Larry Buland saw integrity in action while serving as a Nebraska state trooper in the 1990s. Years later, the former law officer still holds integrity in the highest esteem, only now as the owner/president of Buland Group, a six time American Institute of Architects award-winning general contracting firm and the Greater Omaha Chamber's March Small Business of the Month.
"We're invigorated and energized by working with successful people who are passionate about their projects," he said.
Buland, who holds an MBA from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, said he and his firm specialize in "core construction management and money management tasks," also known as the business of construction.
"That's where my strength in business comes in," said Buland. "From a client's perspective, construction really is about the money. We are managing a huge asset for our clients. It's about tracking the money, protecting the money and getting value from the money."
In these challenging economic times, the company boasts a disciplined project management system that can save clients a lot of that money, potentially tens of thousands of dollars.
"On a project, the largest savings come in the early stages during design. Most of our clients include us, as the contractor, during the design phase, a chance for us to share our cost-savings ideas. That reduces the need for value engineering and cutting things out later. It increases the speed at which the project can be completed and usually results in revenue."
Further increasing efficiency for project partners is a secure Buland Group Web site that contains photographic project updates and document transfer capabilities. The firm concentrates on the construction of affordable multi-unit housing, luxury residential, state-of-the-art health care facilities and senior living communities.
"One of the most rewarding aspects of this for me is the large number of senior living projects we do," said Buland. "When I think about people, like my parents or grandparents, on a fixed income getting new, clean, safe affordable housing, that's a big deal. We've had the children of these residents cry in front of us; they're so happy to have a place for their parents. You never forget that."
Buland Group employs 20-25 people with hundreds of years of construction and business experience between them, a roster of accounting and business professionals and construction estimating professionals. Buland said all of his employees have, what the company calls, the "vision of precision."
"Our challenge is to mesh the vision of the owner and the vision of the architect in a very precise three dimensional result."
To achieve that goal, Buland Group contracts with "typically the lowest cost, most capable subcontractors in each trade. That allows us to work regionally. We aren't limited by manpower restraints like companies that try to do everything in house sometimes are."
In addition to Nebraska, Buland Group currently operates in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. A presence in Minnesota and Colorado may be on the horizon.
"We do travel throughout the Midwest so that owners, architects and bankers can maintain at least one consistent partner."
Buland said he sees a lot of growth opportunities ahead in the area of senior housing construction, regional medical clinic construction as well. The company is also positioning itself to be a leader in the field of "green construction." Buland Group is a certified green builder, and it is pursuing more education and a LEED certification in that area.
Buland described his company as a modest but hard working outfit, a firm that quietly goes about its business. The Chamber is working with Buland Group to turn up the volume a notch.
"We're not widely known, so the Chamber has encouraged us to promote our abilities to an extent greater than we otherwise would have. From a business point of view, I do appreciate the progressive nature of the Chamber's marketing and networking efforts."
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska is the sponsor of the Small Business of the Month award. View more information or nominate a small business online.