The 2015 winner of the Hays Area Chamber of Commerce Small Business Achievement Award is M&D of Hays Inc.

The award, presented at Thursday’s annual banquet, is sponsored by James Motor Company and recognizes the success of small business. Recipient must demonstrate entrepreneurial success in the Hays area.

Darrell Dreher and Vaughn McMurtrie formed their partnership in 1978, and in 1983, purchased their first front end loader, which began the excavation portion.

In 1993, they purchased their first boring machine, which led to the expansion into Directional Drilling. Today, they have increased the number of equipment, servicing an area expanding from Nebraska to Oklahoma.

M&D has two shop locations — 1116 E. Eighth and 1736 230th Ave. They completed the second shop on 230th in 2011.

They specialize in underground boring and trenching of water, fiber, electric, sewer and gas lines. They also specialize in earthwork such as building pads, site work of roads and parking lots, digging basements and ponds, demolitions, hauling, grading and more.