Case Studies Civil

George and Gloria Smeja are an inspiring example of what can happen when enterprising entrepreneurs believe that they can make a difference, which is what the Smeja’s did by launching a family-owned company whose success has exceeded even their own expectations. Metalmaster Roofmaster (Metalmaster), one of the nation’s largest commercial sheet metal and roofing contractors, […]

No matter what Hawaiian island you are on, some things are consistent. For example, if you ask for a recommendation for an electrical contractor from someone in the construction industry, the chances are he’s going to recommend Wasa Electrical Services Inc. Wasa, the Aloha State’s largest electrical contractor, was founded in 1950 by two brothers […]

In the heart of Big Sky Country there typically aren’t a lot of people around, so self-reliance has always been a common trait and residents are accustomed to wearing multiple hats to get a job done. LHC Inc., out of Kalispell, Mont., continues that tradition by having a lot of services to offer potential clients […]

After Hurricane Katrina destroyed the Gulf Coast, James Construction Group (JCG) helped private and public clients dig out of the ruins and rebuild infrastructure. Through the quality of JCG’s work, it has become one of the region’s largest and most respected heavy construction companies. The company has operated under its current name for eight years, […]

In 1965 Susan and Joe Gallagher founded Circulating Air, Inc., which offers heating, air conditioning, ventilating and sheet metal to private and public sectors. After 45 years, the Southern California-based company remains a very successful and stable company. According to Susan, Circulating Air’s success is due in part to its business philosophy. “We have a […]

Tires are one of the largest and most problematic items that end up in landfills across the country. They take up valuable space and help form pockets that trap methane, which can easily burst into long-lasting polluting fires. Cox Paving Company L.P., out of Blanco, Texas (north of San Antonio), is an industry leader in […]

Tim Harris began working for his father’s company, Harris Construction Inc. (HCI), when he was just 13 years old. “Two of my older brothers [one of which, Kirk, is now president] were working here before me, so I just sort of fell into it,” Tim says. “I was just picking rocks and shoveling at the […]

When Leon DeMatteis founded Leon D. DeMatteis Construction Corporation (LDDCC) in Brooklyn, N.Y., in 1918, he probably did not foresee it expanding to the group of companies now known collectively as the DeMatteis Organizations. With LDDCC leading the way, the DeMatteis family eventually expanded its construction services to include full-service residential management, airport development and […]

The I-35 Bridge collapse in Minnesota during rush hour traffic in 2007 highlighted the fact that our nation’s infrastructure had been ignored too long by both federal and state agencies. Mathew Tharaniyil, founder and president of Bloom Companies LLC (Bloom), says that he’s surprised that it hadn’t happened sooner. “State budgets are tight, I understand […]

Brothers Development was founded in 1985 and operated as a single entity until 1998, when its two extremely successful divisions separated into Brothers Concrete Construction and Brothers Paving & Concrete Corporation. Brothers Concrete Construction grew into a successful large concrete frame contractor, and “in October 2009 it was purchased by Baker Concrete, one of the […]