SLHL: What are the benefits of being the third generation of this company?
Nathan and Matt: Since we grew up working for the company, we were able to work on every aspect and level of the construction business and learn it all. We both worked as laborers as young men and then worked as carpenters from the apprenticeship program all the way to project superintendents and now currently owners. We each worked in the field for almost two decades. Over that time, we were able to learn the nature of the construction business from the inside and out. We grew up watching our dad, Bert Markway, working very hard and establishing a great leadership within the company.
SLHL: Does your company specialize in a certain aspect of the remodeling/building industry?
Nathan and Matt: We strive to produce the highest quality work while also providing the highest customer service we can. We look to establish long-term relationships with our clients. We want them and their families to be clients for life. We specialize in high-end remodeling, additions and custom homes. We take a lot of pride in every aspect of our projects from the foundation all the way up to the interior cabinetry. We also have our own custom cabinet shop at our office location, which allows us to get very creative with the architects, designers and clients with our final designs.
SLHL: What makes Markway Construction stand out from the rest?
Nathan and Matt: Our company definitely separates itself in many ways from other construction companies. As owners, we have grown up in the business and learned it from jobsite labor to ownership. Our employees are simply the best. We have around 30 of our own carpenters and laborers, with many of them being second generation employees themselves. Many of our carpenters and laborers have been with us for over 25 years, some over 40 years. They are not only great craftsmen, they are great communicators and extremely hard workers. All of our foremen are also very knowledgeable of every aspect of a project from foundation to finish trim. Our cabinet shop is second to none. Our lead cabinet foreman has been with Markway Construction for over 30 years. Their craftmanship is unbelievable. We challenge them every day with very intense projects. We also have great relationships with our subcontractors. They understand that they are an extension of Markway Construction. They take as much pride as we do in our projects.
SLHL: How would you approach a home remodel or new build keeping efficiency top of mind?
Nathan and Matt: We believe that there has to be a great team mentality in any size project between us, the architect, designer and the client from the start to the end of a project. The size of the project will determine the amount and lengths of our pre-build meetings. Sometimes we meet only a few times as a team for our pre-build meetings, while with larger projects we will meet on a weekly basis for almost a year in advance. We also strive to have great open communication between everyone involved in each project. Our foremen and superintendents are all great communicators and help this process. Ninety-nine percent of our projects have changes throughout the duration of their build and we take a lot of pride in making those changes in a very efficient manner due to our great communication.
SLHL: How has the company evolved over three generations?
Nathan and Matt: The company has evolved in some ways to modernize, but we have also stayed within the roots in which our grandfather used to build the company. We are very hands-on when it comes to our projects. There are many instances in which we still throw our tool belt on and assist on our projects. We look for a long-term relationship with our clients. We take a lot of pride in helping them on a regular basis no matter how small the project.
