Investor Spotlight: Conger Construction Group Working for Greater Change
REDI Cincinnati’s video, The Greatest Force for Change, shines a light on local employers whose efforts to provide opportunity, promote lifelong learning, and are helping transform our regional workforce — as well as building individual lives.
When Larry Conger founded Lebanon-based Conger Construction Group in 1992, he had a vision of building a company that would act with integrity in every project. Since then, Conger has established themselves as one of the most respected construction companies in Southwest Ohio, living up to their hallmark of “Building with integrity” and fostering collaborative relationships with the subcontractors, owners and architects with whom they work.
In 2016 Larry passed the torch to his son, Justin, installing him as president. The company now employs over 50 full-time and part time employees and oversees an average of 15 – 20 design and construction projects across the Greater Cincinnati region at any given time. Currently, Conger Construction Group is managing over $140 million worth of design/build, construction management, and general contracting work throughout the Greater Cincinnati area.
Conger Construction Group works with clients in a wide range of industries and sectors across Greater Cincinnati: k-12 education, higher education, medical office buildings, public works facilities, manufacturing and industrial and more.
The REDI Cincinnati Connection
“Conger Construction Group represents the multiplier effect of our projects. Targeting key industries from automation to bio-health supports growth across industries from retail to construction,” says REDI Cincinnati director of investor relations Tammy Riddle. “As an investor and REDI board member, we rely on Conger’s insight as a partner to remain at the forefront of real estate demands as companies expand.”
In this manner, Conger has contributed to a major REDI Cincinnati project becoming reality during the last three years: Georgia-Pacific, an Atlanta-based facility in Lebanon, Ohio.
“The value of REDI Cincinnati to the Southwest Ohio region and Greater Cincinnati is almost immeasurable. They’re an enabler. They help businesses grow.” states Justin Conger, President of Conger Construction Group. “There were a couple projects we were working on with private owners and they were trying to build a new facility and relocate. The services REDI Cincinnati offers helped this project go forward.”
Why Greater Cincinnati?
Much of Conger’s portfolio is made up of projects that relate directly to community building in Greater Cincinnati. The company has overseen expansions at the Lebanon Public Library, redevelopment of Mariemont Elementary School and construction of the Countryside YMCA in Lebanon — a 16-month, five-phase project with roughly 98,000 square feet of working area. Recently, Conger announced it will join the team bringing to fruition a 106-acre sports park in Warren County. “Our reputation for integrity, quality and personal commitments means that we get to work with a lot of diverse people on local projects of all size and scope,” says Justin. “Greater Cincinnati is our home, and our focus has always been on helping to make this region grow and change for the better.”
The Greatest Force for Change
For project manager Andrew Tompkins, the opportunity to work for Conger Construction Group has helped him grow and become a better person.
“I was first hired on as a carpenter helper, doing a lot of labor-type work,” says Tompkins. “I would ask enough questions and they’d leave me to do a small project on my own. When my supervisor would come back to check my progress, they would give me more work. And the rest is just history.”
In addition to giving him the financial freedom he needed upon realization that the traditional college degree path wasn’t for him, Tompkins says his job at Conger gives him the freedom to provide for his family.
To learn more about REDI Cincinnati’s partners in regional job creation, watch The Greatest Force for Change below or at https://vimeo.com/redicincinnati.