By Lauren Eve | Photo by Holly Leitner
Elite Piers, co-owned by Taylor Quist and Parker Graveen, plays a significant role in a beloved seasonal tradition at the lake. Everyone in the Geneva Lake area knows that the re-appearance of the lake’s white, wooden piers is a thrilling sign that summer is just around the corner. With decades of combined experience, Quist and Graveen and their team at Elite Piers are experts at this spring ritual of pier installation and maintenance. We sat down with Quist and Graveen to learn more about their process.
ATL: How did you get started in the pier business?
Quist: My journey began right after college, inspired by my brother- in-law, who was already in the pier business. We formed Elite Piers two years ago. I’m always focused on improving — doing things better, faster and more efficiently.
Graveen: I started in construction right out of high school, spending 12- 15 years operating heavy equipment and honing my skills. We constantly evaluate how we can meet demand and hire quality employees, which sets us apart in this high-labor industry.
ATL: Can you walk us through the process of reinstalling a pier?
Quist: A wooden pier has four critical components: cribs, stringers, decking and jacks. These elements ensure a durable and stable structure. Once the ice clears, which can cause significant damage if left unchecked, we’re ready to roll. Each crew typically takes half a day to reinstall a pier. The process is highly manual, especially in shallower areas, where we assemble piers by hand.
ATL: How long does the pier installation take?
Graveen: We start around the end of March and aim to finish before Memorial Day, which gives us about seven to eight weeks to reinstall all the piers for our customers, who are mostly private homeowners
and associations.
ATL: Are there any challenges unique to Lake Geneva?
Quist: Lake Geneva is one of the few lakes that still allows wooden cribs. The lake’s depth and shoreline vary widely, so we have to adjust the piers for each area. Additionally, erosion from high boat traffic and shifting municipal rules add to the complexity of our work.
ATL: What role do piers play for Lake Geneva residents?
Graveen: The arrival of piers has symbolized the transition to summer. It’s part of the local culture — driving through town and seeing the white piers go up is an iconic sight. It’s a tradition passed down through families and something that sets Lake Geneva apart.
