ConstrucTÜBE: Family operation

Family operation
================================================================================
Kristen McLaughlin, Construction News Ltd. on 04/12/2010 12:00:00 pm
 
“We’re best friends. We were friends before we ever got married and we’ve
known each other for so long, so we work together pretty easily,” Toni Moman
said.
John Moman, who has wanted to pursue architecture since the age of 12, started
the business in 2000. Toni started assisting with marketing in 2003 and their
youngest daughter, Laini, started working with them about three years ago.  Now
they have six employees.
“We are all like family here,” John Moman said.
John attended Texas Tech University and Toni attended Abilene Christian
University and majored in social work, though most of her experience has been in
customer relations and marketing.
Even though they have grown to what John says is a corporation, they still
consider it a family business.  Each year in January, the staff goes on a
retreat together and they set goals for the company and personal goals. The
Momans also choose a project each year to donate their services. Past projects
include the Wiliamson County Children’s Advocacy Center and the Boys & Girls
Club of Georgetown. The idea was a result of a discussion from a past retreat.
Another tradition that gets the group out of the office on occasion are
educational field trips to innovative projects.
“It is a good thing to inspire the creative juices,” Toni said.
Speaking of creative juices, John still is active as an architect in the
business. He designed the architecture for the building that they are currently
working in, which is the original homestead of the locally famous Henna family.
“We have a photo of Louis Henna, Sr. playing on the front porch as a baby,”
John said.
They strived to preserve the history by trying to imitate the look of the older
building as it was in photos. They also used some of the original wood and
donated the excess to be used in the Milam County Courthouse. The couple has
enjoyed both being in the historic location and in the city of Round Rock.
“It is the greatest place on earth!,” John said.
Toni adds that the employees have also made working there special.
“The employees are what makes the company what it is. We have been
blessed,” Toni said.
When not enjoying this camaraderie at work, the couple enjoys babysitting their
grandchildren and John enjoys the occasional golfing trip.
Moman Architects is a commercial architecture and interior design firm. They
will celebrate their 10th anniversary in December. –km
(c)2010 Construction News, Ltd.     www.constructionnews.net