Grand Rapids, MI, December 28, 2012 – Owen-Ames-Kimball Co. (O-A-K), leading West Michigan commercial construction firm, is pleased to announce the appointment of Frank Stanek, PE, LEED AP, as Corporate President. Stanek will assume leadership on January 1, 2013.

O-A-K’s preceding Corporate President, Bill Schoonveld, said, “Frank understands the importance of trust and integrity when it comes to building relationships with clients. He also expects the very best from the employees and subcontractors he works with. I am confident that I’m leaving my position as President in very capable hands.”

Bill Schoonveld has been with O-A-K for 34 years and served as President for the past eight, from 2005-2012. Schoonveld will remain involved with the company as a Corporate Advisor.

“I am honored that the Board selected me to serve as President,” said Stanek. “Working with Bill Schoonveld for years, I have learned a lot about what it takes to be successful in an extremely competitive industry. O-A-K has a long history of success in West Michigan, and I see great things for our company ahead.”

BIOGRAPHY OF FRANK STANEK

Stanek came to O-A-K in 1996 after graduating from Michigan State University with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Civil Engineering. He is only the eighth president in the employee-owned company’s 122-year history.

With particular expertise in the K-12 school construction market, Stanek has overseen many of the firm’s most visible construction projects. His portfolio includes Byron Center’s Countryside Elementary School, the restoration of Burton Elementary and Middle School in Grand Rapids, the new Ottawa County Courthouse in Grand Haven, and the recent major additions and renovations to Kent County Correctional Facility.

Stanek’s previous positions with O-A-K have included Project Superintendent, Director of Operations, and most recently, Vice President. He also serves on the O-A-K Michigan Board of Directors, O-A-K Corporate Board of Directors, West Michigan Associated Builders and Contractors Board of Directors, and he is a Licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Michigan.

Born and raised in West Michigan, Frank is deeply committed to the local community. During his free time, Frank enjoys spending time outdoors with his family. He and his wife, Dana, have four children.

ABOUT OWEN-AMES-KIMBALL CO.

O-A-K offers Construction Management, General Contracting and Design/Build services to clients throughout the State of Michigan and Southwest Florida. The company was founded in Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1891 and specializes in community-driven projects. Completing over 150 local projects each year, their clients include Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, Van Andel Institute and Grand Rapids Civic Theatre. They have also worked with over 30 Michigan school districts throughout the past 15 years.

Contact:
Rachael Martemucci
Marketing Coordinator
Owen-Ames-Kimball Co.
rachaelm@oakmi.com
Phone: (616)456-1521

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For more information on the commercial construction company visit www.Owen-Ames-Kimball.com

Grand Rapids, MI, October 30, 2012 – Owen-Ames-Kimball Co. (O-A-K), announces the appointment of Jeff Weber to the position of Director of Operations.

“I have the utmost confidence in Jeff’s leadership abilities. We are very excited to have Jeff in this position,” says company Vice President, Frank Stanek.

As Director of Operations, Weber will oversee quality control, logistics management, project scheduling and team guidance for the company’s Michigan operations.

Prior to this appointment, Weber held the position of Project Superintendent, where he was responsible for the on-site management of multi-million dollar construction projects. He attended both Grand Rapids Community College and Grand Valley State University. Weber came to O-A-K in 2007 with 20 years of experience in both commercial and residential construction.

About Owen-Ames-Kimball Co.

Owen-Ames-Kimball Co. offers Construction Management, General Contracting and Design/Build services to clients throughout the State of Michigan and Southwest Florida. The company was founded in Grand Rapids in 1891 and specializes in community-driven construction projects.

Contact:
Rachael Martemucci
Marketing Coordinator
Owen-Ames-Kimball Co.
rachaelm@oakmi.com
Phone: (616) 456-1521
Fax: (616) 458-0770

I read an article recently focusing on marketing in our industry.  It mentioned that, as a service industry, “we get paid to execute activities and success is measured by an ability to execute these activities in a manner which meets the client’s expectation.

Our industry has defined expectations as on time, within budget, and a certain level of quality.  However, the article pointed out that there is a fourth category of expectations and that is the quality of the experience the client has with our firm.  A client will ultimately judge the success of the project by that fourth category.  When surveyed, owners spend most of the time describing how they were made to feel by the people who oversee the project: their behaviors, attitudes, quality of communication, expertise, etc.

Budget, schedule, quality are of course important, but meeting those basic expectations doesn’t set you apart from the competition.  It’s the quality of the experience the client has with the firm which sets us apart.  And every one of us, in every department, has a positive influence on that by always putting the client first and always projecting a “can do” attitude.

I ran into Doug McCall at the MSBO, (Michigan School Business Officials) conference a few weeks ago. I first met Doug when he was Superintendent of Allegan Public Schools in the late eighties through late nineties. We worked with Allegan through an extensive bond issue in the nineties.

I had not seen Doug for close to ten years and it was fun to catch up. At one point during the conversation he said:

“When I look back through my years of work experience, I can honestly say that Owen-Ames-Kimball Co. has been the best company I ever worked with. And I don’t mean just construction companies, I mean every company I have worked with. All of the people I have dealt with from O-A-K have been helpful, trustworthy, congenial and have always been fantastic to work with.”

Now you know why I chose the title of this memo.

Owen-Ames-Kimball’s
Frank Bell named president of the

Charlotte-DeSoto Building Industry Association Board

PUNTA GORDA, Fla. (Jan. 30, 2012) – Owen-Ames-Kimball Company (O-A-K) announces that Charlotte market office manager Frank  Bell has been elected president of the Charlotte-Desoto Building Industry Association (CDBIA) for the year 2012. The CDBIA is comprisedof more than 300 area builders, contractors, designers and industry businesses. Previously, Bell served as first vice president and was named the 2010 CDBIA member of the year.

A long-term employee of O-A-K, Bell began working in the O-A-K Michigan operation in 1982. He transferred to the Florida operation in 1993 as a job site superintendent and was promoted to his current position of general superintendent and Charlotte market office manager in 2006. Bell has supervised the construction of five schools and two banks in Charlotte County, the Punta Gorda Parking Garage and numerous other facilities in Charlotte and Lee counties.

Bell holds a bachelor’s degree in business from the Davenport College of Business and is a stockholder in Owen-Ames-Kimball Company. He serves the community on the board of directors of Enterprise Charlotte Economic Council, the Charlotte Local Education Foundation and is a member of the Punta Gorda and Charlotte County Chambers of Commerce. He served his country honorably in the United States Marine Corp and is a lifetime member of the Military Heritage and Aviation Museum in Charlotte
County.

Owen-Ames-Kimball Company has provided premier general contracting, design-build and construction management services in Southwest Florida since 1982. The company has offices in Collier, Lee and Charlottecounties. Learn more about O-A-K at www.owen-ames-kimball.com, become a fan on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/Builder1982.

Media Contact:

Suzanne Maurice, Owen-Ames-Kimball Company, smaurice@oakfl.com
or 239-561-4141

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Owen-Ames-Kimball hires business development coordinator

FORT MYERS, Fla. (Jan. 12, 2012) Owen-Ames-Kimball Company (O-A-K) has hired Jan-Erik Hustrulid as business development coordinator for the
company’s Fla. operation. Hustrulid’s duties include developing new business leads and managing existing client relationships.

Hustrulid graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Information Systems from Florida Gulf Coast University. He has a decade of sales experience in the real estate industry. His most recent experience was as broker/co-owner of a real estate company based in Bonita Springs, Fla.

Owen-Ames-Kimball Company has provided premier general contracting, design-build and construction management services in Southwest Florida since 1982. The company has offices in Collier, Lee and Charlotte counties.Learn more about O-A-K at www.owen-ames-kimball.com, become a fan on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/Builder1982.

Media Contact: Suzanne Maurice, Owen-Ames-Kimball Company, smaurice@oakfl.com or (239) 561-4141

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 That’s the definition of “reputation” I recently read in an article. It talked about what it takes to earn a great reputation:

First, the writer stated that the most basic quality of a good reputation is to become known for doing what you said you would do, on time or sooner. In our business, this is especially true. We must be known to deliver what we said we would, and each of us needs to be accountable for following through.

Secondly, become known for being easy to do business with and be friendly while you’re doing it. In order for us to be easy to do business with, we must be easily accessible by telephone and internet. Additionally, you have to be friendly when you are there, and you have to be friendly when you are not there.

Finally, become known for saying YES! It should be second nature for us to talk about what we can do, not what we cannot do.

By projecting a reliable, friendly, can-do attitude, we will be sure to maintain a great reputation.

O-A-K President

Two weeks ago we had our Superintendent training at the Kent County Sheriff’s Department. Afterward Kirk Oosting gave a tour of the jail expansion/renovation project. Before the tour, Kirk explained the process for turning areas over to the Sheriff’s Department. He stressed that an area must be 100% complete before being turned over, as we have no access to the space after inmates move in.

It hit me that in our industry, projects are seldom, or maybe never, 100% complete when we turn them over to the Owner. We even have terms like “substantial completion,” which means that a space is ready for it’s intended use, and “final completion,” when it’s supposed to be 100% complete. We’re used to – almost complacent with – the idea that an Owner moves in to their new or renovated facility and we’re not 100% complete.

What impression does that leave the Owner? Let’s say you bought a new car or truck and they tell you that it’s “substantially complete.” You can drive it, but the glove compartment door still needs to be installed, the trunk lid is a different color, and the floor mats are ordered and will be available for you to pick up in six weeks. And, as you drive away, the windshield is filthy. Do you think you’d return to that dealer when you’re ready to buy your next vehicle, or promote the dealership to others?

-Bill Schoonveld, President

 Owen-Ames-Kimball Co. – West Michigan – Construction Management – General Contracting – Design Build

Server Extraordinaire

 Hi, I’m Mary and I’ll be your server today.

That’s a common greeting we hear in restaurants.  We mainly go to restaurants to be served, served food that is.  I hold that we mainly go to restaurants to be served, period. We go to restaurants because we like the experience, we like friendly, attentive staff, being asked what we want and how we want it and then being served in an efficient, friendly manner.  Of course we have expectations of good food, but in most cases, great service will trump the food.  Great food alone doesn’t do it, the food doesn’t even seem great when provided with mediocre service. 

On the other hand, mediocre food provided by great service will leave you with a pleasant experience.  Which is the reason we go to one restaurant over another, a pleasant experience.  And, when we have  pleasant experiences, we tell others.  Usually by saying how great the food was, but we really mean the experience. 

I find it interesting to observe the differences between a good restaurant and a great restaurant.  Mostly it’s in service, and mostly it doesn’t cost the restaurant any more money to provide excellent instead of good service. 

It’s the “you’re welcome” instead of “yup” in response to a thank you; it’s the smile versus the sour look, the happy you’re here versus you’re bothering me.  It’s the appreciation shown you came there, even though you have many choices.  Some restaurants get that, others do not.  Those who do not, think that you come there just to eat.  They’re wrong. You can eat anywhere.

It’s like our business; many companies can build buildings, but those who understand that the client wants a pleasant experience will be successful.  We must give them that pleasant experience, from the first contact with us through the warranty period and beyond.  A pleasant experience with any one of us, any time, anywhere.

FORT MYERS, Fla. (May 5, 2011) Owen-Ames-Kimball Company (O-A-K) announces that vice president Steve Richards has been selected as a member of the Lee Building Industry Association (Lee BIA) board of directors.

Richards joined O-A-K in 1993 as a project manager. In 1995, he was promoted to a full-time estimator for projects then to vice president of the Florida operation and to its board of directors in 2004. Richards holds an Associate of Arts degree in civil engineering technology and a Bachelor of Science degree in construction technology from Purdue University. He is an Owen-Ames-Kimball Company stockholder.

Owen-Ames-Kimball Company has provided premier general contracting, design-build and construction management services in Southwest Florida since 1982. The company has offices in Collier, Lee and Charlotte counties. Its Lee County office is located at 11941 Fairway Lakes Drive in Fort Myers. Learn more about O-A-K at www.owen-ames-kimball.com, become a fan on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/Builder1982 .

Media Contact:    

Suzanne Maurice, Owen-Ames-Kimball Company, smaurice@oakfl.com or 239-561-4141