Today we’d like to introduce you to Dennis Blackburn.
Hi Dennis, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I graduated in a local construction management program at the worst time possible (2009). The program I graduated from went from 100% job placement the year previous, to under 50% job placement in my class. I got a job working for a roofing company, and eventually found a good fit working with a company that specialized in exterior finishes. I worked hard and learned a lot over a 7-year period with them. After 7 years, I was experiencing a combination of boredom and burnout, and at the end of the day, not feeling fulfilled with my professional career.
I was the senior project manager at the time so I gave my boss, who was also my good friend a 6-month notice that I’d be leaving. I did everything I could to maintain old relationships and leave in a positive way. For those 6 months, I started planting the seeds of starting my own business. I went and got my contractor’s license, formed an LLC, and sold a rental property for some startup money.
I started off by taking any job I could but vowed to stay out of exterior after feeling burned out. I did a couple tenant improvements, interior remodels, basements, and smaller projects that weren’t quite in my wheelhouse. After doing this for a couple months, exteriors came calling my name. Old contacts and customers I had worked with in the past were calling and asking me to take on their projects. I resisted at first. In fact, it took a lunch date with a big-time contractor and about an hour of talking for me to get the confidence to get back into the exterior’s world. I bid a big project with them and then went and bought my first trailer of scaffolding.
That was about five years ago. Since then, we’ve grown slowly but surely. Our sales have doubled about 200% since our year two. I’ve been very caution (maybe too cautious) about the jobs we take and make sure to focus more on relationship and clients as opposed to sales. This has helped us to create lifelong relationships with both clients and contractors.
When I started the business, with the help of my wife, I did all the bidding, estimating, material procurement, project management, and everything else in-between. I spent plenty of late afternoons and evenings cleaning up job sites and loading up scaffolding. Since then, we’ve been fortunate enough to find some great project managers, superintendents, foremen, and an estimator to help run the business. Our employees by far have been our greatest asset. We wouldn’t be where we are today if it wasn’t for the hard-working group of people that take pride in their craft.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It’s been a bumpy road. But a good one. We’ve had the good fortune of always being profitable, which takes a big load off. It’s been difficult to know how to scale and grow the company. It’s a daily internal battle deciding between going even bigger, or staying in the niche that we’re currently at.
I think the biggest struggle for me personally has been having the confidence and energy to move forward intentionally and with direction. When starting the business, I thought very hard about bringing in a partner to start this journey with us. I talked with good friends and co-workers hoping to making something work, but in the end, my wife and I decided the best decision was to move forward alone. 5+ years in, we both agree that was the right decision. But it can be a lonely journey on a lonely mountain sometimes. The journey has been riddled with days of self-doubt and questioning “Are you really cut out for this?” The first couple years were the hardest. If there was any mistake or error that happened due to my shortcomings, it was extremely difficult to handle. Those first couple years I really wanted to have a partner in the trenches with me to bounce ideas off, give me confidence, and pat me on the back and say, “We got this.” In the long run, I’m glad I was able to grow those first couple years and have my wife by my side. It made me mentally stronger and emotionally tougher. It prepared me for bigger, more complicated, and more difficult projects. We’re at the point now that I have some great employees, I can lean on to help with complications and make us a better company.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
We specialize in “turn-key” exterior finishes. That means a contractor or client will hire us and we take care of all their exterior needs (stucco, stone, brick, siding, paint, soffit, fascia, gutter, etc). Over the last couple years, we’ve had the privilege of working with well-known builders in the area that put an emphasis on quality, design, and material selections. We’ve learned a lot with these builders and enjoyed using new products and delivering some really cool results. We’ve been lucky enough to have some of our projects be in the Utah Valley Parade of Homes, Salt Lake Parade of Homes, and Park City Showcase of Homes. Every day presents new problems that gives us the opportunity to come up with new solutions.
What makes me most proud is my employees and the product they delivery. They’re good people who take pride in their craft. They work hard… all day and every day. Nothing makes me prouder than showing up at one of our jobsites and seeing guys in their Blackburn Build shirts doing quality work.
It sounds simple, but what sets us apart is we answer our phones. Theirs a face to our company. We are available to talk on the phone, answer emails, meet at job sites, and brainstorm problems. Myself, and all my management employees, take pride in our communication with customers and clients. This has helped foster long-term friendships and relationships.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
We have found a good niche with a certain clientele that’s kept us very busy. I’d like to diversify a little and more and see if we can find contracts and customers that would tend to stay strong during different economical clients.
I’d like to start a division where we find older properties, purchase them ourselves, and remodel them with our style and branding.
Contact Info:
- Website: blackburnbuild.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackburn_build/
