It wasn’t the first time that Joe Calderon, President of New Ridge Roofing (New Ridge), heard a prospective client marvel at the stark difference between his and another company’s cost proposal. “It’s pretty common I’ll hear about another company…

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Julio Luna and Guillermo Alcantar, drywall experts and Founders of United Interior Contractors, LLC (UIC Drywall), focus their business on respect and trust as they pursue the American Dream and fulfill their mission of forming communities of…

The makings of a successful business aren’t found on the profit and loss statement alone. Most businesses that have a long and prosperous life have a set of values outside of simply making money—from paying employees a respectable wage to paying…

PDG Construction Services, Inc.’s approach to clients and projects reflects its unique origin. It began as an in-house construction management company for Persimmon Development Group in 1995. At the time, the Wilsonville, Oregon-based team managed…

As a merchant in a niche business sector, it is rewarding to see one’s specialty products on display at thousands of properties across America. Such is the case for Jeff and Danell Burlingame, the husband-and-wife team that owns Mailbox Solutions…

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Point Monitor Corporation President Mark Higgins got his start in the fire alarm industry as a summer intern while earning his business degree. He worked hard, and his boss eventually gave him subcontracts to handle on his own.

Jeremy Harmon has a problem with boredom. That’s why Tri-Tech Heating Inc. (Tri-Tech) takes on so many different types of projects. “People come to us when they can’t find another firm to do a project and we’ll take it on even if I haven’t done…

When Scott Elliott started Portland, Oregon-based Edge Development (Edge) in 2000, he was building single-family homes and a few townhome projects. Today, his firm is an established design, development and construction company delivering commercial,…

Ingenuity has been a hallmark characteristic of Jackson Industries since its earliest days.

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Some things—like fine wine—improve with age. Stellar Cellars, founded in 1992 by Ron Cowan, was born from a desire to find better ways of storing wine. And, for nearly 30 years, Cowan and the Stellar Cellars team have constantly strived to improve…

Andrew Barnes took a roundabout route getting to his role as President and Co-Owner of Ironhead Roofing, LLC (Ironhead) in Corvallis, Oregon. After nine years as a roofer for other employers, he thought that owning a roofing company would be…

McDonald Excavating, Inc. is growing, and it’s not just because the Washougal, Washington, company has proved it can move a lot of dirt. It’s more about how they move it: With precision, efficiency and the ability to think outside the box.

O’Brien & Company is an Oregon design-build firm founded in 1981 by Pat O’Brien.

A summer job in high school taping drywall led Alex Mametiev to ultimately establish and build a successful commercial drywall and construction company serving southern Oregon and Washington: Hard-Core Contractors, Inc.

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Cory Lucas, Owner of Icon 3D in Portland, Oregon, always knew that he wanted to be an entrepreneur. His first opportunity to become self-employed happened, coincidentally, while he was working in the employment department for the city of Hillsboro,…

Metal fabrication is intricate, specialized work requiring an exacting skill set. “We’re really good at it,” says Ronda Cross, CEO of Big C Industries (Big C). The company’s office and fabrication shop are in Longview, Washington.

When Jeff Sohlstrom and Reid Davis left their jobs working for a ground-penetrating radar provider, neither had any intention of starting their own company. “We were both unemployed, but wanted to figure out how to make a living doing what we…

Colorado-based CSI Construction Company may have the West Coast covered in terms of its business locations. Headquartered in Colorado Springs, it has a branch office in Portland, Oregon, and two in California. But the impact of this general…

The Golden Rule is a philosophy that brothers Julian and Sly Erofeeff put into practice with their customers. As a result, their company, Grace Point Contracting LLC, has doubled its business every year since it was founded five years ago. In…

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When a client needs a contractor that can handle both site preparation and concrete work, Jackson Industries can meet and exceed the job requirements. The company is based in the Cornelius area of Oregon and self-performs land clearing and demolition…

Work ethic and quality of craftmanship. These two assets are what inspired George Hildebrand, President of Hildebrand Concrete Construction Inc. (HCC), to open his own business in 1971. George’s keen passion and skill for the construction trades,…

We see them every day; they tell us where we’re going and where we are. Though we rely on signs, most of us don’t think much about who created them or put them up for us. Brian Stoddard, President of Northwest Sign & Design, thinks about them…

Erick and Melissa Poland understand the importance of meeting the demands of the marketplace. Their ability to adjust their business model to adapt to changing economic realities has helped them grow from part-time home remodeling to a one-stop…

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As senior project manager for McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. (McCarthy), Kyle Becker had a firsthand look at how McDonald Excavating Inc. (McDonald) goes about its business.

For more than 40 years, Concrete Shop, Inc. has been innovating the way precast concrete is used in construction. The family-owned business doesn’t shy away from one-of-a-kind projects—think statues and park benches. And, they don’t tread lightly—literally;…

Some people might think that selling fireplaces year-round would be as difficult as selling oceanfront property in Arizona. But for Lisac’s Fireplaces & Stoves in Portland, Oregon, the 72-year-old family business has figured out not only how…

Kurt McLaughlin, President and CEO of Portland Commercial Construction, LLC, dreams big, and he asks the same of his employees. “I ask them to write down their goals, and if their goals aren’t large or ambitious enough, I tell them to dream…

It’s not every day you get to pursue your hobby as a profession, but that is exactly what Dan Bigelow, owner of SkyShots Aerial Photography, was able to do 14 years ago when he purchased the company that was founded in 1995. Based in Portland,…

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The phone rang twice before Vern Balkowitsch answered it with a gruff “hello.” It was the third of July, and Vern was in his office at Accurate Concrete Cutting, Inc., a 33-year-old, family owned and operated concrete cutting and coring business…

Many would admire the legacy left by Arthur Wayne Dewitt. Described by his son as a man of great integrity, Wayne was highly respected in the industry for the hard work and, most of all, for his good character.

From owning a sushi bar to starting a security company, Tami Twidwell is no stranger to trying new things. It’s something she’s done most of her professional life and she’s proud of her results.

While Ross Builders Northwest, LLC may have started small, it’s growing steadily based on the deep, broad experience of its founder Eric Ross and other key employees—as well as their complete commitment to working closely and professionally…

Located just outside Oregon’s historic state capital in Salem, Cascade Nut & Bolt (CNB) is a nod to a bygone era. Its rows of fasteners, screws, bolts and safety equipment conjure memories of a hometown hardware store, an image that is bolstered…

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When Colleen Harris, President of Harris WorkSystems, began her career in computer sales, you would be hard pressed to find anyone who knew what ergonomics was, let alone how important it is.

In 1983, when Iner Tapani went home to tell his wife, Beverly, he had been laid off from his union operator job at an underground utility company, she met him at the front door with even bigger news: she was pregnant with twins (children numbers…

Without concrete, there is no construction. According to the Portland Cement Association, Portland cement is the basic ingredient in concrete and is used in construction all over the world.

The first two words to appear on LMC Construction’s website are “Always Building.” This phrase aptly describes how LMC has grown from a firm of four people in 2004 to its current size of 65 by acting on its “client first” business philosophy.…

In a land of raging rivers, volcanos, earthquakes and torrential downpours, PLI Systems, Inc. has dedicated itself for over 30 years to solving the Pacific Northwest’s difficult soil and foundation stabilization issues using industry-leading…

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Project owners typically employ ground penetrating radar (GPR) after unexpected conditions interrupt construction. The proactive application of GPR imaging services can prevent costly delays and change orders, and increase safety on the job…

Every time Karl Kuoppala stuccos a house, it’s more than a project. It’s a reflection of him, his family, even an entire country.

Rob Robinson first got into the concrete business in 1990. He bought a broken-down REED Sidewinder concrete pump from a man who was getting out of the concrete industry, paying with a handshake and a promise to compensate him for the part as…

Sometimes doing your best is not good enough. Sometimes you must do what is required. These words from the famed British statesman, Sir Winston Churchill, are ingrained in the heart and spirit of Drew Piriak. This energetic trailblazer has…

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Overhead Door Co. of Portland is a certified veteran-owned company based in Oregon that provides services to homes and businesses across the northwest. Family-owned and operated, it is part of a nationwide network of more than 450 authorized…

Portland-based Colas Construction Inc. is fast becoming one of Oregon’s top rising general contractors, thanks in large part to the traditional values instilled by its Founder, Hermann Colas Jr. Beyond profit, growth or even industry recognition,…

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