2
The summer and fall of 2018 was an extremely busy period of time for management and employees of Shrader & Martinez. Near the end of June, management announced an agreement to sell the Company to Elder-Jones, Inc., a general contractor based in Bloomington, Minnesota. Shrader & Martinez Construction, Inc. was founded in 1986 by Scott Shrader and Ron Martinez and since that time has earned a reputation for exceptional perform- ance for its customers. Scott had retired a few years earlier, and Ron was looking to join him; however, it was not easy to find a company with similar cultures and values, one that was willing to preserve the legacy and retain the employees and clients that had made SMC so successful. That’s when Elder-Jones stepped in. Ron has been a friend and colleague of John Elder’s since the 1990’s and the founding days of the Retail Contractors Association. In January 2018 Ron men- tioned to John that he had yet to find the right buyer and that maybe Elder-Jones should consider the possibility. I don’t believe that either of them thought that much would come of the conver- sation. After some initial conversations, Elder-Jones management headed to Sedona to “kick the tires”. Justin Elder, President, Brian Perkkio, Vice President, and I made the trip to visit with manage- ment of SMC. Almost instantaneously all parties felt that there was real potential. We shared stories of our philosophies, our cul- tures, our business practices, our clients, and our employees, learning that we were truly matched in so many ways. Within a couple of short months a deal was done. After spending 30 plus years in Minnesota, including 18 as Vice President at Elder- Jones, I made the leap to Arizona to become President of the newly-formed Shrader & Martinez Construc- tion USA, LLC. Al- though it was difficult to leave family, friends and the Elder- Jones family, Kathy and I have been so warmly welcomed by all in Sedona; we are very grateful. I am also excited for the challenges and opportunities cre- ated by this change, opportunities for the employees of both companies, opportunities for improved efficien- cies, and opportuni- ties to share resources of two successful compa- nies to improve our service to our cus- tomers. We have retained the Shrader & Martinez name, along with its history and legacy. We have retained our Sedona office. And most importantly, we have retained the employees that have made SMC such a successful company. We intend for our new begin- ning to be seamless, and we intend to provide the same level of exemplary service for our customers that we have been providing for more than 30 years. Michael Cook, our long-time Vice Pres- ident, retired in January, as did Ron. However, Ron and Mike are both continuing with somewhat limited roles to assist in our tran- sition…and likewise to assist in their transitions as well. We all look forward to seeing them in the office throughout 2019. We are very optimistic about our prospects for 2019, both for SMC and for Elder-Jones! We are poised to have a great year after the many challenges of 2018. Our list of clients is strong, and I am amazed by the talent and professionalism of our office staff and of our many dedicated field superintendents, without whom none of what we do would be possible. Personally, I look forward to every day in the Sedona office as I learn more about the people who work with me. I am especially thankful for the entire management team, which has embraced me in my new role and supported me as I learn more about SMC. We are all feeling great about our decision; we now are able to tap the resources and expertise of so many within one merged company while main- taining the distinct identities of two separate entities. The future looks very bright for all of us. Dennis Hill President Presidents Corner | A New Beginning Retirement Celebration for Ron Martinez and Mike Cook RRAM Services, a department of Shrader & Martinez Construction, is a nationwide remodel, repair, and maintenance company. With 24/7 services and a single point of contact, RRAM provides local, qualified ven- dors for services ranging from a sin- gle repair to full remodels for retail, restaurants, warehouses, and offices. Dennis Hill President [email protected] 952-250-3117 Mark Chilton Vice President, Construction mchilton@shradermartinez 928-451-1525 Sue Johnson Vice President, RRAM Services [email protected] 928-202-8623 Linda Martinez Vice President, Business Development [email protected] 928-239-0074 General Information Shrader & Martinez Construction 160 Dry Creek Road Sedona, AZ 86336 Phone: (928) 282-7554 Fax: (928) 852-3730 Website: www.shradermartinez.com On January 25, 2019, the Shrader & Martinez family gath- ered to celebrate the retirement of our Founder and President Ron Martinez, and long-time Chief Operations Manager Mike Cook. The Sedona team, joined by many well-known faces from the company’s 33-year history, met to recognize and thank Ron and Mike, to recall the challenges and accom- plishments that got us here, and to look to the future. SMC was created by Ron Martinez and Scott Shrader (re- tired) in 1986, when Ron moved from California to live in Scott’s garage, write a business plan, and start bidding jobs. Five years later, Mike Cook joined the company as COO, leaving behind his profession as teacher, coach, and high school principal. With Scott, they built the business, job by job, state by state, into one of the most respected tenant im- provement contractors in the country, working from coast to coast for all the major retailers, including The Limited, GAP, Planet Hollywood, LVMH, International Market Cen- ter, Ben Bridge Jewelers, Apple, Amazon, and Williams- Sonoma. The celebration was filled with stories that were bittersweet, funny, and tender, the kind that can only emerge from decades of rich experiences. Stories were accompanied by tears and toasts as we recognized their outstanding work in the industry and community and wished them a happy re- tirement. Be assured that these two will not be idle. Fol- lowing the John Elder model for retirement, they plan to cycle often, travel the world, volunteer, and enjoy quality time with family and friends. It has been an extraordinary ride and we thank them for their leadership. May they enjoy a satisfying and fulfilling next chapter! Mike Cook Ron Martinez https://www.facebook.com/shrader.martinez Connect with us! Spring 2019 Today SHRADER & MARTINEZ CONSTRUCTION The SMC Bulletin is a publication for and about SMC employees, clients & friends. Comments and suggestions are welcome: [email protected] https://www.instagram.com/ shradermartinez?r=nametag SHRADER & MARTINEZ CONSTRUCTION

Retirement Celebration for Ron Martinez and Today › PDF › SMC-Today-Spring2019.pdf · 2020-05-29 · Retirement Celebration for Ron Martinez and Mike Cook RRAM Services, a department

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Page 1: Retirement Celebration for Ron Martinez and Today › PDF › SMC-Today-Spring2019.pdf · 2020-05-29 · Retirement Celebration for Ron Martinez and Mike Cook RRAM Services, a department

The summer and fall of 2018 was an extremely busy period oftime for management and employees of Shrader & Martinez.Near the end of June, management announced an agreement tosell the Company to Elder-Jones, Inc., a general contractor basedin Bloomington, Minnesota. Shrader & Martinez Construction,Inc. was founded in 1986 by Scott Shrader and Ron Martinez andsince that time has earned a reputation for exceptional perform-ance for its customers. Scott had retired a few years earlier, andRon was looking to join him; however, it was not easy to find acompany with similar cultures and values, one that was willingto preserve the legacy and retain the employees and clients thathad made SMC so successful.

That’s when Elder-Jones stepped in. Ron has been a friend andcolleague of John Elder’s since the 1990’s and the founding daysof the Retail Contractors Association. In January 2018 Ron men-tioned to John that he had yet to find the right buyer and thatmaybe Elder-Jones should consider the possibility. I don’t believethat either of them thought that much would come of the conver-sation.

After some initial conversations, Elder-Jones management headedto Sedona to “kick the tires”. Justin Elder, President, BrianPerkkio, Vice President, and I made the trip to visit with manage-ment of SMC. Almost instantaneously all parties felt that therewas real potential. We shared stories of our philosophies, our cul-tures, our business practices, our clients, and our employees,learning that we were truly matched in so many ways. Within acouple of short months a deal was done.

After spending 30 plusyears in Minnesota,including 18 as VicePresident at Elder-Jones, I made the leapto Arizona to becomePresident of thenewly-formed Shrader& Martinez Construc-tion USA, LLC. Al-though it was difficultto leave family,friends and the Elder-Jones family, Kathyand I have been sowarmly welcomed by

all in Sedona; weare very grateful. Iam also excited forthe challenges andopportunities cre-ated by this change,opportunities forthe employees ofboth companies,opportunities forimproved efficien-cies, and opportuni-ties to shareresources of twosuccessful compa-nies to improve ourservice to our cus-tomers.

We have retained the Shrader & Martinez name, along with itshistory and legacy. We have retained our Sedona office. Andmost importantly, we have retained the employees that have madeSMC such a successful company. We intend for our new begin-ning to be seamless, and we intend to provide the same level ofexemplary service for our customers that we have been providingfor more than 30 years. Michael Cook, our long-time Vice Pres-ident, retired in January, as did Ron. However, Ron and Mike areboth continuing with somewhat limited roles to assist in our tran-sition…and likewise to assist in their transitions as well. We alllook forward to seeing them in the office throughout 2019.

We are very optimistic about our prospects for 2019, both forSMC and for Elder-Jones! We are poised to have a great yearafter the many challenges of 2018. Our list of clients is strong,and I am amazed by the talent and professionalism of our officestaff and of our many dedicated field superintendents, withoutwhom none of what we do would be possible. Personally, I lookforward to every day in the Sedona office as I learn more aboutthe people who work with me. I am especially thankful for theentire management team, which has embraced me in my new roleand supported me as I learn more about SMC. We are all feelinggreat about our decision; we now are able to tap the resources andexpertise of so many within one merged company while main-taining the distinct identities of two separate entities. The futurelooks very bright for all of us.

Dennis HillPresident

President’s Corner | A New Beginning

Retirement Celebrationfor Ron Martinez and

Mike Cook

RRAM Services, a department ofShrader & Martinez Construction, isa nationwide remodel, repair, andmaintenance company. With 24/7services and a single point of contact,RRAM provides local, qualified ven-dors for services ranging from a sin-gle repair to full remodels for retail,restaurants, warehouses, and offices.

Dennis [email protected]

Mark ChiltonVice President, Constructionmchilton@shradermartinez928-451-1525

Sue JohnsonVice President, RRAM [email protected]

Linda MartinezVice President, Business [email protected]

General InformationShrader & Martinez Construction160 Dry Creek RoadSedona, AZ 86336Phone: (928) 282-7554Fax: (928) 852-3730Website: www.shradermartinez.com

On January 25, 2019, the Shrader & Martinez family gath-ered to celebrate the retirement of our Founder and PresidentRon Martinez, and long-time Chief Operations ManagerMike Cook. The Sedona team, joined by many well-knownfaces from the company’s 33-year history, met to recognizeand thank Ron and Mike, to recall the challenges and accom-plishments that got us here, and to look to the future.

SMC was created by Ron Martinez and Scott Shrader (re-tired) in 1986, when Ron moved from California to live inScott’s garage, write a business plan, and start bidding jobs.Five years later, Mike Cook joined the company as COO,leaving behind his profession as teacher, coach, and highschool principal. With Scott, they built the business, job byjob, state by state, into one of the most respected tenant im-provement contractors in the country, working from coastto coast for all the major retailers, including The Limited,GAP, Planet Hollywood, LVMH, International Market Cen-ter, Ben Bridge Jewelers, Apple, Amazon, and Williams-Sonoma.

The celebration was filled with stories that were bittersweet,funny, and tender, the kind that can only emerge fromdecades of rich experiences. Stories were accompanied bytears and toasts as we recognized their outstanding work inthe industry and community and wished them a happy re-tirement. Be assured that these two will not be idle. Fol-lowing the John Elder model for retirement, they plan tocycle often, travel the world, volunteer, and enjoy qualitytime with family and friends. It has been an extraordinaryride and we thank them for their leadership. May they enjoya satisfying and fulfilling next chapter!

Mike Cook Ron Martinez

https://www.facebook.com/shrader.martinez

Connect with us!

Spring 2019

TodaySHRADER & MARTINEZ CONSTRUCTION

The SMC Bulletin is a publication for andabout SMC employees, clients & friends.Comments and suggestions are welcome: [email protected]

https://www.instagram.com/shradermartinez?r=nametag

SHRADER & MARTINEZ CONSTRUCTION

Page 2: Retirement Celebration for Ron Martinez and Today › PDF › SMC-Today-Spring2019.pdf · 2020-05-29 · Retirement Celebration for Ron Martinez and Mike Cook RRAM Services, a department

Pottery Barn, Austin, TXSuperintendents: Rod Harris & Bill LopezProject Manager: Curt Garner

West Elm, Sacramento, CASuperintendents: Tim Benson & Ron FiquetteProject Manager: Curt Garner

COS, Austin, TXSuperintendent: Tim BensonProject Manager: Mark Chilton

Ben Bridge Jewelers, Tukwila, WASuperintendent: Mike ReadingProject Manager: Mike Cook

BONOBOS, Chicago, ILSuperintendent: Bill LopezProject Manager: Mark Chilton

OCU Dining Hall, Oklahoma City, OKSuperintendent: Jack TatumProject Manager: Donnie Jackson

SMC Project SpotlightRecently completed projects from around the country...

Featured Project: The Henry Restaurant

Following our successful performance on the originalHenry restaurant in Phoenix, Fox Restaurant Conceptsinvited SMC to build their flagship restaurant in the newlifestyle center, The Union, in Dallas, Texas. This beau-tiful restaurant is a two-story, high-finish collection ofrestaurants, two bars, bakery, coffee shop, elevator, andoutdoor patios.

The SMC team, led by VP, Mark Chilton and Superin-

tendent, Brent Theyson, collaborated with the base build-ing contractor and worked around the clock to resolvechallenges and deliver the 15,000 square foot restaurantahead of completion of surrounding businesses.

Finishes include imported Belgian wallpaper, honed Car-rara marble and John Boos countertops, European whiteoak flooring, darkened steel, custom lighting fixtures,black walnut handrails, and exposed cedar wood ceilings.

Completed: February, 2019

Bar area One of several patio areas.

Dallas, Texas