Having a successful start-up business is a feat of which Jesse Vigil and Eric Norris are immensely proud. Ten years ago, the two founded Mid-Valley Commercial Construction Inc. in Salem, Ore.

Mid-Valley does work in many different areas of the industry, including exterior and interior metal stud framing, wood framing, acoustical systems, wood ceilings, painting, drywall, taping, insulation, doors, frames and hardware. The company is a member of the Associated Wall & Ceiling Contractors of Oregon and SW Washington, as well as the Associated General Contractors of America.

Fast-forward to the present day and the contractor is having its best year yet. The pandemic slowed business a bit, but the company is back to growing its customer base, one project at a time.

“We grew extremely fast the first five years,” says Vigil, the company’s president. “Unfortunately, with COVID, we went into more of a survival mode and had a few flat years with no growth. Post-COVID, 2024 looks to be our best year to date.”

The company has had success this year despite Oregon being slow to get back to normal after the pandemic. However, business is thriving and more success looks to be on the horizon.

“The economy and construction sector in the Northwest isn’t performing as well as other areas of the country, but we have some good opportunities on the horizon with some of our best clients in 2024 and 2025,” says Norris, vice president of Mid-Valley. “The local construction climate has been tough with fewer jobs to bid on and tighter margins.”

Getting Through the Difficulty

Both Vigil and Norris had a history in the construction industry before Mid-Valley. Vigil is a third-generation carpenter who started with residential work and then went through the Carpenters’ Union apprenticeship. Meanwhile, Norris worked at a company in Portland, Oregon, for seven years as an inside salesman and estimator, then moved to a different contractor in Tigard, Oregon, for 11 years before starting Mid-Valley.

The company usually has between 80-100 employees; yet the contractor passes on some of its success, making them more than just employees.

“The business is doing well,” Vigil says. “We’ve been able to be profitable while continuing to share the wealth with our employees, which is one of our original core values.”

Vigil adds that the company’s backlog of projects has been less than usual due to the industry’s competitiveness, but the contractor is getting through it.

“We have a solid backlog to complete the remainder of the year,” Norris says. “The climate is tough in the Northwest with strong competition and tight margins.”

Having Success

With their different backgrounds, it would make sense that Vigil and Norris do not find the same parts of the job fascinating. Vigil thinks that the most interesting part of the job is taking the project from a set of drawings to completion, while Norris believes it is analyzing plans and specifications and providing accurate cost estimates.

However, they agree more on the most difficult part of the job. They both feel that it is the communication side of the business, with Vigil focusing more on the different personalities on the job site and Norris involved in maintaining relationships with clients and employees.

Tying in with his thoughts on the hardest part of the job, Norris feels that communication is also one of the company’s biggest achievements.

“Developing long-lasting relationships with our clientele [is a great achievement], but I believe our single greatest achievement is seeing the financial, personal and professional growth of our employees,” Norris says.

“[One of our largest achievements is] growing the company from a start-up into a successful business while sharing the wealth with all employees,” Vigil adds.

Vigil is also proud of the company’s culture and wants to see clients and employees consider the contractor as the best in its field.

Looking to the Future

If another pandemic were to happen, the company would probably handle it differently since it’s at a different stage of its growth.

“We’ll need to stay lean and make market adjustments sooner,” Vigil says.

“[We would] respond quickly to areas of cost reductions - strategies that we have already identified,” Norris adds. “[We would] train and teach during slow times to be ready for the next boom period.”

Part of the company’s success may be due to its unique process for helping customers. Norris feels that the ability to connect with the client at a more personalized level gives it an upper hand over its competitors.

“[We have a] large company experience with a small company delivery,” Norris says. “You can still work and talk directly with our owner group. The quality of our drywall finish [also sets us apart].”

With the construction industry in Oregon still getting back to normal, there is plenty of growth to come for Mid-Valley. With its commitment to personalization and making employees feel like family, the sky is the limit.