shaping North Central Montana from the ground up.

About Lakside Excavation

Capabilities That Drive Results

Specialized Equipment Fleet

We operate a versatile fleet tailored for heavy civil construction, from GPS-enabled dozers and multi-size excavators to vacuum trucks, scrapers, and loaders. Our lineup also includes a Big Vac Truck and a Municipal Camera Inspection Truck, expanding our capacity for underground utility work and municipal inspections. With Caterpillar as our preferred brand and a commitment to maintaining top-tier machinery, we’re equipped to handle projects of every scale with precision and efficiency.

Depth of Experience

With decades of hands-on expertise across North Central Montana, our team brings deep knowledge of regional terrain, infrastructure needs, and construction best practices. From underground utilities to complex site development, we’ve built a reputation for reliability, craftsmanship, and results that last.

Preferred by Engineers. Trusted by Municipalities.

Creative Problem Solving

Every project presents unique challenges—and we thrive on solving them! Whether it’s navigating tight timelines, adapting to evolving site conditions, or engineering custom solutions, our team approaches each job with resourcefulness, collaboration, and a can-do mindset.

Competitive, Transparent Pricing

We believe in delivering exceptional value without compromising quality. Our pricing reflects a balance of efficiency, expertise, and transparency to ensure you get the most out of every dollar invested.

Who We Serve

Municipalities

 

We specialize in working with municipal partners across North Central Montana, where timely decisions and collaborative communication lead to smoother, more efficient projects. Our hands-on management approach sets us apart, ensuring every phase moves forward with purpose and clarity.

Commercial Clients

From underground utilities to site development, we bring deep experience and operational efficiency to commercial projects of every scale. Our crew understands what businesses need: precision, reliability, and results that stand up over time.

Residential Projects

Residential construction is where we started, and we haven’t forgotten it. While our focus is on larger-scale work, we’re proud to support residential projects when resources align, continuing the legacy that built our reputation.

Our reputation gets us noticed. Our attention to detail and a commitment to quality keeps clients coming back.

Job Locations

Testimonial

“I’ve known Tyler for over 18 years. During this time, we have had multiple business interactions. It is always a pleasure to do business with Tyler and his crew. They are always honest, on-time and complete the work with highest regard to quality. Equally contagious is Tyler’s happy and spirited way of having fun along the way. I would recommend Lakeside Excavation for anyone, anywhere doing anything. You won’t go wrong.”
Sam Weyers, Project Manager, LHC INC

Meet the Team Behind the Work

At Lakeside Excavation, leadership means showing up: on the job site, in the details, and for each other. Our team combines deep expertise with a hands-on approach, fostering a culture of accountability, support, and pride in the infrastructure we build. We care about the communities we serve and the systems that keep them running.

Tyler Smith – Owner

A 1996 graduate of Havre High School, Tyler Smith began his career in Western Washington before returning to Havre in 1999 to join his father at Lakeside Excavation. In 2001 he met and married his best friend, Emi Sasaki, marking the beginning of a partnership rooted in family and community.

Tyler brings decades of hands-on experience and a commitment to continuous learning, having completed the REAL Montana program, Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses, and the Associated General Contractors of Project Management Course and America Advanced Management Course. He currently serves on the Seeley Lake Sewer Board and is a member of the Board of Directors for the Montana Contractors Association, where he represents utility contractors across the state.

When he’s not leading projects or advocating for infrastructure improvements, Tyler can be found snowmobiling through the backcountry of Western Montana—his favorite way to recharge and stay connected to the land he works to protect.

Kim Keeler – Office Manager

Kim Keeler’s path to Lakeside Excavation was shaped by years of balancing work and family, including small jobs from home and six years in public schools. When a friend referred her to Lakeside, she brought with her a knack for organization and time management, skills that quickly proved invaluable. Nearly three years in, she’s embraced every challenge and learning curve with curiosity and grit.

As Office Manager, Kim wears many hats: from bookkeeping to parts running, and even the occasional excavator ride. She thrives on the variety and values the unexpected lessons that come with working in a traditionally male industry. Her success stems from a willingness to dig for answers and a deep appreciation for being part of a team that supports one another.

Kim enjoys spending her free time outdoors with her kids, recharging in the same Montana landscapes her team works to preserve.

Jeff Fleming – Superintendent

With over 20 years at Lakeside Excavation, Jeff has become a cornerstone of the field team, known for his high standards, strong work ethic, and steady leadership. Raised in the logging field and self-employed as a taxidermist for much of his early life, Jeff joined Lakeside looking for a part-time role, and found a long-term career built on trust, opportunity, and a deep appreciation for working outdoors.

As Superintendent, he oversees daily operations on job sites, coordinates crews, and ensures that every project meets Lakeside’s commitment to quality and safety. His role spans everything from job site engineering to paperwork management, and he’s known for being as hands-on as they come, often working alongside laborers to keep things moving.

Jeff’s approach is detail-driven and grounded in accountability. He’s the kind of leader who’s first on the job site and last to leave, making sure timelines are met and challenges are solved. He’s trusted for his ability to juggle multiple projects during the busy season and for his commitment to mentoring the next generation, even as talent in the trades becomes harder to find.

Outside of work, Jeff enjoys traditional archery and spending time with his wife and three children, often exploring the same Montana landscapes he helps shape through his work. He’s a dedicated bow hunter who finds peace and purpose in the woods.

Our Roots

Lakeside Excavation began in 1978, when founder Richard Smith saw a need for affordable housing and created Lakeside Plaza, home to 125 mobile spaces in Havre, Montana. To support the development, he launched what was then Lakeside Construction, installing underground utilities for the trailer court and eventually expanding into water line repair, sewer systems, stock water, and small-scale civil projects across the region.

Richard’s philosophy was simple: work hard, price fairly, and deliver top-quality results. For two decades, he built a reputation rooted in reliability and resourcefulness, often solving problems with creativity and true grit.

In 1996, his son Tyler joined the business, bringing a fresh perspective from his time working on large-scale residential developments in Seattle. When Richard passed away in 2004, Tyler stepped into leadership, guiding Lakeside into a new era of government and infrastructure projects ranging from $1 to $5 million.

Today, Lakeside Excavation continues to reflect the values Richard instilled: problem-solving, integrity, and a commitment to clean water and functioning systems that serve communities well.

Our Mission

At Lakeside, we dig in—leading with safety, communication, and integrity to deliver what lies beneath with excellence. From the first mark to final grade, we deliver safe, seamless underground solutions that raise the standard above.

Our Vision

To set the standard for underground contracting, where safety is non-negotiable, communication flows both ways, and each project fuels team growth, lasting relationships, and community impact.

Our Values

Safety First: Because the job’s not done until everyone’s home safe

Customer Focus: Exceed expectations through transparency, efficiency, and pride

Clear Communication: Listen, share, and adapt at every stage

Team Development: Invest in people so we all rise together

Results That Matter: Finish early, protect the margin, and deliver quality

Award

Recognition & Excellence

At Lakeside, we take pride in doing meaningful work that serves our communities and protects our environment. Being recognized by industry peers affirms that commitment and inspires us to keep pushing for excellence in every project.

Environmental Excellence Award

The Montana Contractors Association honored Lakeside with the 2019 MCA Environmental Excellence Award, granting Special Recognition for Water Quality in acknowledgment of our efforts on the Bullhook Storm Water Project. This achievement reflects a true collaboration, and we extend our sincere thanks to the City of Havre and Great West Engineering for making the project a success.

The recognition is especially meaningful given that a previous out-of-state contractor was unable to complete the work. Lakeside stepped in to deliver a solution where others fell short, bringing the project across the finish line with the quality, care, and expertise it demanded.

Certifications

Asbestos certified for water pipe removal – Montana DQ

Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWIPP)- Montana DQ

HASMAT and HAZWOPER

HDPE Pipe Fusion

Our Affiliations

We’re proud members of:

Let our decades of field-tested experience guide your next infrastructure project to success.

Solid pay, strong values, and a team that has your back. Your next opportunity starts here.