Establishing the Culture

Building Trust

To build the mammoth projects, you start with building the small ones, prove your ability to scale up successfully, build trust with your client and partners, achieve success, and repeat. That was the formula that Chris Szeliga brought to the team in 2014 as the Austin Office Lead. Almost a decade later the office has turned around its position in the market to become the number one builder (by billings) in Austin. It was never about becoming the biggest builder, he said, it was about becoming the best one.1

Establishing the Culture

More than a decade later, JE Dunn was still establishing a sustainable business strategy in Texas. This market provided plenty of opportunity and an abundance of competition, so proving the company’s commitment to being in Texas long term became a primary focus. Greg Lorei, President of JE Dunn South Central (Oklahoma and Texas) talks about how client experience and right culture have been key to building the company’s market position.

The Early Years

In 1997, JE Dunn Construction – a reputable and family-owned construction company from the Midwest – decided to make a permanent move to Texas and opened their first office in Houston. Gordon Lansford CEO and President of JE Dunn talks about the early years and how the people have been critical to the success in Texas.