Multi-generational business protects Flathead Valley’s asphalt

Chance Buckallew put together a team he is proud of at Crone Pro Seal. For years, working alongside one another, the crew travels across the valley from sun up to sun down, commercially or residentially seal coating pavement as the weather allows. 

That has always been the goal since taking over the business — growth, efficiency, teamwork. 

“At the end of the day it isn’t easy work,” Buckallew said. “But we’ve had these guys together for years. It’s 100% quality work, we back everything we do.” 

Crone Pro Seal was created by Buckallew’s grandfather, Kenny Crone, in 1988. It wasn’t long until Buckallew’s aunt and uncle, Michael and Kathy, bought the business, setting the stage for the next three decades of work. 

As a commercial seal coat expert, Crone Pro Seal works to provide professional asphalt maintenance to all corners of the valley. With two trucks, a lot of equipment and a solid team, Buckallew became the third owner of the business within the family in 2020. 

Buckallew grew up in the valley. His wife, Nicole, who manages the backend of the business, grew up down the street from him. Nicole’s father, Monty Howe, works for the pair as well, handling communication and logistics. 

Together, Nicole and Chance have two girls, Logan and Rilee, who, at 9 and 10 are already learning business tricks from their mom and helping their dad put cones up at project sites. 

Crone Pro Seal is not the first business venture that the pair has experienced. They owned Cold Stone Creamery in Kalispell for 11 years before selling in 2021 when Crone Pro Seal continued to grow. 

Today, Buckallew and his crew maintain the asphalt for a multitude of clients, including Logan Health, The Lodge at Whitefish Lake, Super 1 Foods, the WAVE in Whitefish, property managers and more. 

Throughout Buckallew’s time leading Crone Pro Seal, the business has also acquired a couple snow plows and street sweepers, but the heart of the business is in seal coating.

Seal coating, while it makes a section of asphalt look clean and new, the main purpose is to expand the life of the asphalt. From residential driveways to business parking lots, sealing the asphalt will make the surface more resistant to deterioration from gasses, oils and chemicals, according to the company’s website. 

It also prevents erosion from natural elements like sun, rain, freezing and more. The company also does crack repair, where a hot rubberized crack sealant is added to cracked asphalt. 

Maintaining asphalt, Buckallew said, is essential for its longevity. 

At the end of the day, the team at Crone Pro Seal leaves a day of work with a feeling of satisfaction and pride, Buckallew said. Completing projects for other people, and doing it well, is the core of what Crone Pro Seal will continue to grow into.

For more information, visit https://www.croneproseal.com/. 

Reporter Kate Heston can be reached at kheston@dailyinterlake.com or 758-4459.