Customer Spotlight: CAD Industries Builds the Next Generation of HDD Talent
Building a Company During Challenging Times
Finding experienced directional drill operators has become one of the biggest challenges facing the HDD industry today. While many contractors are competing for the same limited pool of skilled workers, CAD Industries is taking a different approach: building the next generation of talent from the ground up.
Based in Maryland and led by CEO Allison Drury, CAD Industries has grown rapidly since its founding during the COVID-19 pandemic. What started as a small operation with a single directional drill has evolved into a thriving underground utility contractor with three drill crews in the field and plans for continued expansion.
The company's story began when Allison and her husband, Chris, purchased their first drill and began taking on projects throughout Southern Maryland. Like many contractors entering the market, they quickly discovered that finding qualified operators was often more difficult than finding work.
Rather than allowing labor shortages to limit their growth, the Drurys invested heavily in recruiting, mentoring, and developing their own people. Through persistence, hands-on leadership, and a commitment to employee development, CAD Industries steadily built a team capable of supporting its growing workload.
A Mission Centered on Changing Lives
That commitment to workforce development is deeply rooted in the company's mission. According to the CAD Industries Company Compass, the company's purpose is simple: "We exist to change lives."
For CAD Industries, that means creating opportunities, strengthening families, and building careers that provide stability, growth, and long-term success. The company believes underground utility construction can provide meaningful career paths for individuals willing to learn, work hard, and develop their skills.
"We believe our work is about more than installing utilities," says Allison. "It's about creating opportunities for people to build better futures for themselves and their families."
Investing in the Next Generation of HDD Professionals
Now, the company is taking that commitment a step further.
CAD Industries is developing a structured training program designed to create skilled HDD professionals through a combination of classroom instruction and real-world field experience. The goal is simple: provide a clear pathway for individuals with little or no directional drilling experience to become productive, safe, and knowledgeable members of an HDD crew.
"You can't understate the value of real field experience," Allison says. "Anyone can sit in a classroom and learn the basics, but true understanding comes from seeing how a drill operates on an active jobsite, working through challenges, and learning alongside experienced crews. Our goal is to combine strong classroom fundamentals with hands-on field training so students can develop the skills and confidence they need to succeed in this industry."
The program is being designed to expose trainees to every stage of a directional drilling project, from safety procedures and equipment operation to drilling fluid management, jobsite communication, troubleshooting, and production techniques. By blending structured instruction with practical application, CAD Industries hopes to accelerate the learning process while maintaining the high standards required in the field.
Excellence Through Training and Accountability
The training initiative reflects the company's broader approach to delivering excellence. CAD Industries combines advanced equipment with a highly skilled workforce to execute complex underground utility projects safely, efficiently, and with precision.
Continuous training, disciplined execution, strong operational systems, and accountability at every level of the organization are core principles that guide both project delivery and employee development. The company views training not as a one-time event, but as an ongoing investment in both its people and its future.
Supporting Critical Infrastructure
Today, CAD Industries provides a wide range of underground utility construction services, including directional drilling, trenching and duct bank installation, primary and secondary power installation, transformer change-outs, medium- and high-voltage cable splicing, and utility infrastructure support for developers, municipalities, and utility companies throughout the region.
As demand for underground utility construction continues to grow, developing skilled workers will be critical to meeting the needs of customers and communities alike.
Looking Ahead
For Allison and Chris, the training program is about more than workforce development. It's about creating opportunities within their community and helping build the future of the industry itself.
By investing in training and mentorship, CAD Industries hopes to help local residents build stable, rewarding careers while strengthening the workforce that keeps underground infrastructure projects moving forward.
At a time when many contractors are struggling to find qualified personnel, CAD Industries is making a deliberate investment in developing the people who will lead the industry tomorrow. Their approach reflects a belief that talent is not simply found, it is built through training, mentorship, and opportunity.
The DrilRite team will be following the progress of the CAD Industries training program and sharing updates as the initiative develops. We're excited to see how their commitment to workforce development impacts both their company and the HDD industry as a whole.
To learn more about CAD Industries, inquire about employment opportunities, or discuss upcoming projects visit their website here.
