There are busy sites. And then there are G&R sites. Busy, yes. But carefully scheduled, tightly run and completely integrated, which often means that the crew will switch hard hats several times along the way. “Our people are very good at what they do, and, they are cross-trained; for example our carpenters can dig foundations, run a jackhammer and install finished millwork, so by the time the job’s done, there’s a sense of personal connection and ownership that goes pretty deep,” explains field manager and partner Dennis Morel. The result? “We’re building a lot of pride as we go along!”

And with that last comment, a lot becomes clear. For example, the reason for the feeling of responsibility that the crew members share across the board and the explanation of how, being a relatively small company, G&R handles municipal jobs of the type and size that are usually tackled by larger outfits. As Bob Morel, Dennis’s cousin and president of G&R, comments, ”We run lean and we multi-task, but we give our people the opportunity to learn and grow, and they work year round, through good and bad times, with rarely a layoff.” And Dennis adds, “Working with us is not for everyone, but for those talented people with great work ethics we tend to attract, it’s an excellent choice!”

The two cousins split their responsibilities but not their philosophy. While Dennis is the field manager, out on jobsites, working alongside his crews, Bob is focused on the business side, forecasting, pricing, contracting, and handling bids. They trust each other to make the decisions in their fields of expertise and see completely eye to eye as far as the big picture.

 “My uncle and my father passed on to us an asset that has more value in this industry than anything else you can think of – a solid reputation,” says Bob, continuing, “Dennis and I know that’s a great advantage, and we also realize that we have to protect it very carefully!”

Once a week there’s a management meeting during which the foremen come in and discuss what they will need; they each get a job cost outline so they know exactly what’s expected from them and they take it very personally. As Bob explains, “In a way, it’s their baby!” Again, that ingrained sense of ownership makes it possible for G&R to give a one-year warranty on their work and to have their jobs rated by the State with scores in the 80s and 90s, when the industry average is 75.

Describing themselves as “self-performers,” Bob explains that while their philosophy of handling themselves, what’s commonly subcontracted, results in a lot of day-to-day pressure – “Many of my friends think we’re plain crazy!”– it also allows them to be much faster and more aggressive, manipulating the sequence of steps in a job to accommodate their schedule. As Dennis puts it, “We can dictate what, when, where… our masons can start when we want them to start; the carpenters can do their work when we want that to happen, we don’t depend on someone else.”

Bob believes that another key to their success in the highly competitive institutional construction business is their relationship style. “We treat municipal customers with care, and they respond in the same way,” is Bob’s simple explanation, and he laughingly admits that both he and Dennis are afraid that a bad comment reaching the ears of their father and uncle would mean big trouble for them. “They worked very hard for many years to build an impeccable reputation, and they’re not letting us forget that!”

There was one exception, says Bob – the local Caterpillar dealer. “Milton CAT took the time; the application specialist, Doug Mauch, came in to see us and he listened when we explained our plans; he helped us determine what we needed – actually he had more foresight than we did!” Bob continues, “He sent a backhoe on rental, and then, an excavator on rental, too; within six months, we had purchased both machines…that was nine years ago and we still have them,” admits Bob, who confesses his personal attachment to the two CAT machines that have seen the company grow.

Nowadays G&R owns an all-CAT lineup of equipment, including two backhoe loaders, a 938 loader, a 330 excavator, a 320 excavator, a mini-excavator, a compactor, a skidsteer, a D5 dozer and a Genie lift, all from Milton CAT.

It makes sense.
When following the tracks of the 44-year-old company it’s hard not to wonder – what’s behind G&R’s steady pattern of growth? Listening to both partners talk, watching how they operate – Dennis in the field, Bob in the office – and seeing their philosophy at work, makes the answer clear. The Braintree company stays the course. Sounds simple? “Not so simple in real life,” says Bob, who’s seen many of his friends quickly reach success and quickly crumble, as they go beyond their capabilities. “My father and my uncle always said to us, ‘Don’t let your ego drive you,’ and the longer we are in this business and see the mistakes people can make when they overextend themselves, trying to outdo each other, the better we understand how wise that advice was!”

Bigger is not always better, according to Bob, who stands by the belief that what matters is not just volume, but how you handle it – thoughtfully, precisely, and remembering that while you are building buildings, you’re also laying out the foundation for something else – a solid reputation.