Marcus Construction has grown from modest beginnings in founder Carl Marcus’ Prinsburg basement in 1956 to a nation-wide presence headquartered in Willmar without losing sight of their core values. Taylor Marcus joined his father, Ross Marcus, the current CEO, at the company in 2017 as the third generation of Marcus’ sharing the values, promise and legacy of who and what Marcus Construction is and will continue to be.
While locally they are mostly known for their Commercial Division, they also have an Agricultural Division that takes them all over the country and into Canada. With employees scattered throughout the United States, Marcus Construction encourages its employees to be committed to their core values: Be ethically uncompromising; respect those we work with and value their safety; deliver on our commitment to service; embrace long-term relationships with business partners and employees; be faithful stewards of what we’ve been given; celebrate life and success.
One way Marcus lives out their commitment to their core values is by supporting organizations and programs that benefit the communities in which they live and build. Some of those organizations include: local churches, schools, robotics and athletic teams, KCEO, Servicemen and Women, Salvation Army, Rice Health Foundation, Hope Pregnancy Center, Youth for Christ, Camp Maximum, Stingers Baseball, Willmar’s Destination Playground and the Willmar Area Community Foundation to name a few. Employee involvement in philanthropy is also encouraged through their annual employee-driven gifting program. Each year employees nominate organizations dear to their hearts and two are selected for year-end financial gifts. This allows the Marcus employees to be actively involved in the spirit of giving.
Marcus and their employees are dedicated to their community and they fully believe in being both an active and charitable business member in the Willmar Lakes Area. Many employees are coaches, volunteer firemen, active and former servicemen and women, Sunday school teachers, active on a variety of boards, and volunteer with different service organizations.
“We talk about ‘quality’ a lot in our office – quality construction, quality service, quality products – but at the end of the day, none of that happens without our quality people,” Ross says. “My dad has always said it, and now running the business I see how true it is, but it’s the people that make Marcus Construction what it is. They raise their hands to help, to serve, to participate – whatever it may be – every chance that arises and I just really appreciate our people. They are the ones who deserve this recognition.”
Building structures may be their specialty, but building community is thoroughly ingrained into the culture of Marcus Construction.