Goodmanson Construction: a Family Business Success Story

Goodmanson Construction: a Family Business Success Story Main Photo

22 Feb 2021


Success Stories

Recent studies indicate family-owned companies may have an edge over non-family owned firms in key areas like innovation and productivity. The assertion is that family-run businesses tend to prioritize people over profits and invest in employees, which helps build engaged and dynamic teams.

Goodmanson Construction in Roseville is a prime example of a successful, family-run business. The firm sets itself apart with its tight-knit team, use of cutting-edge equipment and dedication to customers and community.  

The second-generation family business has received both local and national honors. Concrete Construction magazine, the industry’s leading publication, selected Goodmanson Construction as one of “America’s Concrete Contractors” in 2017. The company was also named a finalist for the 2017 Deubener Awards for small businesses, through the Saint Paul Chamber.

When Merl Goodmanson founded the company in 1971, he set out to build a company with a reputation for quality craftsmanship and unparalleled service. Since then, the company’s staff has nearly doubled to approximately 35 full time employees, but its family roots have been retained.

Goodmanson Construction is always seeking positive and enthusiastic employees to join its team. It offers paid training, full benefits and opportunities for advancement. Many of its staff are long-term employees. Over 50 percent of the team has been with the company for more than 5 years. Several employees have made their careers at Goodmanson Construction, working with the company their entire adult lives.

When the business started, it was mainly serving residential customers in the Roseville area. “People joke that just about every driveway or set of concrete steps in Roseville were installed by us at some point,” say Autumn Gray, the company’s digital marketing specialist.

Although Goodmanson Construction is no longer a “mom and pop shop”— as it offers services to both residential and commercial customers throughout the Twin Cities and Midwest ”— the company remains focused on “developing concrete relationships,” both literally and figuratively.

“We provide our customers with individualized attention — they’re not just a number to us,” explains Gray, noting how one of their commercial customers remarked on the personalized and professional treatment the staff provided when redoing his parking lot.

The firm is also a community-minded organization, making regular contributions to youth groups, nonprofits, schools and volunteer activities, such as Meals on Wheels, the Rose Parade and New Years Eve on Ice. Goodmanson Construction also works to grow and support other small businesses in the area through its referral system.

“Family is where our roots began, and where we aim to keep our staff and customers focused,” says CEO and President Rick Goodmanson. Through its innovative expansion in the PACAL Business Center, off Highway 280, Goodmanson Construction is on the forefront of their industry in regards to safety and technology.

“Goodmanson Construction could not be where we are today without our family and friends, so as we continue to grow, we will keep our strong family values at the center of our business practices for years to come,” says Goodmanson.