Case Studies March 2015

For Norman Merlo, founder, chairman and CEO of Merlo Plumbing Company Inc. (MPC), business is more than a reputation for high quality commercial and industrial-grade plumbing and HVAC; business also revolves around employing some of the finest union tradespeople in the industry. Merlo founded his namesake company in 1983. “Being around for 30 years now, […]

Marvin Windows and Doors (Marvin) was one of the first companies in the U.S. to manufacture built-to-order windows and doors. Instead of stocking ahead, the company changed the face of the industry by building exactly to specifications as an order came in. This core philosophy remains the Marvin difference today. As a premier manufacturer of […]

In 1982 Mark Williams started out sweeping floors at Texas-based Malek Inc. (Malek). Fast-forward to Dec. 31, 2013, and Williams is now the CEO, managing director and vice president of one of the largest commercial, industrial, residential and marine HVAC providers in South Texas. “Malek was founded by Frank Malek in 1970; he built it […]

In October 1991, husband and wife Mitchell and Traci Lee established a small, independent drywall company in their hometown of Fort Myers, Fla. Mitchell had worked in the construction industry for more than 10 years before founding the business and Traci brought on her accounting and administrative skills. Together, the couple’s combined experience launched local, […]

In 1982 the husband and wife team of Don and Jeanne Gardner established L.A. Roofing Materials Inc. (LARM). The company is a family tradition for the Gardners; Don grew up in the industry and worked in the roofing supply business for many years before co-owning and managing a company. Roughly a decade later, he decided […]

In 2009 two partners decided they were going to form a commercial general contracting company; many people told them they were crazy. “Everyone told me I was out of my mind to start a construction company in one of the worst economic downturns, companies of 30 years or more were going out of business,” reveals […]

In 1958, Harvey Jaeckle purchased the Madison, Wis., branch of his older brothers’ business, Milwaukee Building Supply. Harvey had worked for his brothers for years and in the spirit of sibling rivalry, they presented him with a challenge: “If you’re such a hotshot, why don’t you buy our Madison warehouse and go run it?” Never […]

Janotta & Herner (JHI) is a design-build general contractor that was founded in 1962 by Bob Janotta and Jim Herner. JHI now has a team of registered design professionals, architects, CAD designers, estimators, engineers and tradesmen who accommodate projects falling under commercial and industrial descriptions. The Ohio-based company prides itself on its design-build expertise, which […]

Héctor Sánchez, founder, president and CEO of Idaive Contractors Inc. (ICI), built a strong career in Puerto Rico’s construction industry. Sánchez worked for HB Zachry International (HBZI), an American construction firm over the course of 20 years. “I started out as a workman and ended up leading the department of engineering in northern Puerto Rico,” […]

Herb Hovey entered the heating, ventilation and air conditioning industry in 1979 after making a big career change. “In the mid-1970s, I was working for a recreational vehicle dealer,” he recalls. “I was married at the time and knew that I wasn’t going to get anywhere in that job. I decided I was going to […]