Raising the Bar By Staying True to Its Roots
PR Construction
For more than 20 years, PR Construction has advanced the standard of excellence in general construction in Southern California by staying true to its roots. A family-owned business built on character, integrity and customer service, PR Construction has grown from a founder’s vision and humble beginnings by developing step-by-step processes that ensure each project provides superior quality and exceeds client expectations.
“I started my affiliation with construction in high school and that went through college,” Sean Brennan, President and CEO of PR Construction, says. “When I got out of college I went to work for a home developer at Lusk Homes for a three-year stint as a superintendent. I worked on homes and apartments and was a project manager for site development. In 1990, when the recession hit, I started PR Construction.”
When Sean started the company, he did so out of his parents’ house, in a community where he still lives today. That’s where it all began. His vision was to support the talent and businesses in the surrounding community. Through all of the successes and long-term relationships built by this team, PR Construction has developed a reputation for quality and service and lifting the standards in the general contracting industry. Sean says the firm has never strayed from its values of safety, integrity, teamwork and excellence—values that he established early on.
The belief in collaborative partnerships, hands-on leadership and a commitment to the community inform PR Construction’s business model. And because the inner values and outer vision were so firmly in place from the outset, the company has thrived, and Sean has witnessed significant milestones over the years.
The road to now
“My father, who was retired at the time, started coming around the office in 1998,” Sean says. “He wanted to help me and provided guidance from 1998-2003. He helped me make prudent decisions. When he passed away, it was nice to have my brother come in. It’s been a blessing to work with my father and brother. And my mother and older sister have helped me emotionally and, at times, financially.”
There have been a number of highs and lows that have added to Sean’s perspective. He understands how far the company has come, and how much it’s become a mainstay in the community and a source of stability for its employees.
“One of the early high points was when we could hire our first full-time employee,” Sean says. “Then we rented our first shop. That was another good moment for me. And buying the building we’re currently in was a very rewarding moment, as was doing our first million in sales.”
Today, PR Construction is 100 employees strong and has built relationships in the community of Southern California that have stood the test of time. The company specializes in retail centers, restaurants and industrial buildings, as well as tenant improvements. They have full facility and maintenance divisions and maintain properties.
“My older brother Sean started the company,” Executive Vice President of PR Construction Brian Brennan says. Brian’s tenure with the company dates back to 2000. “I saw a great opportunity with my brother and where he was going. It’s a fun and exciting experience that provides a lot of opportunities. We’re able to do something significant and know that you have the full support of someone behind you, to explore new opportunities and take calculated risks.”
A reputation for excellence
The company has handled projects in retail, hospitality, convenience stores and restaurants. Its commitment to doing projects on time and of the highest quality has earned a reputation in the community that has led to customer loyalty and referrals.
“We’ve done very little marketing,” Brian says. “About 95 percent of our business has come from word of mouth. Our existing customers have brought us to new companies. We take good care of our employees because our employees are direct extensions of us.”
Recognizing talent and hard work
The same word-of-mouth recommendation, built on mutual trust, also extends to internal talent. Many employees come through the recommendations of existing employees. The PR Construction team adheres to fundamental core values that ensure that integrity, accountability, customer service, respect and teamwork are guidelines that support the business. The leadership at PR Construction holds a corporate event once a month, to recognize the talent and hard work of the team. All of this creates an enriching and supportive workplace that rewards excellence and dedication.
Sean and Brian continue to raise the standards of excellence inside and outside the walls of the company. The PR Construction team is committed and united in their efforts to improve job processes and procedures. Superintendents have daily, tailgate safety meetings on jobsites. The company adheres to strict Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations and they have warehouse managers check all of their equipment. Additionally, they hold weekly meetings with their clients and use PowerPoint digital slides and photos to review action items. They also field any requests for information at the end of every week.
“My brother developed this process over time through listening to clients and hearing what their needs are,” Brian says. “We make sure expectations are met. It all comes down to how we communicate and document our processes and execute work.”
Community focused
PR Construction has developed strong ties with the community, while supporting the values and vision of the internal team and reinforcing relationships that have set the foundation for this company. This is evidenced by the recently completed Fr. Kevin Fitzpatrick Aquatic Center for Servite High School in Anaheim, California, which has an Olympic-size pool.
“I’m an alum of Servite and my two boys are alums from there also,” Sean says. “I was asked to be on their building committee. For the aquatic center project, we hired an architect and we put plans out to bid. It came back about $1.5 million over budget. I told them I’d do it and build the aquatic center at-cost. I put it out to bid with my guys and charged them a minor fee for the supervision. We were able to save the school a lot of money.”
“We can build just about anything,” Brian says. “My brother was involved early on in the aquatic center—with the design intent and budget. It’s a decorative block structure with metal canopies. It has full-blown men’s and women’s locker rooms and a coach’s office and meeting rooms. In the process, we had to build out a steel building for their weight room and additional classrooms. It was a huge undertaking and we came in under the school’s budget and hit their schedule well in advance. We did the whole thing in eight months. It was a phased, coordinated attack.”
PR Construction’s team had to carefully coordinate schedules and shift kids around to accommodate the expectations of the high school and parents. It was a very in-depth and complicated project. And all the while, the company didn’t sacrifice its quality standards.
“It is an example of a project that is unique and speaks to our ability to step outside of the norm and run it successfully and meet all of the client’s expectations,” Brian says.
That type of flexibility and innovation speaks to the talent and family ties that have established and moved this company forward. Family values continue to inspire two brothers who trust one another and who have the same common goals: to continue to build and nurture relationships with the surrounding community, provide an unsurpassed product and do great work that the family at PR Construction can be proud of.