Carroll Bradford Inc. has come a long way from its humble beginnings when brothers-in-law Jon Menke and Stephen Barnett co-founded the company in a small shared office.
The family-owned construction services provider in 2018 celebrated its best and most profitable year since its start nine years ago. It was named one of Central Florida’s largest privately held companies last year and now boasts nearly 200 workers. The company has continued to sustain significant growth without jeopardizing the quality of its product or its professionalism, reporting $54.8 million in 2018 revenue, a significant uptick from the $38.6 million reported in 2017. Currently, the Orlando-based company is looking to diversify its offerings in anticipation of market changes.
“We replace the roofs over people’s heads and lay the foundation of their homes — which are the two most important parts of any home,” said Barnett, CFO. “We have been trusted by thousands of homeowners across the state along with national homebuilders to deliver exceptional results. We pride ourselves on our craftsmanship, expertise, integrity and exceeding expectations.”
That said, the company — like most of its competitors — has struggled to recruit talent in the highly competitive construction market. To overcome that, it has streamlined its recruiting process, finding that its unique company culture attracts and retains top talent. “Company leadership listens, communicates and collaborates with our employees as we focus on our shared mission, vision and core company values,” Barnett said.
What surprises him most about his company’s growth is the consistent, steady demand for new home construction. Central Florida has a strong demand for new homes and Carroll Bradford works with several national homebuilders — performing concrete work and recently expanded into roofing — to fulfill that demand in this market. Looking ahead, Barnett wants Carroll Bradford to have a national reach as the most trusted name in the industry.