J.P. Cullen's Milwaukee Division
Recognizing that success doesn't happen overnight is one of the many reasons that J.P. Cullen's Milwaukee Division has thrived since opening in 1998. That same recognition is allowing Larry Rocole, Vice President of the Milwaukee Division, to look beyond the current economic climate and focus on what needs to get done to achieve the company's future goals.
"Wisconsin is blessed with a lot of very good general contractors," Rocole acknowledged. "The competition helps us with strategic planning and to also see where our company needs to go in the next five to 10 years.
"We as an industry are challenged with making decisions that positively impact us immediately through an increase in projects," Rocole added. "What's important, though, is to realize that many of the decisions we're making will start having an impact in a few years. Planning ahead and setting reachable but tough goals is what has made our company stronger."
Focusing on the Customer
In the increasingly competitive, highly demanding and ever-changing construction industry, companies need to strive for excellence every day. Most of us know how important relationships are within the industry, from treating employees respectfully, to working hand-in-hand with subcontractors, to building genuine and honest relationships with customers. These qualities are what J.P. Cullen focuses on each day, on every project and with every relationship.
"One of the reasons I joined Cullen was the integrity in this organization. It's the integrity of a company and its employees that sets it apart from the competition, and the fact that we strive to outperform the competition," Rocole said.
In reviewing the projects that J.P. Cullen has completed over the years, it's no wonder how they've managed to remain successful. Through solid business decisions, strengthening partnerships with customers, and continuously going above and beyond to make each project run smoothly, they've racked up an impressive list of projects. You'd be hard-pressed to drive through the City of Milwaukee without seeing their handiwork or stepping foot into a Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare facility they haven't built or renovated. Many say that it's easier to keep an existing customer than it is to gain a new one, and J.P. Cullen's track record shows this thought process leads to continued success.
"We've partnered with J.P. Cullen on a half-dozen projects over the past decade," Ron Boecker, Vice President of Construction and Facility Services for Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare said. "Their commitment to exceeding our expectations is at the core of each decision, and that allows us to deliver the best possible facility for our patients.
"Their work ethic and dedication to our projects is unending, and we're proud of the work we've done together," Boecker stated.
Growing from Within
Preferring to promote employees from within, J.P. Cullen emphasizes continuing education through training, seminars and classes, all while keeping on top of the latest technology trends in construction. Additionally, in order to change and grow with the industry, Rocole insists J.P. Cullen employees read. Whether it's books about leadership development, time management or communication, he is a firm believer that knowledge is power, which helps turn weaknesses into strengths.
Since J.P. Cullen is a builder in the truest sense of the word, they take P.R.I.D.E. Personal Responsibility In Daily Excellence to heart. From the receptionist on up, every employee is trained to understand construction in order to communicate effectively and work efficiently. Learning the bricks-and-mortar aspect of building and how steel relates to concrete are skills you can't learn from books. Rocole believes employees have earned the trust and respect from the trades people they work with on projects because of this construction training. "Having walked the walk, so to speak, makes daily interaction with all sides of a project more efficient and effective," he said.
Efficiency through Communication
As a Construction Labor Management Council of Southeast Wisconsin, Inc. (CLMC) board member, Rocole believes it's obvious that in order for companies to remain competitive and sustainable, they need to become more efficient. He feels the best way to achieve this is by all sides — labor, management and customers — working together to support each other. This notion is made easier through the CLMC, and gives him the opportunity to partner with the unions on how best to work together.
Ultimately, J.P. Cullen is supporting two businesses: their company and the unions. According to Rocole, the unions offer J.P. Cullen a great service by training the best workforce that meets the needs of their company's culture and expectations. In the end, it's the conversations happening at board meetings, on the jobsites and with the customers that make our industry better, and more importantly, J.P. Cullen stronger.
Power of One Newsletters
