Case Studies November 2013

Jim Dowling’s background is neither in business nor contracting, but somehow he’s still managed to turn Dowling Construction Inc. (Dowling) into a successful tenant improvement company over the past 15 years. “When people ask me how I started this business I jokingly say with a handful of credit cards and no brains,” says Jim. But, […]

In 1983, Dennis Brooks got an opportunity of a lifetime. After completing his undergrad and masters program in construction and business management at Colorado State University, he went to work for a large commercial development firm. “The partners of this firm decided they had made their money and wanted to get out of construction,” recalls […]

In 1963, the Anthony Wayne Bank opened its doors in historic downtown Fort Wayne, Indiana. Recently, after years as a multitenant financial building, when the prime location came up for grabs Todd Ramsey and his four partners were ready to capture the opportunity. “I’ve been watching this building for about six to seven years because […]

In 1942 Art Vollweiler opened Art’s Machine Shop Inc. (AMS), a small blacksmith and machine shop, in a modest store front on Roosevelt Street in American Falls, Idaho. Combining an inventive spirit and his skills as a craftsman, Art developed and built the very first hand auger. “We’re from a small town with only about […]

Acme Erectors Inc. (Acme) started as a division of another construction business, breaking away in 2005 as an independent company. The parent company’s former owner and current company president, Aron Clay, founded the business in its most recent incarnation. “I joined the former company in 1997,” says Clay. “That business had been around since 1997, […]

  Amrish Patel founded AB Consultants Inc. (ABC) in 1993 as a small, multi-disciplinary engineering firm in Maryland. “Since my childhood, I have had a passion for this industry,” explains Patel, president and CEO of ABC. “I have worked on several major engineering projects. I started after college, doing industrial design and engineering. After six […]

Kannan Rengaraian founded Cape Design Engineering Company (CDE) in 1997 with three partners, set on providing high-level engineering services to clients in the Southeast United States. Over the years, the company has grown exponentially, building a large, devoted customer base across Southern Florida and extending into the Caribbean. As of 2007, CDE has also diversified […]

There’s nothing basic about Basic Builders Inc. (BBI). The Houston-based company provides fully turnkey, high-end construction and remodels for a range of commercial clients. “We have the capability to build and manage multiple, multimillion dollar projects at once,” reveals Travis Bennett, project manager for BBI. Since 1989, the commercial contractor has been a big player […]

From his first job as a laborer, Mike Adcock knew he wanted to start a business in his hometown of Grand Junction, Colo. He joined the construction industry in 1980. “I was working on a gold mine project in Nevada,” recalls Mike, president and owner of Adcock Concrete Inc. “For many years I worked as […]

In September 1993, Veronica Rose, president and CEO of Aurora Electric (Aurora), laid down her tool belt and set out to start her own business in the electrical contracting field. “My father built power plants so I’d been around the industry most of my life,” shares Veronica. “When I was released from the Air Force […]