The Ross Group Construction Corporation

The Ross Group Construction Corporation (The Ross Group) originated as a small subcontractor in the 1970s, but the company has since emerged as a powerful general contractor, providing facility, infrastructure and energy solutions to a wide range of industries. Today, the Oklahoma-based company offers sophisticated delivery methods and program management to public, private and institutional clients. Over the years, the company has developed a particular niche in governmental construction, requiring great skill and expertise.

In 1979 Jesse Ross founded the company as J. Ross Acoustics and Drywall (J. Ross). The small-scale contractor specialized in carpentry and interior finishes and Jesse’s dedication and years of experience eventually paid off, earning the company a reputation for quality work and professional excellence.

J. Ross evolved and expanded into health care and advanced technology facility construction. Jesse’s son, Warren Ross, now president and CEO of The Ross Group, joined the family business in 1996 and the company incorporated as its current designation shortly thereafter.

“By building upon one another’s strengths, Jesse and Warren took their experience and reputation to make a seamless transition into general contracting,” details Rebecca Britsch, marketing manager of The Ross Group. “Warren helped his father grow the business into what it is today.”

The Ross Group now operates from two offices, with headquarters located in Tulsa and a regional office in Oklahoma City, Okla. “We have approximately 120 employees and we serve clients all over the country,” reveals Rebecca. From aviation to administrative buildings to hospitality and leisure facilities, corporate office buildings to sports and entertainment venues and LEED-certified builds, The Ross Group is involved in a diverse set of industries and facility types.

The Go-to Governmental Contractor

“Although we do a significant amount of various commercial works, our niche has been in federal contracting,” shares Rebecca. “The procedures and processes involved with these particular contracts require a high level of expertise, which we’ve developed over the years. We’re involved in interesting jobs with very interesting people.”

From fitness centers to full-scale training facilities, The Ross Group is capable of a large scope of work. “We recently completed a $13.1 million fitness complex achieving LEED Gold certification in Kingsville, Texas,” reveals Rebecca. “We reached the certification through sustainability qualifications by utilizing renewable energy features, such as an environmentally friendly and reliable solar electric system with more than 1,300 210-watt solar photovoltaic panels installed atop parking structure roofs nearby to the fitness center. Additionally, Solatubes were installed to allow consistent natural lighting to be utilized within the facility while providing low solar heat gain and glare, reducing electrical cost. An outdoor pool, a running track, football and soccer fields, as well as many other unique features were part of the scope of work. The project received a special safety award from the owner for our outstanding safety performance on the job site.”

With a highly trained technical trade staff, The Ross Group has the ability to self-perform a sizable percentage of its own work in-house, even when building large, complex training facilities. “In Kentucky, we’re currently working on a $9 million military gun range and have completed several military tactical training complexes, with the largest being $38 million in El Paso, Texas,” shares Rebecca. “The scope of work consists of building a city in the middle of the desert for live fire and simulation training. Our project managers really enjoy these projects, because they get an inside view of the training and feel it is a way they can give back to the troops that selflessly defend our country. We’ll be wrapping up the Kentucky project in 2014.”

The Ross Group also frequently delivers aviation hangers throughout the U.S. “We were recently awarded a $20 million contract to build a new state-of-the-art C-130 Fuels Maintenance Hangar in Little Rock, Ark., which is set to be complete in 2015,” adds Rebecca.

Setting the Bar High

The Ross Group is well-equipped to self-perform many services; however, the company assesses the needs of each project individually. According to Rebecca, when the situation requires, The Ross Group relies on the expertise of trusted subcontractors for specific trades. “When we send the contracts out for bid we judge not just on price but mainly on safety and quality,” she explains. “We have an internal qualification process we stick to. We won’t put a subcontractor on a job just because they’re the cheapest; they have to meet standards.”

According to Rebecca, Professional Engineering Consultants (PEC) is one partner the company thrives with, which is why the duo continues to tackle numerous projects together. “We are currently working on four design-build projects with PEC,” Rebecca explains. “The largest project is located in Oklahoma City, Okla., which is estimated at over $12.6 million for the design-build renovation of an Aircraft Engine Chemical Cleaning facility.”

Luckily for the team at The Ross Group, those at PEC also enjoy the partnership. “The Ross Group relies on PEC to manage the entire design process,” says Don Provencher, P.E., project manager for PEC. “Their trust gives us the flexibility to bring the right team to the project. Together with The Ross Group, we interpret the project scope to develop the criteria that meets the clients’ needs for budget and delivery.”

Setting the bar high has resulted in an industry leading EMR rating for The Ross Group. “Our safety program is designed with the objective of planning and prevention,” says Rebecca. “Zero accidents and zero injuries is what we’re always aiming for, which has been paying off as the company has just reach a new goal of over 1,400 days without a lost-time injury and over 1,300 days without a recordable injury.”

Rebecca says The Ross Group’s government niche has certainly helped the company weather the recession. “Being involved in governmental projects has been nice during the economic downturn,” she notes. “We’ve found our niche and we’re good at it, but we’ve had to keep a closer eye on budgets. We are all highly aware of how the government’s decisions really affect our jobs and project sites.”

Rebecca notes that company does not shy away from obstacles. “We’ve seen more of a shift in the type of work being solicited; there’s not necessarily less work, just different projects,” continues Rebecca. “We are seeing a shift for more renovation/repair projects rather than new facility construction.”

As for The Ross Group’s future plans, Rebecca says the company is gearing up for more projects in the energy, oil and gas fields. Additionally, The Ross Group has recently added two new company affiliates, Ross Engineering and The Ross Group Design-Build, to better support the needs of clients and the industries in which the company works.

“Industrial and manufacturing type work has also taken off,” reveals Rebecca. “Our processes and approach to our current projects can easily relate to industrial work, so we’ve positioned ourselves well for future growth into these markets. One of our major strengths for growth in these areas is attributed to our highly trained project management personnel. They are able to work with and understand the goals of all types of clients, and they enjoy working in diverse markets.”

For 17 years the company has served a specialized market throughout the U.S. The Ross Group Construction Corporation continues to operate as a multifaceted, multidiscipline contractor, ready to serve a range of clients.

For more information about The Ross Group Construction Corporation, please visit: www.trgcc.com.