Category: News And Awards

Family-owned businesses put high value on next generation of owners

Creating a successful family-owned company comes with a pride in providing opportunity for future generations that appears to be of higher value to area executives than ever entertaining outside offers to buy their businesses.

“I would say we’re just not interested in selling. I think that’s the bottom line,” said Clifton Phelps, vice president of business development for Milwaukee-based JCP Construction, which he established in 2008 with his brothers, James and Jalin. “I think what we’re trying to do is get to a second generation, third generation.”

Phelps was among a dozen area executives from family-owned businesses in Wisconsin who gathered during a roundtable discussion hosted by the Milwaukee Business Journal at Tri City National Bank in Oak Creek. They were asked whether they had ever considered offers to sell their family-owned businesses and also discussed other topics including how they manage their companies in today’s economy, misconceptions about family-owned companies and preparing the next generation of family to inherit a business.

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JCP Construction president, James Phelps, will be recognized by the Milwaukee Business Journal as a 2023 Power Broker. The Milwaukee Business Journal develops this list each year, with input from their reporters and editors, along with many suggestions from Milwaukee Business Journal readers in answer to a call for suggestions.

They define power brokers as the people who others turn to when they need to get something done, whether it’s a business deal, community project or raising money for a great cause.

Congratulations to James! Read the announcement from the Milwaukee Business Journal. 

We are extremely pleased that The Bindery has received a 2022 American Institute of Architects (AIA) Merit Award! It received the award because it “created a home for the creative community of writers while maintaining the history and story.” JCP Construction served as General Contractor and Galbraith Carnahan Architects was the architecture firm.

Twelve projects were recognized for excellence in architectural design by the 2022 Design Awards program of AIA Wisconsin, the state society of The American Institute of Architects (AIA). A nationally distinguished jury from outside of Wisconsin selected the award-winning projects. Members of the 2022 Design Awards jury were Dr. Bruce Race, FAIA, Kate Schwennsen, FAIA, and Mark Peters, AIA.

AIA Wisconsin has been promoting, supporting, and advocating on behalf of architects in the state of Wisconsin since 1911. The member organization focuses on providing continuing education to architects and designing a better built environment for the future. Each Design Award submission included AIA’s Framework for Design Excellence, which asks questions regarding how the project considered social and environmental issues in its design. Each of this year’s projects were measured not just on aesthetic components, but how the building interacts with people and the natural environment.

Project Description: Previously invisible to the undiscerning passerby, the windowless 1920’s building in Milwaukee’s Bay View neighborhood was home to a multi-generational family book bindery which closed operations in 2019. The new owner envisioned converting the city’s last traditional book bindery and its antique equipment into the city’s preeminent gathering place for Milwaukee’s writers, typographers, and print makers. The Bindery now includes a reimagined layout that visually connects a series of spaces of increasing privacy as you delve further into the building. These privacy gradients correspond to the different levels of membership at The Bindery as well as provide increased focus for members involved in highly concentrative tasks such as writing. A courtyard with more welcoming facade were added by removing a section of the original structure. The project served as a compelling example of how to transform an industrial asset into a cultural one that is deeply valued within the community.

See all of the winners!

We are excited to have Zavier Bouie join the JCP Construction team as a Project Engineer.

Zavier is detail-oriented and results driven with over five years of construction management experience.  He is goal-oriented and energetic which serves him well since he enjoys working in fast-paced working environments. Zavier balances tracking labor efficiency with maintaining a strong safety perspective.  Learn More.

We are excited to announce that we have added Norma Lewis to our team as a Project Engineer and Sharon Reitsma as a Project Manager.

Norma worked for the City of Milwaukee for 17 years where she was one of the first two certified Permit Technicians. She assisted management in implementing the permit desk cashiering process and created training programs to teach contractors to interface with the new program. While working for the City of Milwaukee she helped create the process the Department of Neighborhood Services has used since 2018 to upload $6 million of DNS special charges to the Treasurer’s Office for creation of the annual property taxes (with assistance from ITMD and in collaboration with the Treasurer’s Office and the Comptroller) . Learn More.

Sharon will be responsible for managing healthcare and education projects from the JCP Construction office with an eye on budget, scheduling, subcontractor and JCP Construction self-performance management as well as quality and safety. She is passionate, organized and engaged and brings a superb performance history to the table. Sharon has a strong reputation as a client advocate which allows her to earn trust, repeat business opportunities and referrals. She has experience with both design/build and outside architect for both collaboration and construction management. Learn More.

 

 

We are incredibly thankful to the Greater Milwaukee Foundation for investing in our firm.

Foundation’s newest impact investment supports diverse construction firm

Further expanding access to capital for Black and Brown owned businesses, the Greater Milwaukee Foundation has issued a new impact investment loan of $1.54 million to Milwaukee-based JCP Construction. The funds will support the company in a variety of ways, including growth and job creation now and for the future.

As a result of this investment and projects coming online in the coming year, JCP expects to increase both office staff and its workforce in the field.

“The missing puzzle piece to broader economic participation and growth isn’t talent, or creativity, or effort – it’s external investment,” said Kenneth Robertson, Foundation executive vice president, COO and CFO. “The Foundation is stepping in to make resources – its own and those from donors – more accessible in communities where the practices of traditional lenders have often raised additional barriers for businesses and entrepreneurs. We’re glad to be in position to support the success of a firm that is both locally grown and known for providing career opportunities to underrepresented groups that historically aren’t given chances to advance in the construction industry, which strengthens our community overall.”

JCP was established in 2008 by brothers Clifton, James and Jalin Phelps. With a central office on King Drive and a commitment to employing a workforce that reflects the community they serve, the company is an important part of Milwaukee’s diverse business ecosystem. JCP has a range of capabilities in the field, including pre-construction services, general contracting, subcontracting and construction management.

JCP has contributed to some of the most recognizable projects in Wisconsin, including the Fiserv Forum, the Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport remodel and the Northwestern Mutual tower and commons. Outreach Community Health Centers’ clinic addition is among their current projects, and they will have a role in the ThriveOn Collaboration’s ThriveOn King project.

“This loan gives us the opportunity to operate from a position of strength as we ramp up for all of the work we have projected for 2022,” said JCP co-owner Clifton Phelps. “This is the biggest investment infusion we’ve ever had, which will allow us to strategically grow. The impact is going to be great. It allows us to sharpen our talent pool in the office and increase our capacity – which equals more jobs, which equals more paycheck dollars going to disenfranchised folks in the city of Milwaukee through our Black and Brown workforce. Most of all, this is a great partnership.”

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JCP Construction was recently featured in a BizTimes article. This article was part of their “Faces of Family Business” series.

What inspired you to start JCP Construction?

Our family history is factory based. We have strong, blue-collar ties. Clifton, James and I went to trade school at Milwaukee Tech and continued to pursue different paths in the construction industry. We believed our collective knowledge and expertise could position us for success as a strong, business-minded construction company. This was an opportunity to change the trajectory of our family career path and create a new legacy for the family name. We grew up learning valuable lessons about hard work and commitment and have built a construction company committed to providing high quality construction on time and within budget. 

What is the biggest lesson you have learned about working in the family business?

Internally, we know we have to have clear communication and trust each other. The good thing is that we are brothers and can speak candidly to each other—which can sometimes be counterproductive.

Externally, we are fortunate to be able to observe other family businesses in the construction industry. There are so many area construction companies successfully transitioning into the third and fourth generations of well-respected business ownership. As a first generation company partnering with some of these organizations, we can learn and grow based on valuable insights from these colleagues. 

What is important to know about the JCP mission?

In addition to providing excellent construction services, we want to find and develop great talent. We want to build a diverse team who serves diverse and growing clients so we can positively impact the growth and development of our community. 

What’s does the future hold for JCP Construction?

Tremendous growth. From a financial perspective, we are positioned for an over 40% increase in revenue in 2022. We are also excited to be expanding our geographic reach beyond the City of Milwaukee into the southern portion of the state. More importantly, we are deepening our connections to other area businesses and developing solid partnerships.

Read the article on the BizTimes website.

Jalin Phelps, JCP Construction’s VP of Field Operations, was recently announced as one of the 2022 40 Under 40 honorees by the Milwaukee Business Journal.

Each year, Business Journal reporters and editors select 40 leaders under the age of 40 — from a pool of hundreds of nominations — who have demonstrated outstanding professional achievement while also becoming leaders in their communities. This 40 Under 40 class represents the future of community leadership in southeastern Wisconsin.

This is the 29th year the Milwaukee Business Journal has honored Milwaukee’s up-and-coming leaders.

Winners will be honored in a special section March 25 and during a March 28 awards event at the Miller High Life Theatre in downtown Milwaukee.

Find out more on the Milwaukee Business Journal website.

Milwaukee nonprofit organization Safe & Sound is moving its headquarters to a former church it acquired in the Sherman Park neighborhood, where it plans to build closer community ties and host gatherings. The purchase at 4422 W. Leon Terrace marks the first time Safe & Sound has owned a property since its founding more than 23 years ago. It currently occupies office space in downtown Milwaukee in a building that belongs to Marquette University. That building at 801 W. Michigan St. is slated to be demolished for a housing development. The property purchase in Sherman Park means Safe & Sound will be based at and work in one of the neighborhoods it is seeking to improve, said executive director Joe’Mar Hooper. It will move in the first quarter of 2022. “Us being a community organization that serves the community, it’s important for us to be really in the community so we can elevate our partnerships,” he said. “We’re moving into a new endeavor around collective impacts in the neighborhoods in which we serve.” Safe & Sound acquired the Leon Terrace building from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Salt Lake City for $535,000, according to state records.

JCP Construction is proud to have been selected to help lead this conversion of a Sherman Park church into a new headquarters. The project is scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2022.

Milwaukee Business Journal Article

Safe & Sound Article

The Daily Reporter honored 55 Top Projects from 2020 during an awards event Wednesday at the Italian Community Center in Milwaukee.

The 22nd annual event recognized outstanding achievements by Wisconsin builders, owners, engineers, architects and more. JCP Construction was proud to see three projects honored that we played a role in helping make a reality.

• The Bindery
• Legacy Co-Working and Innovation Space
• Froedtert Health Parking Area No. 6

Read the full article and see all 55 Top Projects here.