Fed One Dublin LLC

Jim Baker, Amy Huffman and Bob Biondi founded Fed One Dublin LLC (FOD) in 1993 as a combination development and construction business. The business, with a headquarters in Plain City, Ohio, has become a growing force in regional commercial development. Many of the team’s projects are in-state, but Jim Baker, partner at FOD, says the crew has traveled to other states to serve clients. “We’re very customer oriented,” he explains. “For example, we traveled to Waco, Texas for a project with Associated Hygienic Products. It is a fantastic place. People were so helpful and the town was great. Our project went smoothly and may have been the least trouble we’ve ever run into.”

A small staff of eight makes up the FOD office, offering diverse services to help customers realize any number and type of construction projects. The full-service general contractor offers decades of experience in the field. Portfolio projects include office complexes, warehouses, manufacturing facilities and more in the commercial and industrial sector. Baker and his crew work closely with clients from start to finish, offering services from inception to commission. Strong communication between FOD and clients ensures a final product that fits end-user needs as well as industry standards.

Unique Projects

Despite the recession, FOD has been a busy company. Over the last 20 years, the team has constructed more than 10 million square feet of industrial space. The company has developed several business and industrial parks over the years, serving the needs of a range of major commercial clients. Custom design-build capabilities continue to draw in business, and the FOD crew works diligently to achieve construction goals that address functionality, value and potential growth for clients.

A major recent project, the aforementioned Waco, Texas, AHP plant, has been one of the most unique and memorable for Baker. “They are a diaper manufacturer,” he elaborates. “The project involved working with engineers who were organizing the movement of equipment that the business already owned. Additionally, we had to work with a company from which they were purchasing new up to date equipment. The structure is incredibly dynamic when it comes to architecture. We utilized a very advanced window package and class A office.”

The AHP plant involved a range of custom work, which meant planning ahead with the owners. “We constructed the building to optimize their ability to expand,” Baker explains. “We also worked with the client to optimize their space to heat. The functionality of the building also came into play by working with them to structurally manage workflow. Raw materials go in one end and diapers come out of the other.”

FOD recently picked up a major contract with FedEx. “We’re building a 300,000-square foot facility,” says Baker.  “This is becoming a very exciting project. The speed of FedEx and its guaranteed deliveries count on a very advanced system for conveyors, so we have to design around that function. We are really hoping to finish it early. We want to make a good impression, which might allow us to do more work for them in the future.”

Repeat Business Plan

FOD remains generally unshaken by the recent economic climate, and Baker and his team continue to push forward to increase a market share. “We are small but mighty,” he laughs. “While we don’t have a large staff, we don’t back away from larger projects. We have great relationships with subcontractors and we are one of the best in the market as far as bringing in complicated projects on time. Some of the people who work here have been with us for 20 years, since the beginning. We rarely submit a change order, and we are almost exclusively on budget. We pay for the difference.”

With the economy picking up, Baker says he is hopeful for the recovery. “Things ae starting to pick up a bit,” he notes. “We’re seeing a lot more activity, and we have plans for good things over the next few years. We are bidding a lot of work, and economically Columbus, Ohio, is making a quick comeback. This is a good place. There is not another city in the United States where you can truck material from one site 300 miles in one direction and reach a major hub. Our geographic location is a competitive advantage. We don’t have to travel far for business.” The company is making major waves in the industry, and Baker and his team will continue to do what they do best. Fed One Dublin LLC is poised for growth through quality and professional delivery, backed up with leading experience and technology.