Jacksonville’s climate, family appeal and central location were the main factors in MW Builders’ decision to open its Southeast headquarters at 6800 Southpoint Parkway in South Jacksonville.
MW Builders, based in Austin, Texas, is a subsidiary of MMC Corp. of Overland Park, Kansas.
MW Builders has regional offices in Dallas and Midland, Texas, and Kansas City, Kansas. The Jacksonville headquarters reflects the company’s desire to continue to grow in the Southeast, said Isaac Byers, division manager of the Jacksonville office.
The Southeast headquarters is more than 5,000 square feet with space for 25 office employees. Currently, there are nine office workers and two field staff. Byers expects to grow to 25 over the next three years.
“It’s not about quick growth. It’s a planned strategic growth,” Byers said.
The company expects the Jacksonville office will generate $100 million in revenue within five years.
MW Builders started in 1932 as Midwest Plumbing and Heating Company by Claude Sanders. He was soon joined by brothers Perry and Lee. In 1971, it became MW Builders.
One of its first major contracts was Motel 6. Through the 1980s the company was working on projects at 15 military bases across the country. Today, it specializes in design-build, light industrial, offices, multifamily and hospitality projects
The company has done work in Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas. There are no signed Jacksonville contracts yet, but Byers said he expects area projects to be on the books by early 2023.
“We want to have the partners that are good partners so we don’t feel like we are desperate to just take work at low fees. There’s plenty of work in this area for a lot of good contractors and as we get recognized as one of those good construction partners those opportunities will come,” Byers said.
Byers and Sam Whetstone, senior project manager, came to Jacksonville in April to establish the office. It took six months to design and furnish. The company is leasing the space.
MW Builders is employee-owned.
The Southeast headquarters came down to Orlando and Jacksonville, Byers said. He became convinced his employees would rather live in the Jacksonville area.
“So everybody in our company is an owner and we take pride in finding those places where they can feel at home. This area that is really focused on the industry. Hardworking, good values have always been here,” he said.
“I put my vote right in after we visited both places and said Jacksonville is the place we want to be. It’s a nice climate, it’s beautiful. It has so much around and so much potential that it was the most attractive place for me to bring my family when looking at Florida and looking at the opportunities here.”
