Today we’d like to introduce you to Jim Ronan.
Jim, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My brothers and I learned the value of hard work at an early age. My father was a farmer and tradesman, he used to take us onto job sites when we were kids back in Ireland. He taught us everything we know. Being around him instilled a great sense of discipline and dedication. Between the job sites and our family farm, there was always manual labor to be done.
When I moved to the USA, I leaned on those trade skills and started out as a carpenter.
In 1997 my brothers John, Stephen, and I started Ronan Construction. We took on jobs working as skilled tradesmen in brick laying, carpentry, and gradually evolved into a full-scale general contracting and property development company.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Nothing in this career field is ever smooth, unless you hire professional concrete finishers ;). Our biggest struggles came in 2008-2009 with the downturn of the economy. The hardest thing we had to do was lay off 90% of our workforce. They were good employees and many had been with us for a very long time, so it was really difficult to let them go.
During that period we took on smaller remodel projects and additions to keep the business afloat–my brothers and I once again did much of the work. We didn’t mind rolling up our sleeves and getting our hands dirty. A rule we live by is to never ask another to do the work you wouldn’t do yourself, and this was proof of that. Having come through such a trying recession speaks to our character as a company and the product we deliver. We also admit, we’re pretty lucky too.
Ronan Construction – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Ronan Construction specializes in small to mid-size multi-family unit buildings; single family homes. Additionally, we’ve taken on more commercial projects in the last several years. We’ve also earned many awards working with the Historical Society of Chicago in preserving historical homes.
We are most proud of our team work and the drive our employees have to make this company a success. Everyone takes noticeable pride in their role at Ronan Construction and that transcends across all of our working relationships. We’re happily known for the way we accommodate clients in the planning stages-setting up costs containment and time management measures up front to ensure our clients receive the high-quality work they want at the price and pace of the project they expect. Managing our own carpentry and masonry gives us a lot of control on any given project, so we can get things done in short order and exceed industry quality standards at the same time. That kind of delivery sets us apart from other builders.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
We had one instance where after one of our clients and their family were settled in their new home, we received a picture written on the chalkboard from the children thanking Ronan Construction for building their new home. It’s always very satisfying seeing the buildings we work so hard on perfecting, turned into a home for the client. We also had the pleasure of working with Brent Seabrook from the Black hawks. We were very proud to build a home for someone who is a part of our favorite team!
Contact Info:
- Address: 2934 W. Montrose Ave Suite 103
Chicago, IL 60618 - Website: www.RonanConstruction.com
- Phone: 773-588-9164
- Email: Info@RonanInvestors.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RonanConstruction
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