The Fairchance Difference
Fairchance Construction is at the forefront of innovation
For a business that has grown and thrived for more than a century, Fairchance Construction is refreshingly innovative, adopting technology to give its customers greater control and vision over the process, materials, design and end product. This works especially well for design-build, where the team, led by President Edward Balling and Vice President Brian D. Gaudiano, can model each project so clients can see and understand the elements of the job from soup to nuts. Embracing new technologies and outside-the-box thinking shows a willingness to grow and adapt to change—principles that have kept Fairchance Construction at the forefront of construction in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for generations.
“Four generations of my family, from my great-grandfather on, have owned and operated this business,” Balling says. “We’ve maintained the tradition of the family line, and what’s worked has been our honesty, integrity and willingness to do what’s right for our clients and our team. We’ve maintained that mindset and culture in a growing industry through challenges and changes in technology.”
“We’re outside-the-box thinkers,” Gaudiano says. “We don’t like to be constrained. When a client comes to us with a specific idea, we like to come up with creative solutions to do things that they can afford. We come up with creative ways to save them money and achieve the same results. That’s what sets us apart from the competition. We’re open-minded and have several solutions to a problem that we tailor to each project.”
Fairchance: The Golden Rulers
While the company has adapted its processes with advances that impact and influence the business, it has built relationships based on traditional values—a foundation of treating people with respect and genuinely caring for who they are and what they’re trying to accomplish. Empathy and attention to detail have been this company’s platform for retaining customers, creating long-lasting relationships with clients who actually bring in repeat business because they understand and appreciate the Fairchance difference.
“We’ve retained key clients through honesty and integrity,” Brian says. “Those are our key mantras. We’re golden rulers and treat people as we like to be treated. Everything we do is relationship-based. A lot of our work is repeat and private, and we treat our employees and subcontractors like family. Your subcontractors really are an extension of your business. Their work becomes the face of your organization, and the relationship you build with them is what drives your business, sometimes as much as your own employees.”
It’s this difference that allows the team at Fairchance Construction to do more collectively, unified by a common goal. Character can’t be bought. Neither can confidence in a business. These must be developed from experience, over time. Day after day, Edward and Brian have shown respect and trust in their team, and each project has been an opportunity to reinforce values that define the very heart of this company.
“We’re a big family, and it’s always been that way,” Edward says. “Without our employees, we don’t exist. We take care of our guys and pitch in to help each other. Sometimes when we’re shorthanded, we’ll help problem-solve, or pull people in from the office. Keeping everyone involved makes our employees strive to be better at what they do. We take care of them and they take care of us. That’s why they stick around. Brian, for instance, has been here for 12 years.”
Seeking the Marginal Voice
For the Fairchance Construction team, quality work builds tradition and the character of the company. But it’s also defined by the team’s actions, attention and service.
“My definition of character is how you act when nobody’s looking,” Brian says. “We act the same way in private in the office as we do in public. We hold honesty and integrity in high esteem. We’ve lost jobs for being honest, for communicating that the project will take longer than other contractors are willing to admit. And in many cases, we’ve had owners come back and say, ‘You guys were right,’ and sometimes we’ll get their next project.”
And what unites this team and allows them to see one another with respect is the shared knowledge and hands-on approach, a mentality that has set the standard for cooperation and mentorship.
“Everyone in a management position who works in the office has done hands-on construction work,” Brian says. “We’ve been laborers or carpenters and have actually done the work, which allows us to assess a problem, consider alternatives that are time-tested and proven and even come up with creative solutions. Having been there and done that, it’s easier for us to understand what contractors face every day and at the same time empower guys in the field to come up with their own solutions.”
“We maintain an open mind, too,” Edward adds. “Sometimes there are better ways and we welcome new ideas from guys in the field.” That type of leadership inspires the team because there’s a willingness to let everyone have a say, to seek the marginal voice and understand multiple angles and opinions, and to collectively create a solution. It’s an approach that builds rapport and respect. “We’re ‘Do as I do, not do as I say’ leaders, which speaks volumes to our employees,” Brian says. “We’re not yellers and screamers, lording over people.”
Community Accolades Underscore Company’s Success
The Fairchance Construction portfolio of work is impressive and diverse. The company built entire communities for the mining industry from 1916 to 1947, under M.T. Balling Sr. They worked on government contracts for the Army Corps of Engineers, and completed jobs for local churches and homeless shelters, child care centers, corporate offices, medical centers, car dealerships, hospitals and urgent care clinics. The list goes on, and the work speaks for itself.
“We’re most proud of the longevity and success of the business,” Edward says. “We’ve managed the ebbs and flows of the economy over the years and sustained a successful business under the same operating name. Our annual revenue has substantially increased over the last 10 years. This year we have been selected by Smart Business Magazine as one of the 50 Smartest Companies in Pittsburgh.”
Building quality relationships has formed the character of the company, earning Fairchance Construction accolades and respect from the community for its tradition, innovative spirit and willingness to outperform the competition.