Messer Construction was founded nearly 70 years ago in 1932 and has gone through major changes since that time, but maybe none as important as now when the company is restructuring its leadership and repositioning itself for a new economy.
"We needed to move leadership to younger people within our company, and that's what we did with this group of six new leaders," explained Tom Keckeis, President & CEO, Messer Construction. "All of these leaders will elevate Messer as we move toward achieving our future goals, and it's their leadership that inspires others."
Keckeis takes over the company's highest position after working with Messer for 30 years, and believes that the future of the company lies with continued innovation and a focus on sustainability.
"Technology is having a big impact on how to reduce wasted effort in our business, and green building is a definite focus," Keckeis said. "We're trying to stay on the leading edge, and the younger people seem to embrace these changes the most."
Specific innovation measures Keckeis described include a new Integrated Project Delivery model that works with contractors upfront to work out any issues prior to construction. This new practice is currently being used on Xavier University's new
Hoff Academic Quad project. Messer Construction is also implementing new Building Information Modeling systems that allow for the entire project to be modeled prior to construction to help reduce or eliminate any potential wasted time or energy.
Keckeis also emphasized that the new leadership is looking to grow its footprint beyond its current eight cities to a ninth region sometime soon. Even as the company expands its reach, Keickeis notes that roughly 40-45% of the company's total commercial construction, or $280-300 million, comes from the Cincinnati region in sectors like health care, senior living, higher education and the emerging life sciences market.
It was these industry sectors that Keckeis said helped keep Messer Construction stable during the recent economic recession. To stay competitive in these markets he said that the company went as far to hire executives from those sectors to better understand the product they were producing. Relationships like these are what Keckeis says Messer holds most dear, and is what has kept the company strong over its history in the city where they started it all.
"There aren't many cities that have the arts and culture we have, and Cincinnatians often do not realize how well off they are," said Keckeis. "There is a great quality of life here for everyone and this is why we stay focused on Cincinnati, and why so many people decide to stay."
Other leadership changes at Messer Construction include Paul Hitter as Senior Vice President & CFO; Mark Gillming, Mark Luegering and Tim Steigerwald have been elected to the Board's executive team; while Dave Miller, Steve Bestard and Rick Hensely have been promoted to executive officers.
Writer:
Randy A. SimesPhotography by Scott BeselerStay connected by following Randy on Twitter
@UrbanCincy
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