Front row L-R: Bill McCullough and Rick Smith; Back row L-R: Robert Hyland and Randy Reiley

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But a new day and new name for the company puts things in perspective:  Keller Martin Construction. 

“The buzz now is re-branding,” says Rick Smith, Keller Martin president. He said not only was the old name long, but the biggest downside was the question it created.

“If you weren’t familiar with The Keller Martin Organization, you asked, ‘What do they do?  What kind of organization?’ Even years ago, when we joined a peer group, that was one of the criticisms from our peer group.  You’ve got to stay out there in front and you’ve got to have that visibility.”

Smith said using the word “The” at the beginning of the name also created a dilemma of where to place the company alphabetically.

When Carl Keller and Chuck Martin established the company in 1977 it was under The Keller Martin Organization. Chuck Martin was a structural and mechanical engineer who did some design.

“They even had a plumbing company at one point in time, and a real estate investment division,” said Bill McCullough, Keller Martin vice president. When Chuck Martin passed away the company returned to strictly construction, but kept the name.  Smith and McCullough completed a buyout in 1997 but kept the name as well.

Along with the logo and name, other areas of the company are undergoing change.  Keller Martin is taking on some public projects; becoming more LEED conscious; and including key employees in the company’s ownership.

“We are becoming lean, mean and green,” McCullough said.

Keller Martin Construction is a general contractor in San Antonio.  –kf

©2010 Construction News, Ltd.