Kelly Beck and Corie Foley recently planted the ARCO flag in Milwaukee, starting a new office for the national design-builder. Husch Blackwell’s Josh Levy sat down with Kelly and Corie to learn about ARCO’s expansion in the Milwaukee market as well as emerging design and construction trends. Kelly and Corie were kind enough to share their thoughts.
How did you become involved in design and construction?
Kelly
Construction doesn't run in my family. It's the old cliché of “I just kind of fell into it.’ I've always had a keen interest in design and construction though. I would look at a building or space and see the unique potential in it. I'm a self-starter and really pushed to expand my A/E/C network and follow my passion, which turned into a 20-year career managing a diverse range of construction projects.
I met Corie and the ARCO team several years ago. There was so much synergy. I loved their take on design-build and the ability to have a local operation that's in the community but backed by a large enterprise with national reach. In 2023, I was hired as director of business development in Milwaukee and haven't looked back.
Corie
Similar to Kelly, I didn't have a family member or friend that pushed me into the industry. I'm from Menomonee Falls and studied Civil Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Getting immersed early on in the A/E/C industry, I learned how much I value community and social interactions. There are so many facets to construction, not-to-mention the sheer number of people you need to engage with to make a project successful. That was really appealing to me.
ARCO gave me a lot of autonomy and responsibility when it came to managing design-build projects and expanding my network. I've spent my entire post-graduate career at ARCO. Just last year, I moved back to my home state of Wisconsin to further build ARCO's presence in the market and be a local resource for our clients here.
What is something your company is doing that's considered innovative?
Corie
We have a dedicated, in-house team that is solely focused on innovation and piloting cutting-edge construction technology, dashboards, and templates that create efficiencies throughout the project lifecycle. For example, we built custom software for our expansive subcontractor database down to the zip code, as well as our Master Estimating Template. Both tools harness our knowledge base and network from a local and national standpoint—not just with sourcing subcontractors but tracking unit costs across all markets and industry verticals as well.
Kelly
This empowers our team to give accurate and thorough proposals well before the design process has begun. Darshit Jasani, ARCO's innovation development manager, gave more insight into our innovation team and the lates trends at the March 21 Husch Blackwell Construction Academy event.
What poses a challenge/risk/opportunity for your clients, and what is your company doing to address it?
Kelly
With our design-build approach, we can take on and manage overall cost and schedule risk. We view risk as an opportunity to show our value and what differentiates us from others in the Wisconsin market. Financing can be a challenge in any industry or market and is subject to the cyclical nature of the economy. We previously mentioned our proprietary cost estimating tool and subcontractor database. These technologies help us give clients quick, accurate costs.
Corie
We are uniquely helping customers develop total solutions prior to having everything in place. We can then provide an all-in value of a project prior to any design work being completed, minimizing time and the resources needed. We also commit to the cost up front and transfer the risk of maintaining that budget through design onto us. That sense of security, as well as early risk transference, allows for greater peace of mind and the ability to secure proper financing.
What is something you view as an emerging trend?
Corie
The absence of commercial office leases has continued to provide emerging opportunities in the commercial “office” landscape. We are spending a lot of time with customers having conversations and pricing conversion scenarios that include hotel, multifamily, lab space, and mission critical.
Any final thoughts?
Corie
More construction companies are diversifying and investing in start-ups focused on everything from sustainable practices to safety and innovation. It's important to be an extension of your clients' growth strategy and help them build in a thoughtful and socially responsible way.
Kelly
We are all stewards of the community. Milwaukee is a tight-knit market, which I think is one of the things we love most about the city. As businesses, we all have a hand in making Wisconsin a thriving place to live, work, and play.
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