Patrick Mc Gowan of Mc Gowan Builders: Stability and growth in long-term relationships with clients

The few construction firms that grow into multi-million dollar organizations usually attribute their success to decades or even generations of development. Although Mc Gowan Builders, Inc.'s (MGB) president and founder Patrick Mc Gowan strongly believes in a careful and steady growth strategy, he credits his company's success to the utmost priority given by the entire staff to maintaining positive relationships with clients. Mc Gowan also praises his mentors, colleagues, and employees for teaching him the love of the building industry, work ethics, and intricacies of the construction business. "I'm beyond blessed," he said. "I've been surrounded by a lot of good people. I'm amazed every day by how much expertise and creativity our employees contribute to the firm's projects." Mc Gowan established MGB in 2001, following a 20-year career that took him from a teenage Irish immigrant laborer to president of a construction firm with two engineering and construction degrees on his office wall. His perseverance was tested shortly after starting his business, as 9/11 caused many companies to halt construction projects. In need of business, Mc Gowan called on his extensive network of professional relationships and worked hard on developing new contacts. He would also drive around on weekends, looking for signs of businesses moving in or out of commercial buildings. One Saturday, Mc Gowan noticed trucks outside the Donna Karan New York building in Carlstadt, N.J. Following an initial introduction and several meetings with the director of facilities, MGB was hired to refurbish the entire 40,000 s/f facility. Today, nearly a decade later, DKNY is still MGB's client. As Mc Gowan continued to conduct business in his signature passionate and positive manner, MGB grew into one of the leading commercial construction firms on the east coast. The company that started without a single project just nine years ago currently has more than $100 million in assignments underway and builds facilities from Rhode Island to Florida and Louisiana. Headquartered in East Rutherford, N.J., the firm now has regional offices in Manhattan and Miami, Fla. MGB has built facilities for some of the most prominent organizations in the nation, including multi-location projects for Macy's, Saks Fifth Ave., Loehmann's, Staples, Bally Total Fitness, and Chase Bank. Its recent work includes one of the largest hotel redevelopments currently under way in Manhattan, valued at $70 million; the $10 million interiors of the Tides Foundation; and the $16 million renovation of the Sheraton Meadowlands Hotel & Conference Center in East Rutherford. MGB's Florida office built the new $3 million Alliance Française Center in Miami and the new, $9 million Tribune Television studio and broadcast facilities in New Orleans, La. Many of Mc Gowan's current projects come from non-profit and religious organizations. The firm is putting final touches on two new synagogues in N.Y.C. - the $30 million Lincoln Sq. Synagogue and the $9 million, 35,000 s/f Hebrew Institute of Riverdale. In Ronkonkoma, on Long Island, MGB is building the $20 million Cenacle Sisters Convent and Retreat. MGB recently completed the new, $14 million 100,000 s/f headquarters building for the Newark, N.J. non-profit The Leaguers, Inc. and earlier this year broke ground for the $8 million YMCA Aquatics Center in Prospect Park, Brooklyn. MGB's staff of 60 includes project managers, engineers, licensed architects, estimators, CPAs, superintendents, laborers, and support personnel. Partner, VP, and Patrick's brother Martin Mc Gowan, who holds a BA in Architecture from Pratt Institute, manages the firm's construction operations. Third of the Mc Gowan brothers, Thomas, serves as project manager for some of the firm's most complex assignments. Strongly involved in their communities, Patrick and his brothers founded The Loretta Mc Gowan Foundation, established in honor of their beloved aunt. The foundation fosters research of Down Syndrome and supports happy and fulfilling lives of individuals and families that experience developmental disabilities. In addition to providing on-going assistance to programs in the U.S. and Ireland, the foundation's long-term goal is to establish a research, education, and resource facility focused on issues related to Down Syndrome. Under Patrick's guidance, MGB has been committed to environmentally responsible construction operations since the company's founding. The firm is a charter sponsor of the U.S. Green Building Council New Jersey Chapter. MGB's green project portfolio features the LEED Silver-certified office of the architectural firm of HOK in Miami, Fla. and the 70,000 s/f office for the Tides Foundation in Downtown Manhattan, also LEED Silver-rated. MGB, along with other team members, will be pursuing the LEED Gold certification for the 40,000 s/f Cenacle Sisters Convent. His community activities have gained recognition from civic organizations, politicians, and institutions of higher education. He is a member of N.J. Institute of Technology's board of trustees and earlier this year led the Queens County St. Patrick's Day Parade as grand marshal. Following the parade, mayor Bloomberg commented on Mc Gowan's community spirit and work in New York, "From the mayor to the grand marshal, I thank Patrick for his contributions to New York City." As the economic climate remains challenging, he continues to focus on delivering top notch services. "Our clients know they can rely on MGB to construct their facilities with quality and personal attention from everyone on the project team, from tradesmen to the president," he said. "And our employees understand that long-term relationships with clients will help the firm survive and thrive despite the recession." Mc Gowan's unrelenting attention to quality of service proves a winning strategy. In a time when many builders are struggling and going out of business, MGB maintains a steady flow of new projects from both existing and new clients.