american builders quarterly fall 200712

aagaard-juergensen

by Amy McNeil

success in building relationships

before structures

hearing the owners of aagaard-

Juergensen speak about their history of success over the past 37 years, it’s clear they take pride in building structures. When they defi ne the key to their continued success, however, it is evident their passion also lies in building and sustaining relationships.

In the nearly four decades Aagaard-Juergensen has been in business, they’ve completed automotive and fl eet centers, religious facilities, industrial and manufacturing sites, and commercial and retail centers. As

owner Randy Brooks explains, “We’re not in a specifi c niche market. We do a little bit of it all.”

Regardless of what type of project Aagaard-Juergensen is constructing, one constant is that the owners are directly a part of the entire process.

“We make sure that there’s owner involvement with clients from start to fi nish,” says owner Mike Moore.

Considering that Aagaard-Juergensen’s average project length is anywhere from 3 to 12 months, one realizes the extent

Above: Lexas of OrlandoFacing page: Ocoee Oaks United Methodist

Church; Owner, Randy Brooks

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american builders quarterly fall 2007 13

Brooks and Moore are willing to go to grow and preserve client relationships. In some cases, the company has spent years courting clients. Their largest project in the last year was a new car dealership for McNamara Pontiac. The company worked with the client for three years before they signed a contract for the $6 million project.

“It was one of our most challenging projects to get,” says Brooks, “but it was extremely rewarding to win it as well as the owner’s confi dence.” Hal McNamara, in turn, lauded Brooks and Moore’s

“personal attention to the project.”

Even through years of working with a client, “We stick with it, no matter what,” says Brooks. “Sometimes it’s taken over a year to get permits, but we persevere and help guide the owner through the process.” Moore added,

“We like taking a project from its infancy. It’s highly rewarding to see it all the

way through.” Aagaard-Juergensen’s commitment to a project from start to fi nish has yielded excellent results in terms of customer satisfaction. They estimate that 90 percent of their business is a direct result of building client relationships, as the majority of their work consists of repeat business or is attributed to customer referrals. One relationship alone netted $30 million in repeat business with auto dealership construction.

How are they able to build such a loyal customer base? “We do what we say we’re going to do, and we do it with honesty and integrity,” explains Brooks. Aagaard-Juergensen believes in being honest when estimating jobs for prospective clients and being adaptable to change. One particularly challenging project involved a client who demanded an earlier move-in date midway through construction. Aagaard-Juergensen met

we do what we say we’re going to do, and we

do it with honesty and integrity.

aagaard-juergensen

a message from reading plumbing systems

Reading Plumbing Systems has been family owned and operated in the Central Florida area for 18 years. We specialize in commercial construction, and offer design build services as well. We use only the fi nest in commercial products, and pride ourselves on our quality of work. We highly value our professional relationship with Aagaard-Juergensen and appreciate being a part of their team. Aagaard-Juergensen’s attention to detail and quality craftsman-ship will continue to set the standard in the construction trade.

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american builders quarterly fall 200714

aagaard-juergensen

with employees and subcontractors to achieve a deadline of 30 days earlier than what was initially agreed. “We stress teamwork, whether it’s with architects, subcontractors, or our own employees,” says Brooks.

In fact, Brooks emphasizes the value of his employees by saying, “By strategically hiring great, qualifi ed people, we now have one of the best teams we’ve ever had.” Greg Robuck, a Pre-Construction Services Manager with Aagaard-Juergensen, has known Brooks for the past 20 years. He came to work for the company three years ago because, as he said, “I was drawn to the honesty of the company’s culture and commitment to clients.” The company’s culture is also noticed by its customers. For instance, Pastor Ernie Church, for whose congregation Aagaard-Juergensen built the Ocoee Oaks United Methodist Church, refers to the company as the “Aagaard-Juergensen family.”

Aagaard-Juergensen is equally proud of its strong team as it is of its status as a Butler Builder. Aagaard-Juergensen developed a strategic relationship with Butler Manufacturing to ensure customers get high-quality results. “We’ve been a franchise of Butler Steel since 1976 because we think they’re the best on the market,” explains Brooks. “They’re the leading edge on research and development, and that’s right where we want to be so we can provide that to our customers.” Aagaard-Juergensen also seeks conscientious and results-driven subcontractors to team up with on their projects to ensure clients receive the best quality fi nished project and customer service.

Proudly serving the Central Florida area for 18 years!

Robert D. Reading, President

COMMERCIAL PLUMBING CONTRACTORS#CFC043195

2721 Pemberton DriveApopka, FL 32703Fax: 407-682-4489

By developing strong relationships with the company’s employees, clients, and subcontractors, Randy Brooks has grown Aagaard-Juergensen from a volume of $150,000 to a $25.6 million. Brooks says that the company has grown without becoming a specialist in any specifi c fi eld, however.

“We specialize in people,” he states, “and we meet their requests and expectations to the best of our ability.” Their ability is no question. Neither is their reputation nor the ded-ication they show to their customers. ABQ

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