When Collier Construction was launched in 2002, we knew we wanted to operate differently than the average builder. Although our purpose is to build structures, our primary focus is on building relationships: with our customers, with our employees, and with our subcontractors and vendors. No job is more important than the people involved in that job, and we take our commitment to those relationships seriously. And in the process of building strong relationships, we are proud to create exceptionally fine structures, knowing our customers reap the ultimate benefit.
Our most important investment is in our personnel. We pour our energies and resources into our people because we know that they are the ones who will ultimately determine the long-term success of this venture. Long-term value is the key to understanding the workings of Collier Construction. From the beginning, we have envisioned a company that would create lasting structures and, thus, a lasting legacy in the Chattanooga area. Our commitment to growth as well as employee satisfaction is but one example of our focus on long-term value. We choose highly qualified, skilled, and professional individuals to represent us at all levels, and we show how much we value our employees by offering full benefits, competitive pay and quality working relationships.
As a fairly young company, we have many years to achieve our long-term vision. To that end, we are not a business with generations of handed-down knowledge. Instead, we are an innovative and creative company that is always seeking new methods, information, and materials that will help us create ever-better structures.
Ethan Collier, President of Collier Construction, laughs as he acknowledges that his crews will often fail their framing inspections at first. "But it's not because of code violations," Collier explains. "It's because we are using advanced framing techniques the inspectors are not familiar with. As soon as we explain the process and the technique, we pass the inspection. I suppose we'll just keep failing until the inspectors catch up with the new methods of building a high-performance home." Perhaps that is why Ethan has hosted a number of seminars educating inspectors on innovations in the field of construction.
Sustainability and green construction are hot topics in building today. However, Collier Construction wants to set itself apart from the trends by asserting its commitment to value. The average life expectancy of a house is 50 years. Within the first 50 years of a house's life, most of the major components will have to be replaced. At Collier Construction, it is our goal to build a 100-year home. We offer a product that will outlive the average house in all categories. We believe that the best service we can do for the environment is build a quality structure—one whose longevity proves its sustainability.
Because of our commitment to the quality of the product, we acknowledge that we may not be the lowest bid on many projects. Instead, we are pleased to offer our customers the highest possible quality at the best possible price, and we rest confidently on the knowledge that others will appreciate the long-term value over the short-term cost as much as we do. Just as a piece of fine jewelry can be passed down for generations and valued for its longevity as well as its quality, our buildings must also last in the same way. We feel it is our responsibility to the future to build lasting products.
