President Gary Bonnewell introduced Benjamin Hoover, Founder and President of XKIG. Ben’s connection to Rotary runs deeper than his visit to our club. Ben's grandfather, Dr. William B. Hoover, was a long-time member in the 70s and 80s. That connection added a meaningful sense of history to Ben’s visit and the story he shared.
Moderator Fred Rose led Ben through the evolution of XKIG—from its beginnings as a family business to its emergence as a national leader in vegetation management.
Ben and his brother learned the value of hard work and operational excellence from their parents. Over the years, the brothers took on increasingly larger contracts, eventually buying out their parents and rebranding the company with a clear focus on vegetation management.
That focus became the foundation for growth. XKIG developed strategic partnerships, including with River City Construction, and ultimately raised capital in 2025 to establish the company in its current form. Today, XKIG operates in 40 states, partnering with utilities and vegetation-management companies to help build and maintain the critical infrastructure that powers everyday life for millions of Americans.
The company’s growth is impressive, but Ben emphasized that success is ultimately about trust. XKIG is trusted by investor-owned utility companies to deliver safe, high-quality work, meet regulatory requirements, respond quickly during storm restoration, and practice responsible environmental stewardship.
Throughout the conversation, Ben reflected on the challenges of growing the business, the moments of which he is most proud, and what he believes his parents would be most proud of today.
“Being in people’s private places through customer engagement is an earned privilege,” Ben said.
That perspective captures much of what has shaped XKIG: a family legacy built on hard work, a commitment to excellence, and a recognition that growth is ultimately about people.
With Norfolk as its home and a national footprint, XKIG represents an impressive example of how a local family business can evolve into an American success story while remaining grounded in the values that started it all.
