Contractor Spotlight

Red Ants Boring, Co.

There are companies that build infrastructure, and then there are companies that build something even stronger with it—family, legacy, and opportunity. Red Ants Boring Company is firmly the latter. What started as one man’s leap of faith has grown into a respected, family-run operation that continues to thrive because of the values it was built on.

At the center of that story is Pedro Montejano, a skilled operator who began his career in the trades in the mid1990s. Pedro didn’t come from a background of business ownership or formal education in running a company. He came from hands-on experience and learning how to operate equipment on his family farm as a kid. He learned how to do the work and took pride in doing it right. After years as an operator working under a contractor, he made the decision to take a risk and go out on his own, founding Red Ants Boring Company in 2010. It wasn’t an easy path, but Pedro believed in himself, his craft, and the opportunity to build something for his family.

That belief extended to his children, P.J. and Casey, who were introduced to the trades at a young age. After graduating high school, P.J. followed directly in his father’s footsteps, working in the field, learning the trade, and eventually becoming an owner-operator alongside him. Casey helped with the business side of the company with her father. She would help handle the office, paperwork, and the complex logistics that come with running a growing company with their mother and father. Together, the Montejano family built Red Ants into a tight-knit operation rooted in trust, hard work, and shared purpose.

From its humble beginnings, Red Ants Boring Company has grown into a respected underground utility contractor with roughly 15 to 20 employees and a footprint that stretches across Illinois and into surrounding states like Wisconsin and Indiana. With yards in Beach Park and Newport Township near Zion, the company takes on projects ranging from water mains and storm sewer systems to conduit and utility casing. Their specialty of horizontal boring is a critical component of modern infrastructure, allowing crews to install utilities beneath roads, railroads, creeks, and even airport taxiways without disrupting what’s above.

Their work can be found on major infrastructure projects across the region. From storm sewer work along the I-294 and I-88 corridor to projects at O’Hare International Airport and large-scale developments like the Foxconn data center in Wisconsin, Red Ants has built a reputation for taking on challenging jobs and delivering results. In 2024, that work was recognized with a Contractor of the Year Award from the Illinois Department of Transportation for their role in a major storm sewer project connecting I-55 to I-80.

But behind the growth and success is a story marked by loss and resilience. In 2021, Pedro passed away, leaving behind not only a business but also a family suddenly tasked with carrying it forward. The transition was anything but easy. P.J. and Casey were forced to quickly learn every aspect of the business—from operations and labor agreements to navigating multiple jurisdictions and maintaining relationships across the industry.

In the face of those challenges, they stepped up. P.J. continued to lead in the field, just as his father had. He now runs the construction side of the business, while Casey has taken on an even greater role in managing the company’s operations and office side of the business. Their mother, Olga, who has been there since the beginning, remains a guiding presence. She offers insight, support, and a connection to Pedro’s original vision. Together, they turned uncertainty into strength.

In the years since Pedro’s passing, the company has not only survived, but it continues to grow. Red Ants has earned Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (M/WBE) certifications, opening new doors while maintaining the high standards Pedro set from day one. Casey also played a key role in securing a first-of-its-kind national agreement tailored to their specialized boring work, allowing the company to operate more efficiently across multiple regions while continuing to employ skilled union labor.

Through it all, the Montejano family has stayed true to what matters most. Pedro was known for never cutting corners— whether it was in the quality of work or how he treated his employees. He paid fair wages, upheld union standards, and took pride in being a good boss. He was tough, determined, and sometimes stubborn, but he never gave up. That same mindset lives on in his children today. In the face of those challenges, they stepped up. P.J. continued to lead in the field, just as his father had. He now runs the construction side of the business, while Casey has taken on an even greater role in managing the company’s operations and office side of the business. Their mother, Olga, who has been there since the beginning, remains a guiding presence. She offers insight, support, and a connection to Pedro’s original vision. Together, they turned uncertainty into strength.

Red Ants Boring Company is still, at its core, a family business. It’s a company where decisions are personal, where work ethic is passed down through generations, and where success is measured not just by growth, but by the people who make it possible.

Nearly five years after Pedro’s passing, his presence is still felt in every project, every challenge, and every success. His story—from humble beginnings to building a company— serves as a reminder of what’s possible through hard work, risk-taking, and belief in something bigger than yourself.

At Red Ants Boring Company, the work goes on, the family grows stronger, and the legacy of Pedro Montejano continues to guide the way forward.

This article is featured in the Spring/Summer 2026 edition of our biannual publication, The Monitor. You can read the full edition at the link below.