From expansion of the Whispering Hopes Ranch in Phoenix, Ariz. to a $250 million Wells Fargo Home Mortgage corporate complex in West Des Moines, Iowa, The Des Moines-based Weitz Company made many moves in the 2005 fiscal year. So many moves, in fact, that its $1.1 billion revenue posting ranked Weitz 36th in the nation among general contractors, up from 37th in its previous year’s ranking. The Top 400 Contractors ranking was published in May by the
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Construction industry growth has been attributed to a stimulated economy and growing markets. Consumer and developer trends toward urban renewal, for example, have provided industry opportunities in cities large and small across the nation. ENR reports a 12.3 percent increase of revenue among its Top 400 Contractors, from $209.74 billion in 2004 to $235.56 billion in 2005.
“This ranking speaks volumes for the strength of both the economy and The Weitz Company,” says Craig Damos, Weitz president and c.e.o. “We take great pride in our collaborative client relationships and continually add value to our projects. This leads to long-term relationships and ongoing confidence and trust in our teams.”
With operations consisting of 17 business units in eight states plus Guam and the Caribbean, the Des Moines, Iowa-based Weitz is an employee-owned general contractor, with construction expertise in office campuses, senior living communities, industrial and manufacturing plants, hospitality and resorts, golf courses and custom homes.
The oldest company of its kind west of the Mississippi, The Weitz Company employs 2,250, of which 260 have ownership of the company. According to Damos, it is through extensive preconstruction and value engineering services that Weitz ensures cost-effective, dependable development projects, and ultimately achieves increased client retention.
“We pride ourselves on incorporating our core values including honesty and integrity, respect for people, and performance with absolute reliability, into every facet of our client interaction and product construction in multiple industry categories,” Damos adds. “In the near future, we hope to attain further expertise as we expand into healthcare and governmental markets.”
ENR produces its annual Top Lists as a service to its national and international markets. According to Scott Lewis, editorial research director with ENR, consumers and clients have appreciated the Top Lists for more than 40 years because of the insight they provide into privately held companies.
“In contrast to the Fortune 500, which ranks publicly traded firms, more than 95 percent of the firms on our lists are privately owned. Therefore they are not required to publicly disclose their financial results,” Lewis says. “We’re fortunate to have firms voluntarily complete our survey forms. As a result, every year we are able to offer our readers a detailed financial picture of the performance of the leading firms in the industry.”
More information on the Top 400 Contractors can be found at www.enr.com.
