Since late 2020, Shook Construction has been working through a 2025 Strategic Plan focused on the long-term health and growth of the organization, consisting of three pillars: Operational Excellence, Capacity Building, and Intentional Growth. The organization has made significant progress within these three objectives, ultimately leading to the most recent and most significant change: the evolution of its operating structure to a geographic-based model.
Shook has utilized a market-based structure for the last 11 years to drive focus in its core markets: education, healthcare, industrial, and water resources. Its new model is structured around four regions – Central, Midwest, Great Lakes, and Mid-Atlantic – to support the company’s recent growth.
“The new structure will bring us one step closer to achieving best-in-class operations and creating standardization across our regions. Ultimately, it will allow us to become scalable to evolve to achieve our Vision, to relentlessly build a company so exceptional that the best talent and clients in the world pursue us,” shared Joe Mellon, Chief Operating Officer.
Shook has had a long history of working in the Mid-Atlantic region dating back to the 1990s and in 2012, Shook’s Raleigh office opened its doors. In the last five years, the local operation has grown considerably. Shook serves as a general contractor, construction manager, design-builder, and subcontractor throughout the region.
“Shook is a builder – it’s the heart of what we do,” explained John Kunkler, Director of Field Operations. “We have been self-performing demolition, excavation, concrete, rough carpentry, and equipment setting in North Carolina for over 30 years. Our local teammates are experts in their craft and consistently build quality infrastructure for our clients. Their skill has led to our expanded presence and growth.”
Over the past 11 years, Shook’s Mid-Atlantic operation has grown to over 50 employees and has expanded or modified numerous water and wastewater treatment plants throughout the Carolinas and Virginia. Clients include local municipalities such as Holly Springs, Wilson, Sanford and Smithfield, to name a few. Now, the firm looks to expand into new markets in the region. Shook has performed construction management or design-build services in the education, healthcare and industrial markets throughout Ohio, Indiana and beyond since 1926. With significant growth in these markets in the last few years, expanding the firm’s presence in the Mid-Atlantic region has become a prominent focus of Shook’s strategic plan. The company’s new geographic-based structure will help to better position the region for that growth.
Mid-Atlantic Director of Operations, Riley Tolen, shared, “It has been exciting to help grow our Mid-Atlantic operation from a handful of employees to a full-service, profitable region with phenomenal prospects for the future. I look forward to continuing our water resources efforts in the region and expanding upon our service offerings in the industrial, healthcare and education markets to represent the company’s full expertise. It’s a fun time to be at Shook and exciting for our community too, as our growth in the region offers the opportunity to further grow our Mission, To Dramatically Improve the Communities We Serve.”
The mission to serve has been a pillar of Shook since its inception, and its employees carry out a community service project for nearly every job they complete. Recently, the group cleared vegetation and built a performance stage for the City of Wilson’s Education Trail. In 2022, Shook used their 10-year anniversary in the region as an opportunity to further its Mission, carrying out 10 Acts of Service to represent 10 Years of Service. Donations were made to Connect for Success NC, The Daniel Center for Math and Science, Ronald McDonald House Charities, The Green Chair Project, and Meals on Wheels of Wake County. Additionally, employees volunteered their time to serve the communities they call home, including organizing a trail cleanup for the Town of Apex Parks & Recreation, building park benches for the City of Mount Holly Parks & Recreation, sorting donations and stocking shelves at The Salvation Army Family Store, rehabilitating a pedestrian bridge at Smithfield Community Park, and participating in the NCDOT Litter Sweep.
Mellon stated that the firm’s tenure and growth in the region are a testament to the hard work of its Mid-Atlantic teammates who live out the Mission, Vision and Core Values.
“From community outreach to providing our clients with exceptional service to embodying our culture in the office and on-site, our employees have laid the groundwork for our success. The talent of our team is truly remarkable, and this group is well-positioned for continued sustainable growth.”
Interested in joining Shook’s Mid-Atlantic operation? View the firm’s open positions at www.shookconstruction.com/careers.