smartmoves

All in the Family Charles and David Croom were recently featured in Vero Beach Magazine, along with seven other family-owned businesses in Indian River County. Written by Ann Taylor, the article reveals how family-run firms can thrive in a tough economy, but not without inherent challenges.

“Some families bring a child into the business right out of college. That was never something I intended to do,” David said.

When Charles made the decision to join his father’s construction company, he already had 10 years of operational and managerial experience in the industry. After graduating from Auburn University, he moved to Orlando with his wife, Jennifer and went to work for one of the nation’s largest privately held construction firms. Returning to Vero Beach to work in the family business and raise his own children seemed natural. But it took several months for he and his father to come to terms with the idea, and to define Charles’ role in the company.

Photo Credit: Denise Ritchie/Vero Beach Magazine

“When you work for a family business you have to bring something to the table,” Charles said. And David couldn’t agree more.

After much contemplation, both agreed that it was time to make the move. It has worked out well for the company and their clients. “Charles makes decisions, I make decisions, and there are decisions we make together. He and I have the same goals and values for the company,” David said.

To read the full article, visit http://croomconstruction.com/about/news.html.

The Croom Family (left to right): Charles, Jennifer, David, Janet, Christina and Jim.

smartmove #14Whether small or large, a home renovation can be very complex. Ask a licensed experienced builder to estimate the project and carefully inspect your property in advance to ensure there are no hidden surprises along the way. This is critical for the completion of a successful renovation.

smartmove #20What is “professional property management?” In addition to home maintenance and repairs services, it is consistent managing of all aspects of your property – from home monitoring and landscape maintenance to personal services like bill paying and concierge services. Verify that your property manager is experienced and licensed by the state.

Experience Counts We’re pleased to announce that Michael Atwood took the lead as Vice President and General Manager of Whitehall Professional Property Management on July 1st. He originally joined Whitehall in 2010 to help the company incorporate professional property management to their suite of preventive maintenance services. Staying true to our mission of hiring leaders with deep industry knowledge, Michael brings more than 38 years of industry and leadership experience to our team, including:

• Flight Officer/Captain United States Marine Corps

• B.A. from East Carolina University

• Graduate of The Builders Institute, N.C. State University

• Licensed General Contractor

• Licensed Community Association Manager (CAM) by the state of Florida

• Twice elected “Builder of the Year” in North Carolina

• Former Board of Directors member, National Home Builder’s Association

“I look forward to continuing to provide professional and cost-efficient home maintenance and property management services to our Whitehall and Croom clients. Our goal is to continue raising the level of excellence and our commitment to provide unwavering client satisfaction,” Michael said.

Feel free to contact Michael directly at MAtwood@whitehallservices.com or 772.299.4559.

Michael Atwood

Staff news The Indian River County Chamber of Commerce presented the “Large Commercial Building Redevelopment” industry

appreciation award to Croom Construction Company in September for our renovation of the 3096 Cardinal Drive building. Also included in the award were the following professionals:

Property Owner: J. Dale SorensenArchitect: Greg Anderson Architect P.A.Landscape Architect: Dan Ford and AssociatesEngineer: M.L. Engineering, Inc.

Croom Construction Company made the top 100 list of remodelers by the national trade publication Qualified Remodeler Magazine. We ranked 82nd out of 500 qualifying companies in 2011. Congratulations to our dedicated staff, crew and professional partners for helping us earn this distinction once again.

Our Continuing Education Course for Superintendents (CECS) began in September. Croom Construction continually provides additional training and education for our superintendents, ensuring they stay current with industry standards, codes, safety laws, technology, and more. Employees who successfully complete this mandatory 9-week course receive a CECS certificate.

Candid comments

We thank our colleagues and clients who have taken the time to share their appreciation for our work and the dedication of our staff. It’s always nice to hear from you!

Allen and Judy Zern, Croom Client“Our new Croom-built home exceeds our expectations. Though we have built houses before, none has been as large or complicated a project. The amount of professional talent brought to bear was impressive, and much greater than we have seen on other homes we have built. Croom continues to ensure our home is of the highest standard.”

We thank the following design professionals for their guidance and skill during construction of the Zern’s new home:

Architect: Harry Gandy Howle & Associates, P.A.Interior Designer: Olivia O’Bryan, Inc.Landscape Architect: Warren E. McCormick & Associates

Beverly and Wade Fetzer, Whitehall clients since 2001“We are very satisfied with Whitehall. They are extremely honest and good at what they do. Their maintenance reports provide us with a clear list of priorities, and their estimates are competitive. If you don’t live here full time, you better have professionals like Whitehall managing your property!”

Precision Hits the MarkPrecision Painting & Waterproofing is near completion of painting, making minor repairs, and weatherproofing homes and the clubhouse in Vero Beach’s seaside community of Marbrisa. Lee Cockey, President of Marbrisa’s Seaside Association, recently shared their homeowners’ enthusiasm with Precision’s General Manager, James (JC) Choquet:

“Many Marbrisa homeowners have told me how thoughtful, courteous, and very professional the entire Precision crew has been during this large-scale project. We could not have asked for a better job performance or a better crew to manage the project.”

Speaking of Milestones

Believe it or not, Charles Croom turned 40 in September. With those youthful good looks and charm, it’s surprising to many of our clients and colleagues that he’s 40 years old. Join us in wishing him a very happy birthday!

considering a renovation project?

visit CroomConstruction.com or WhitehallServices.com call us at 772.562.7474 or 772.299.4559follow us on Facebook