McCarthy Wins BBB Torch Award

McCarthy Building Companies Inc., one of the oldest construction companies in America and a 100 percent employee-owned firm, was honored with the top 2011 TORCH Award from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) Serving Eastern Missouri and Southern Illinois. The TORCH Award honors excellence in customer service, employee relations and ethical business practices. McCarthy President and Chief Operating Officer Derek Glanvill accepted the award during the ceremony.

"Founded as a small family-owned company in 1864, McCarthy's long history has been built on the solid values of integrity, trust and an open approach to doing business," explained Glanvill. "Today, we've grown into one of the largest construction companies in America. But, even though times have changed, our guiding principles have not. Being honored with this TORCH Award confirms the principles that guided our builders nearly 150 years ago are still just as relevant today."

Timothy McCarthy originally founded the company in Ann Arbor, Mich., as a lumber business. His sons moved the firm to St. Louis in 1917, where it has grown into one of the nation's premier commercial builders known for safely solving the most complex construction challenges. The company became 100 percent employee-owned in 2002, when Michael M. McCarthy, the last significant family shareholder, sold his shares to employees.

"Our ownership culture fosters a level of commitment and dedication that we believe translates directly into world-class customer service," continued Glanvill. "While we utilize the most sophisticated technology tools in the business, ultimately our reputation is built on how we treat one another - our McCarthy family, clients, industry partners and neighbors in the community. We think that's what being a true builder is all about."

With 2010 revenues of $2.5 billion, McCarthy has approximately 1,500 salaried employees across America. In the St. Louis metro area, McCarthy, together with MC Industrial, an independent McCarthy company, has completed work in a variety of market sectors including healthcare, education, commercial, science & technology, industrial, transportation and power. Currently, the firm has more than $500 million in work underway in the region.

McCarthy is the eleventh recipient of the top TORCH Award in the St. Louis region. Former recipients of the award include: Anheuser-Busch Companies, Brown Shoe Corp., Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Monsanto and United Van Lines.

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