Growing up in southern Vermont, Chris Chico developed an early connection to the land, heavy equipment, and the hard work that comes with excavation and construction. Today, he lives in Dorset, where he owns and operates Chico Excavating, serving homeowners and businesses with site preparation, excavation, land clearing, drainage solutions, retaining walls, driveway installation, and full property development projects. 

Born into the excavation business, Chris grew up working alongside his father, who owned Chico Trucking, Logging & Excavating. By the age of five, Chris was already learning to operate equipment. He laughs, remembering how enormous the machines felt as a kid, “like climbing into a skyscraper”. His father’s advice was: “Dig a hole and fill it back in. That’s how you get good.”

That hands-on education became the foundation for everything Chris does today.

After years of operating machinery, managing projects, and learning the trade, Chris launched Chico Excavating on April 1, 2018, starting with a project on Dorset West Road. Like many small business beginnings, it wasn’t glamorous. During that first project, multiple rented machines broke down on the job site, forcing him to improvise to finish the work. But the determination and persistence that carried him through those early days define the company today.

Chico Excavating takes a highly personal approach to every project. “We’re not a company that cuts corners or treats jobs like a number. Integrity is everything.”

That philosophy has earned Chico Excavating a strong local reputation, including 5-star and A+ ratings on HomeAdvisor, Chamber of Commerce, and BBB. A Dorset client wrote that Chris “may be the hardest working guy in VT” and praised his long-term approach to driveway and drainage work. 

For advice to homeowners, Chris, in fact, emphasizes proper drainage and site work as one of the most important investments homeowners can make. “A lot of expensive problems: failing driveways, wet basements, erosion, and foundation issues start because drainage was overlooked. Drainage is key before anything else.”

In recent years, the business has expanded alongside Chris’s partner, Jessica Marullo, whose background is in design, home building, and project management & construction. Jessica is a graduate of Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC with a design degree; she has built many homes and has done full house renovations in New York, Connecticut, and Vermont. Together, they now handle projects from land acquisition and site preparation all the way through to finished construction. Their current work includes custom homes in Stratton and renovation and exterior work at Manchester Medical Center. 

Even with the company’s growth, Chris remains deeply connected to the community. Chico Excavating sources materials locally and takes pride in supporting the southern Vermont economy. “In a small community, reputation matters. Showing up, working hard, and treating people right still means something.”

“Chico Excavating was built through hard work, persistence, and relationships,” Chris says. “We’re continuing to grow, invest in equipment, and expand our services while keeping the same values we started with.”

That work ethic is hard to miss. During the busy season, Chris regularly works 14- to 16-hour days. Yet even with the demanding schedule, he remains grateful to do work he genuinely enjoys in the community he calls home. In the off season, Chris swaps his excavator for a snowmobile. He snocrossed professionally for 16 years, winning several national and international championships. It was something, like excavating, that he grew up doing with his dad. 

Chris Chico

(802) 430-8291

Jessica Marullo

802-430-9903