Owner/President: Carol Howell Company: Howell Construction Co., Inc. Address: 1009 W. 17th St. Kansas City, MO 64108 Phone: (816) 474-7766 E-mail: Web Site:www.howellgc.com Type of Business: General Contracting/Architectural Carpentry Year Founded: 1989
Howell Construction Co., Inc. is commercial general contracting company. Our major categories of work include architectural carpentry finishes, tenant improvements, industrial and telecommunications, government and municipalities, and pre-engineered metal buildings.
I started the company, literally, at my dining room table in February 1989. The company I had previously worked for changed ownership, and I needed to make a change. Having always had a desire to own my own business, I felt that this was an opportunity to see if it would work.
Personal Wealth Wealth, in terms of dollars, is not the primary purpose for my being in business. However, it is a motivator. (What makes us work 12-hour days, come in on weekends and cancel vacations?)
Perhaps the greatest benefit has been the opportunity to build a company based upon the personal values I feel important to running a business: integrity, stability and strength. The opportunity to implement those values provides a personal sense of independence and satisfaction.
Working with people is the second greatest reward. Our employees and their extended families, clients and staffs are wonderful people. And who is more interesting than an entrepreneur? What a wealth of knowledge, creativity and ingenuity is available in associating with other small business owners.
I have enjoyed working to enrich my life with material things as well. The ability to make the decisions concerning my own time, income and retirement is preferable. Have I had a better standard of living than I would have had as an employee of another firm? I really can’t answer that, but it certainly has been more fun. Community Wealth Contributing to the wealth of the community is an aspect of business ownership that brings me satisfaction. The creation of jobs is of primary importance to my company. The taxes that Howell Construction pays, and the money that the company, our clients and our employees puts back into the local economy benefits the community.
I also believe that our emphasis on providing the best possible product at the best price contributes to community wealth. Many of our projects come in under budget, allowing clients funding for additional items. And, as we work with clients to improve their physical plants, we assist in the growth of their businesses too.
SOCIAL WEALTH First, we hire individuals from the community; providing them with jobs and the opportunity to create their own wealth. Second, we offer services on an individual basis to meet the needs of our employees, our neighborhoods, peer mentoring, and individual assistance to specific needs as they are brought to our attention. We believe this approach is much more rewarding for each person involved. Some examples are assistance with local school playground installations, food baskets at holidays, financial assistance to children’s centers, youth organizations and summer camps; assisting disabled individuals with new furnishings for their homes and renovation of a home where the individual was terminally ill. Not only does our company participate in these ways, but our employees give back individually as well.
Financing I used my personal savings to get started. I kept overheads extremely low by doing much of the work myself, and I sublet office space from friends. As the company grew, we purchased property, obtained a line of credit, became bonded and began to acquire assets. We still strive to maintain low overheads and run an economical operation. That allows us to be more competitive in our industry.
Certification I have been certified for about four years with Kansas City, Missouri; State of Missouri; and Missouri Department of Transportation. The government has designated diversity goals to be met on public contracts, and many privately owned businesses also make good faith efforts to meet goals. This has never been our primary market for obtaining business; however, we do qualify to provide services to assist companies in meeting those goals. Support Systems I find support primarily from other small business owners. Entrepreneurs are a unique group. You have to be one to understand one! Some of the organizations I participate in include Helzberg Entrepreneurial Mentoring, National Association of Women Business Owners and National Association of Women in Construction .
Accomplishments I don’t believe there is just one accomplishment I can name. Every time we complete a project successfully, receive recognition for a project well done, acquire a new client, or reach a higher plateau, we feel a new sense of accomplishment. In this way, we are all being constantly rewarded.
Challenges Dealing with individuals who are unethical and unprofessional is a very large challenge, but not one exclusive to being a woman business owner. As a woman in the construction business, my knowledge and capability is often challenged by those who imply I am a “front” for purposes of obtaining certain contractual privileges.
