Concord General

50 YEARS OF INTEGRITY

Celebrating five decades in Arizona, Concord General Contracting builds success on culture and principles By REBECCA L. RHOADES

Alot has been said in recent years about the importance of corporate culture. More than a buzzword, it’s an important differentiator that sets a company apart from its competition. Culture is what builds a brand’s identity. It is shared values and goals. And when employees feel a personal connection to their company, they work hard to ensure its success.

Jim and Gary Jackson understood the importance of company culture long before it became embedded in corporate lexicon.

Fifty years ago, the brothers from Iowa traveled to Phoenix to study at Arizona State University. While in school, they realized there was a need in the Valley for a construction firm that operated with a high level of integrity, so they decided to start their own company. But rather than naming it after themselves, the pair wanted something that spoke to the culture they hoped to foster, one built on principles of character and relationships rather than dollar signs.

The Jacksons settled on Concord. Originating from the Latin roots “com,” meaning “together,” and “cor,” literally, “heart,” Concord in its most elemental form means unity. And in 1972, they founded a firm in Mesa, known as Concord General Contracting. Five decades later, the name endures — as do the principles behind it.

ROOSEVELT WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION AND OPERATIONS COMPLEX

Jason Beaver Grenee Martacho

“Jim had a vision that the business would bigger than him and that it would go well beyond his years,” explains Grenee Martacho of the timeless moniker. Martacho is the CEO of Concord General Contracting.

BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS

For the first few years, the Jacksons worked mostly in framing and performed some minor residential work. In 1975, Concord completed work on its first religious institution, and in 1981, it finished its first school project.

As development in the Grand Canyon State continued to grow, so did Concord. “Jim and Gary started out building a million dollars’ worth of projects,” Martacho says. “Today, our revenues are around $65 million. The company’s portfolio centers on municipal, education, nonprofit and government development.

Notable projects have included the award-winning San Luis 1 Land Port of Entry in Nogales, Tucson Convention Center, 1891 Pinal County Courthouse Restoration, Westwood High School in Mesa and several facilities for Sun Valley Church.

“Our goal is to create great projects and great relationships with our partners and our clients, says Jason Beaver, COO of Concord. “We’ve chosen to focus on our relationships and our partnerships more than chasing some magical large annual revenue number.”

In 1992, Concord expanded its offices to Tucson. “Mesa has always been our home,” Martacho notes. “But in order to be successful in Tucson, you have to have a presence there — and not just a storefront.” To run the office, the firm hired John Nyman, a well-known figure in the city’s commercial real estate industry. Nyman later went on to become president and now shareholder and director of estimating.

“By opening an office in Tucson, we were able to divide and conquer,” Beaver remarks. The Phoenix teams handles projects located in the Valley and Northern Arizona, while the Tucson team handles everything from Casa Grande to the state’s southern border.

Concord General Contracting

50 Years in Arizona

1972: Jim and Gary Jackson found Concord General Contracting in Mesa. Named Concord which means unity, or collaboration as the company refers to it today, the business would go well beyond the Jacksons’ years.

1992: Concord expands into the Tucson market to better serve its clients statewide.

2006: Dale Marr, John Nyman and Eric Peterson named second-generation leadership.

2011: Focused on growth and defining its culture and brand, Concord puts in place its first strategic plan.

2018: Concord becomes an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) company, promoting each of its staff members to employee owners.

2019: Concord rebrands to reflect change and growth over the years.

2020: Grenee Martacho, Jason Beaver and JV Nyman are named third-generation leadership.

About 30 of Concord’s 45 employees are located in Mesa; the remainder work in Tucson.

Following Jim’s death in 2002, Gary decided it was time to pass the reins to a second generation of leaders. In 2006, joining Nyman on the executive team were industry veteran Dale Marr, who was named CEO, and Eric Peterson as CFO. At the time, Concord’s annual revenues had increased to between $10 million and $15 million.

“They really took us to even greater growth,” Martacho recalls. “But they also continued to focus on our culture, making it stronger. Through every generation, it’s always been a driving factor. We never want to lose that one element that has built who we are today.”

ROCK POINT CHURCH

SAHUARITA REGIONAL LIBRARY CONTINUED SUCCESS

The late 2010s saw big changes for Concord. In 2018, Concord moved into its current location on West Broadway Road in Mesa. That same year, the third generation of leadership began.

Peterson retired in 2020. Marr followed suit on Dec. 31, 2021, and Nyman plans to retire in 2022. Marr and Nyman remain with the company as shareholders. Before stepping down, the trio turned to Beaver and Martacho and Tucson partner JV Nyman, to lead Concord into the future.

LEXUS OF TUCSON

Beaver began his career with Concord in 2003 as a project manager. “I’ve worked in every department since then,” he points out. Martacho joined in 2007 as a marketing coordinator before moving into business development. “I thought my initial job would a great stepping-stone, but the culture was very empowering. The company let me try different things,” she recalls. “I remember when I was hired on by Dale Marr. He told me, ‘We like to work hard so we can play hard.’

“What’s great about working at Concord is that everyone can try new things. We expect our employees to bring new creativity,” Martacho continues. “We’ll set the big picture, but we need the entire team to help us grow and get there.”

EMPLOYEE-DRIVEN

Maintaining a balance of work and play is important to Martacho and Beaver.

“Because of our company culture, none of us, even Jason and me, have offices. There are no doors,” Martacho says. “That’s because we understand that in order for our entire team to be successful, we have to be available to each other. My favorite days are when I walk in the office and the place is full of people laughing and having good time.”

Open communication, an emphasis on teamwork and a respect for all levels of employees are cornerstones of Concord’s daily operations. “Sometimes in construction, you work in silos. Precon works in its own silo, operations has its own and so forth. At Concord, there’s no such thing as ‘that’s not my job,’” Martacho explains. “We’re a smaller team, and we do a large amount of revenue. It takes all of us working together to succeed.”

Empowering people to take ownership of their positions is just one way Concord instills pride in its employees — but that pride goes beyond job responsibilities. In September 2020, the firm transitioned to an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP). It’s an initiative that had been in the planning stages for more than a decade. “That was a huge accomplishment for us,” Martacho says. “An ESOP thrives on giving our employees the ability to have control over their projects and their careers.”

Currently, the firm is 30% owned by its employees and is planning for another sale in 2022. “The greatest part is that our team is personally invested in the company,” Martacho adds.

EMBRACING THE FUTURE

As more and more national firms move into Arizona — and more local companies expand out-of-state, Concord continues to strengthen its reputation on the local level. “There’s so much growth right now in Arizona, and it’s exciting to be a part of it,” Martacho says. “When people find out that we’ve been in business for 50 years, they’re surprised. They ask, ‘Where have you been?’” In fact, Concord gets most of its jobs through architects or clients who have worked with the firm in the past.

As the firm steps into its next 50 years, Martacho and Beaver look to make Concord a recognized name throughout the entire state — with one proviso. “The most important thing for me is to see Concord evolve and grow and continue to elevate the industry while still maintaining who we are,” Beaver says. “It’s not just about the building process for us. Anyone can build a building. We want to bring something else to the client.”

Martacho agrees. “What sets us apart is our culture. That's why we've been in business for 50 years. And that's why we're going to continue to be in business 50 years from now.”