Category: News And Awards

We are excited to announce that JCP Construction has been named construction general contractor for the 2020 Democratic National Convention. We are so grateful for this opportunity to accept the challenge of ripping the Fiserv Forum apart in two weeks and preparing it for the DNC and then to put it back together in two weeks after it is over.

Since the announcement of the DNC coming to Milwaukee, we knew we were a serious contender for General Contractor. We have been involved with complex projects, are committed to a diverse workforce and are confident in our ability to deliver projects on time and on budget.

We are also thankful to our partners and other supporters.

Below is a segment of an article from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The full article can be found here.

Milwaukee-based JCP Construction named construction general contractor for 2020 DNC

James Phelps can’t wait for the NBA playoffs and the Democratic National Convention.

Phelps is a Milwaukee Bucks fan. He’s also the president of locally owned JCP Construction, which will be tasked with helping overhaul Fiserv Forum for the 2020 Democratic National Convention.

A Bucks push to a title would run well into June. The convention will be held July 13-16.

“The Bucks will make the finals,” Phelps said as he expressed confidence that his firm will get the convention job done on time.

On Monday, the firm founded by Phelps and his brothers Jalin and Clifton will be named construction general contractor for the project.

The Democratic National Convention Committee will roll out the production and event management teams that are responsible for preparing Fiserv Forum and the surrounding areas for what is likely to be the biggest event staged in Milwaukee.

Maryland-based Hargrove is the convention’s event management firm.

Hargrove will oversee JCP Construction and Populous, the Kansas City-based firm that designed Fiserv Forum. Populous will also partner with Milwaukee’s American Design Inc.

The lead architect on the project for Populous is a Wisconsin native, Lisa Opper, who said in a statement that the firm is honored to work on “a historic event in one of our historic facilities.”

Democratic National Convention Committee chief executive Joe Solmonese said the “top-notch event management team … perfectly blends the experience, creative vision and ties to the community necessary to craft an experience that breaks the mold and brings everyone in.”

Convention organizers have been committed to diversity and inclusion in all phases of the event, including with contracts.

JCP is a minority-owned firm that has been part of several large Milwaukee construction projects, including Fiserv Forum and Northwestern Mutual Tower and Commons.

“This means a lot to us,” Phelps said. “It’s exciting to have been selected to be the general contractor. We look forward to the whole process. We look forward to working with the team on this exciting project.”

The firm already knows the territory….

Full article.

Friday, October 25, 2019 was a day to remember for JCP Construction, as we had a trifecta with three awards honoring our contribution to the construction industry. We give special thanks to those organizations who helped us celebrate our continued success.

Marketplace bestowed JCP Construction with its first ever Legacy Award, to celebrate our efforts on projects such as Bader Philanthropies, Pete’s Fruit Market and the upcoming, IKON Hotel. Governor Evers presented the 2019 Legacy Award to JCP Construction in recognition of a decade of outstanding perseverance and business accomplishments as a family-owned, minority-owned general contractor. He praised the company for helping to transform the industry’s culture and impacting the community by contributing to Milwaukee’s neighborhood wealth creation and Wisconsin’s economy.

The Daily Reporter awarded Jalin Phelps with the 2019 Newsmaker of the Year – Community Impacter of the Year Award. Jalin quietly and selflessly gives back to the community around him and is proud to be integral to training of the next generation of the construction workforce. His involvement in a collaboration with the SDC and MATC with the aim to train future construction workers while repairing a rehab house is exemplary of his innovative approach to training.

Finally, JCP Construction was part of the team that was awarded the WCREW Vision Achievement Award for building the Bader Philanthropies project.

It will be hard to top this trifecta, but we always like a good challenge.

Dave Finner is a Journeyman Carpenter with over 15 years of experience in commercial, residential and healthcare construction. His experience has resulted in a thorough understanding of life safety and infection control parameters for the healthcare industry. Dave possesses excellent organizational skills and excels in working with owner representatives and project managers, while striving to meet JCP’s mission of meeting deadlines on time and on budget. A veteran carpenter, he has been a part of projects ranging in size from $10k to $10MM in size.

Our Assistant Project Manager, Tracy Carson spoke at the Social Development Commission’s “Women In Trades Lunch and Learn” on September 26. All attendees were women of different ages and races who wanted to learn more about the construction industry and how to get involved. As the guest speaker, Tracy was able to give some insight into the day-to-day operations of the construction industry from multiple points of view. This helped attendees understand what their future in the construction industry could look like. We continue to be inspired by Tracy and all she does to give back to the community.

The Social Development Commission is a community action agency. It is tasked by the government with helping and advocating for Milwaukee County residents living in poverty.

As a Journeyman Carpenter with over 12 years of experience in commercial, residential and healthcare construction, Keith Carle works as our carpenter Foreman. Keith is responsible for ensuring work is completed in the field with the highest quality, ensuring the safety of field staff and communicates daily with key project players, guaranteeing client satisfaction.

Keith possess excellent organizational skills, including managing subcontractors, supervising field personnel, working with owner representatives and project managers, and meeting deadlines on time and on budget. Additional experience includes understanding life safety and infection control parameters for the healthcare industry. As an extremely proficient carpenter, Keith is able to perform cast-in-place concrete in addition to his finish carpentry skills. As a carpenter Foreman, Keith is also skilled in the installation of steel stud and drywall, bathroom partitions and accessories, wall protection and finish carpentry.

As a Journeyman Carpenter with over 37 years of experience in commercial, residential and healthcare construction, Jeff Helnes works as our carpenter Foreman. Jeff is responsible for ensuring work is completed in the field with the highest quality, ensuring the safety of field staff and communicates daily with key project players, guaranteeing client satisfaction.

Jeff possesses excellent organizational skills, including managing subcontractors, supervising field personnel, working with owner representatives and project managers, and meeting deadlines on time and on budget. Additional experience includes understanding life safety and infection control parameters for the healthcare industry. OSHA 30 Certified, Jeff also holds a perfect record for maintaining a safe job site, including working with local AGC Safety Directors. Jeff has worked on notable projects such as the Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee Streetcar, General Mitchell International Airport Aurora – Pleasant Prairie and Great Lakes Naval Base, to name a few.

On July 12^th, 2019, JCP Construction went out to support the One Accord Foundation at their 9^th annual golf outing.

As a non-profit organization, One Accord provides assistance to children who are aging out of Foster care and group homes and are college bound. The organization provides scholarships to assist students with their first four years of college. These students do not have the full support of a family that can provide the necessities of college life that are not covered by scholastic scholarships, such as sheets, blankets, pillows, personal items, backpacks, pens, pencils, paper, or that “can’t live without laptop computer” vital to the success of producing term papers and other projects.

The annual golf outing not only provided us a great team building experience, but also allowed JCP Construction to support a worthy cause.

A new partnership between Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC), JCP Construction and the non-profit Social Development Commission (SDC) aims to train future construction workers and redevelop city-owned foreclosed homes, but may need additional funding to grow the program.

The idea, born out of Reclaiming Vacant Properties Conference held in Milwaukee in 2018, uses an approach whereby the city sells vacant homes for $1 to an affiliate of JCP Construction. The growing firm would coordinate the renovation work. MATC students, supervised by professors, would rehab the homes.

The group will start with a home at 2606 N. Holton St. on the border of the Riverwest and Harambee neighborhoods. City records indicate the home, built in 1890, was acquired by the city in January via property tax foreclosure. Since 2016, the Department of Neighborhood Services has issued over 20 violations to the property, including the requirement to register a vacant property.

The program is modeled in part under another program previously operated by Milwaukee Public Schools. “When I was approached about this project I was pretty excited. We had a similar program when I went to Milwaukee Tech,” said JCP’s Jalin Phelps at a July 2nd hearing of the Common Council’s Zoning, Neighborhoods & Development Committee. David Polk, Associate Dean of Apprenticeship Trades and Industry at MATC, told the committee he also remembers working on a rehab house during his time at Milwaukee Tech (now Bradley Tech High School).

“You can’t just be all theory. You need some hands-on experience,” said Phelps.

Read the full article here.