May Business Spotlight

For this month’s spotlight, I am proud to have connected with Mark Williams, President of Cork Howard Construction. Cork Howard Construction is a Marietta-based firm that provides a wide range of construction services to residential and commercial clients and, for the last 23 years, has been a go-to partner for the healthcare sector. They also offer commercial construction services, including tenant build-outs, retail renovations, office remodels, and construction management services. Their commitment is to provide high-quality workmanship and exceptional customer service, and they work closely with their clients to ensure their needs and expectations are met throughout the entire construction process.

While working for a different company on a job in Athens, he fatefully ran into Cork Howard founder, Gene Cork, who casually offered him a job on the spot. With long-standing Cobb roots and connections, he took the offer.?From there, he joined the team as a Project Manager and found a welcoming home. “This company really is a family business,” said Mr. Williams. In the years since, he has ascended to Company President while helping the company navigate the changing industry and uncertain economic shifts.

I asked Mr. Williams what makes Cork Howard different, and he mentioned their focus on client satisfaction. He said the key to client satisfaction is their unflinching commitment to staying on schedule. Completing projects on time and within budget is a differentiator in the construction business. As Mr. Williams said, “Anybody can build out a space,” but not everybody can complete a job on schedule and do quality work. As proof, he mentioned that 70%-85% of their work comes from prior clients or referrals, which is a high threshold regardless of industry.

Like many companies in labor intensive industries, Cork Howard is not immune to the current labor shortage, a challenge that Mr. Williams described as the biggest of his career. The company has around 60-70 employees currently but is looking to grow and grow quickly. Outsourcing work is a path often chosen in the construction industry, but that is not Mr. William’s preference, unless he has no other option. He likes to hire in-house because of the opportunity that provides to train and develop people. This can often be a more expensive route but is important because it helps ensure a greater quality of product and timeliness. Workforce development, and specifically getting people interested in the field of construction, is very important to Mr. Williams. Not only to ensure the success of the business he runs, but because he cherishes the values that the construction industry has taught him.

Cork Howard has been located in the same building since the company was founded. Because of this, leadership takes great pride in the company’s involvement in the community. “We want to be good corporate stewards,” said Mr. Williams before listing a lengthy series of nonprofits with whom they have been involved, including the Wellstar Foundation, the Center for Family Resources, Buckhead Christian Ministries, and the Bobby Dodd Institute, among others. When I asked about the project he would most like to highlight, he quickly pointed to their work with Marietta’s The Extension, a nonprofit that serves those struggling with homelessness and addiction, on the construction of their new facility. This three-story, 22,000 sq. ft. building will double the existing capacity of the organization and include a 56-bed dormitory with meeting rooms, recreation areas, and a cafeteria.

Mr. Williams and Cork Howard Construction are looking forward to continuing to reside in Marietta, to build upon their reputation of dependability and service, and to look for new ways to encourage the next generations to enter the construction industry.

-Written by Ben Waters, CPA