< Previous| 90 FEBRUARY 2023WRITTEN BY CAROLINE EBBS I n 2023, Mid State Construction Company - first founded in 1958 by H.T Ware and T.S Weems, will celebrate its sixty-fifth anniver- sary. Integrity was a paramount principle of the founders and was unbroken for the last thirty years by the next generation of leader- ship – Billy Ware and P.G. Bernheim. Over this time, the company has grown into “one of the largest locally owned construction ser- vice firms in Mississippi.” To have achieved continuous and steady growth in this industry over so many such a span of time is admira- ble. While the industry is cyclical by nature, achieving success and longevity is only achieved by a select few and it speaks to the value of Mid State’s company motto, “We Build Trust.” It is evident that the company’s endeavors to build and maintain trust with its clients are responsible for Mid State’s success and positive reputation. In my conversation with Austin Hudson, Vice President of Mid State, he credits this sixty-five-year growth to three main factors: customer service, honesty, and good relationships with its sub and vendor partners. In Hudson’s own words, Mid State is made up of “honest, hard-working people” which allows the company to make contacts and develop good relationships with customers predicated on honesty and efficiency. By ensuring that clients receive a consistently high level of service and professionalism, Mid State is able to maintain these relationships over time. This ability, according to Hudson, is evidenced by the company’s repeat business and its positive reputation in the locality. | 91 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONBeing a part of the local community is something that those at Mid State hold dear. To celebrate the company’s recent success, the company has planned an anniversary celebra- tion. This event is not just for current employees, however. As Hudson explains, the plan is to include as many past employees and involved partners as possible. For a collabo- rative team such as Mid State, it makes perfect sense that it celebrates and congratulates everyone that has contributed to this success over time – past, present, and future. Aside from the team itself, Mid State’s success can also be credited to the quality of its services. As part of Mid State’s construction services, it offers general contracting, design/ build, construction management and team approach ser- vices, all of which combine to provide a well-rounded and one-stop-shop experience for the client. Hudson believes that the true strength of Mid State is not establishing a hard and fast “niche”, rather, focusing on being able to assist its clients every step of the way. As he puts it, “our niche is whatever our client’s needs are.” From historical restoration to indus- trial spaces, healthcare to commercial, Mid State is there to address its client’s needs. While the company has demon- strated an ability to manage multiple tasks for its clients, Hudson does believe that when it comes to pre-construction consultation, the company truly excels. This, he explains, is thanks to the architects and engineers that Mid State works with in the design process. “At Mid State, we know our assign- ment, but we are part of a team.” | 92 FEBRUARY 2023601.939.1011 • JLROBERTS.COM Plumbing, Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning J.L. Roberts provides comprehensive plumbing and HVAC services for the commercial sector. From design-build and fabrication to complete installation; our team has the expertise at every level the job requires. This experience enables us to provide clients with cost effective, world-class solutions that stand the test of time. Proud to partner with Mid State on the Southern Beverage project! The high level of communication that Mid State provides its clients is also part of the success of the business, as skilled and knowledgeable staff cannot be utilized to their full potential without consistent clear communication from every party. In modern business, it is vital that stakeholders feel they will be listened to and that their opinions will be val- ued. This is something that Mid State is keenly aware of. As Hudson says, “our client will be a lot happier if they are being kept aware of developments on a project.’ Working in the construction industry, it is vital that a com- pany perfects the skill of multi-tasking while maintaining high standards. For Mid State, this is key. When I ask Hudson what, aside from communication, the company’s strengths in business are, he credits Mid State’s incredible team. He mentions the deep well of experience the company has at its disposal as being of huge value. “At Mid State, there is a plethora of knowledgeable superintendents and project managers with years of experience. We are talking thirty- and forty-year veterans of the industry.’ Speaking to Hudson, it is clear that Mid State takes immense pride in the abilities of its team, while also trusting the team to be self-sufficient thanks to their successful track record. Beyond its internal team, Mid State has excellent professional relationships with outside parties such as architects, engineers, subcontractors, and material suppliers. The cold hard proof of Mid State’s work ethic and values are the many successful and large-scale projects that it’s had in recent years. One large project Mid State has in progress is the 190,000 square feet cool-storage facility for Southern Bev- erage. This project encompasses insulated concrete tilt-wall panels over 50 feet tall. In Hudson’s own words, “the project is massive, designed to maintain a constant temperature.” “Beyond its internal team, Mid State has excellent professional relationships with outside parties such as architects, engineers, subcontractors, and material suppliers.” | 93 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONAnother current future Madison landmark for Mid State is the Bridal Path - an “11,000 square foot wedding dress and accessory store with elegant fashions,” it was vital that the end result reflected this. Hudson believes that the polished, high-end finish on the entire project is testament to the lengths that Mid State will go to ensuring the end result meets the client’s vision. When Mid State started out, it was a small, family-owned business. While growth and expansion have necessitated a change of ownership, this community feel remains one of the pillars at Mid State. Hudson believes that the spirit of family ownership continues to this day and he assures me that this concept of a “family” defines the culture at Mid State. “We realize that work is not the only thing that we do in life, but it is where you spend the majority of your daylight hours. It doesn’t have to be the most important aspect of your life, either. Mid-State has a God, Family, then Work, culture.” It is evident from this conversation that the work-life balance established at Mid State, and close relationships between employees is part of what it means to be a family business. In construction, it is important to remain adaptable. At Mid State, this is at the core of its success and is something | 94 FEBRUARY 2023the company is well aware of. Simply put, experience allows diverse perspective. The varied projects Mid State has been involved in recently have the added value of opening it up to even more varied projects in the future. When I asked Hud- son if there are any types of projects in particular that Mid State would be pursuing or venturing into, his answer was simple. “Mid State will try to do whatever is in our client’s best interest.” While he acknowledges that in recent times Mid State has been doing many varied project types, the general consensus is that for Mid State, the work is entirely about the client and not about the kudos or scale associ- ated with a project. To round out my interview with Hudson, I ask if, as Mid State begins its sixty-fifth year, the team has any specific goals for the future. The answer is very much in keeping with the gradual, sensible, and carefully considered approach that has got the company this far. “We don’t know what the economy is going to do in 2023 or 2024, so we’re not trying to rein- vent the wheel. We just want to maintain a slow and steady growth, regardless of the circumstances.” Clearly, Mid State’s calm and practical approach to working hard, and always bal- ancing professional workload with personal life, is a winning formula and one that it intends to continue. | 95 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONWRITTEN BY MARTIN FORAN A s Chief Executive Officer with Associated General Contractors (AGC) of Metropolitan Washington DC – a chapter of the Associated General Contractors of America – Cherie Pleasant takes enormous pride in the work of her members. This is, she explains, an exciting place to be involved in construction. Based out of Arlington, Virginia, hers is one of the oldest chapters in the country, tracing its origins to 1929. It represents General Contractors, Specialty Contractors and Service and Supply Providers in the construction industry. Members are located in DC as well as in Maryland and Virginia. Like other chapters, this one is autonomous, yet it works in tandem with the national organization. What is unique here, says Pleasant, is that they are the only chapter that is a regional one. “We encompass the District of Columbia and several counties in northern Virginia and two counties in Maryland,” she explains. “There’s a lot of construction going on here. We do in the region of $18 to $20 billion and more of construction in the area annually.” As for numbers, chapter membership stands at around 250. However, the average member is generally pretty large in terms of size. “An average-sized contractor here in our market does $150 million of construction a year,” Pleasant says. “That is just a medium-sized one. We have ten that are doing over a billion dollars of construction in DC. One does $3 billion in DC.” As with the other AGC chapters in the US, this one grew “organically” and is hugely responsive to local needs. Having said that, many of the issues here are common across the industry. Pleasant lists a couple of areas of concern: “Members,” she says, “are concerned about workforce and supply chain issues and escalation of material pricing.” “If ever there was an industry that is good at meeting challenges, it’s construction.” | 96 FEBRUARY 2023As for the projects they are involved in, there is a huge mix of work taking place here – everything from highway construc- tion and utilities to work on hospitals and proton therapy labs – “cutting edge work that not every contactor could do.” Then of course, there are those iconic Washington DC buildings and museums to work on, like the Smithsonian, for example. This is clearly a source of enormous pride. “Washington DC”, says Pleasant, is simply “a really unique city to build in.” It’s little wonder that she clearly loves her role – one she has occupied since 1995. There is that unique mix of course, but also the fact that she genuinely loves the industry. Pleasant displays an enthusiasm that is palpable along with massive admiration for her chapter members, the work that they do and the “can-do” attitude they exemplify in the face of whatever is put before them. Pleasant explains: “There are always challenges and one thing I love about construction people is that they are used to challenges.” Thinking back to COVID-19, she recalls one interview she gave to The Washington Post. “I talked about how construction people are used to being over-regulated and dealing with challenges all the time,” she says. This was just another one they had to deal with. “We have the caliber of contactors who are able to turn on a dime and deal with what they need to deal with,” exclaims Pleasant. The message is clear: If ever there was an industry that is good at meeting challenges, it’s construction. 2022/23 President – Adam Grunley, Grunley Construction 2022/23 Senior Vice President – Brunson Cooper, Corenic Construction 2022/23 Vice President – Matt Buck, Associated Builders Chief Executive Officer – Cherie Pleasant Past President (2021) Terry Edmondson, Clark Construction YCF Tour WMATA HQ sponsored by Hensel Phelps 97During the pandemic, “we were deemed essential from the beginning here. Mostly people were continuing as before.” Nonetheless, a lot of work went into providing information such as in connection with virtual or online applications for permits, for example. “We also rocked online training in 2020” adds Pleasant. This is all the more impressive when we con- sider how this AGC chapter has just three staff. Of course, Pleasant does give full credit to the AGC of America. During the pandemic, she says, they remained on top of the situation always, providing free webinars for members, for example. “Anything we needed, they were on top of getting it to us.” Now we are of course seeing a return to normal and there is a big group of people who are desperate to get out there again and be with their peers, Pleasant notes. “We have really gone back to in-person meeting a lot,” she adds. “Yet some companies still resist or are cautious for employees and don’t want to send them to places that they might get sick.” Networking events will always be part and parcel of course – whatever way they are carried out – in real life or virtually. It’s a huge part of what they do. “We do a lot of meetings with owners, and we bring owners and contractors together to talk about problems, explore creative ideas and develop best prac- tices,” Pleasant further explains. “One thing I love about my AGC chapter is that members are very willing to share. Even though there is competition, people know that – in the long run – if you are a good contractor you are going to get your share of business. Members also joint venture a lot together. It’s a nice atmosphere. I just think the caliber of the contractors we have here is so high that there is no petty stuff going on.” “There are many hopes for the future in the DC chapter and lots of initiatives that are going from strength to strength.” | 98 FEBRUARY 2023This sensible, inclusive and collaborative approach pays divi- dends in many ways and clearly a lot of this comes from the top down. The same approach extends to interactions with bodies like DC City Council. “I wouldn’t say we lobby DC City Council,” says Pleasant. “I’d say we work with the city council on issues, where we try not to be so defensive. We try to say, ‘here’s how we can work together to make it better for the District of Colombia and the contractors’.” Not surprisingly there are many hopes for the future in the DC chapter and lots of initiatives that are going from strength to strength. Pleasant wouldn’t have it any other way, of course. “I think when you stop being creative and thinking of things to improve on it’s time to quit” she declares. For the coming year, Pleasant is looking forward to continu- ing to get back “to normal meetings and normal interaction with our owners.” In November 2021, the chapter held high profile “owner meetings” with twenty-six speakers in a day and with five panels. “We called it, ‘What do owners really want and what can you do about it?’,” Pleasant explains. This is an event they are planning to revisit, at time of writing. Meanwhile, they started a subcontractors’ council in 2019 and now the subcontractor membership is growing a lot. “This council plans their own events and their own interaction with the GCs. Ten to fifteen years ago we mainly only had GC members. As for new members, I have a new incentive with new board whereby it is their job to recruit two members each. They are doing really well with that.” Last but not least, there are the chapter’s much-anticipated awards to come. “It’s always an amazing event,” says Pleasant. “We are now in our twenty-second year. The ceremony is a big affair. It’s always fun too. This year we are going to the US Institute of Peace on Constitution Avenue. It’s one of the most beautiful spaces I’ve been in… And built by one of my members.”Next >