TRIBUTE TO A COMPANY LEADER THE WOLVERINE UPDATE www.wolvgroup.com Problem Solver. Innovator. Since 1939. Fall 2014 th Our People – None of our work could be accomplished without our dedicated and loyal team. We currently employ over 100 people, 45 of whom have been with us for more than a decade. We are proud of our 28 retirees, 16 of whom worked with us for over 30 years. Our Partners – Construction is always a collaboration, and our long-term relationships with clients, subcontractors, and architects have allowed us to Dick VanderZyden & Mike Kelly thrive. We are grateful to our clients for putting their trust in us to make their visions a reality, and to make them look good while we’re at it. With architects and subcontractors, we have worked to hone our skills, develop new technologies, and bring our clients’ ideas to life. We can only succeed by working together, and it has been a pleasure to witness our partners’ success, as well as our own. Our Community – Wolverine has a solid foundation here in Grand Rapids. This community has been growing along with us since the 1930’s, and it’s fun to watch our city become a busy vacation destination while retaining a culture of strong values. Over the past ten years, WBG has traveled to build for our clients, and it is our Midwest work ethic that allows us to succeed in states ranging from Delaware to Tennessee, Colorado, Florida, Arizona, Washington, and everywhere in between. Yet Grand Rapids is our home, where we raise our families, work, play, and build, and we couldn’t ask for a better place to do business. A sincere thank you to all of those mentioned above for 75 years of hard work, innovation, and enjoyment. Here’s to 75 more! OUR DEDICATED TEAM Many of Wolverine’s staff have been with us for decades. The employees listed here have been with us the longest, not including our retirees. They may not look quite this young anymore, but they still work as hard (and have as much fun) as ever. Thanks to everyone on our team for your hard work and years of service! Remembering Jim Bouwman This April, Wolverine lost a former leader. Jim Bouwman, the owner and president of Wolverine Building Products, passed away at the age of 84. 4045 Barden SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49512 Ph: 616-949-3360 Fx: 616-949-6211 Jim’s father, Pete Bouwman, was the original founder of Wolverine Tile Company; Jim joined the business in the early 1950s. At that time, the company was primarily a floor tile and porcelain panel company, installing the then-popular porcelain panels on gas stations and fast food chains throughout the midwest. After Jim took the helm, he recognized the growth potential in general contracting and steered the company accordingly. He also obtained the pre-engineered dealership rights from Butler Manufacturing for the West Michigan area. Under Jim’s direction, the company then known as Wolverine Building Products quickly became one of the largest design/build firms in Grand Rapids. In the 1960s, most thought that the design/build process, in which the general contractor oversees design and engineering, was a quickly passing fad. Jim proved them wrong. Most of the buildings constructed on Roger B. Chaffee during the 1960s and 1970s were Jim’s doing. At that time, Wolverine also became the largest Butler Manufacturing dealer in the country, with some projects gaining national attention. The success and industry respect that Wolverine Building Group has today can be traced back to the underpinnings set in place by Jim Bouwman some 50 years ago. INNOVATION AND HISTORIC FIRSTS Game Changers and Record-Breakers Wolverine’s experience ranges from small remodels to multi-million dollar facilities, and everything in between. While we’re proud of all of our work, occasionally we have an opportunity to build a particularly exciting or record-breaking project, like those listed here. During this time of rapid company growth, many of the local subcontractors that Wolverine worked with grew along with us. Some of these names, well known to us today, were not so well known forty years ago: Godwin Plumbing, Buist Electric, Quality Air, All-State Fire Protection, Dykema Excavating, and Van Laan Concrete, to name a few. OUR PRESIDENTS THROUGH THE YEARS ANNIVERSARY ISSUE Fred Gilbert 44 Years at WBG Bill Cherry, 42 Years at WBG Howard Gilbert 36 Years at WBG Mike Kelly 35 Years at WBG Dave DeWaard 31 Years at WBG Peter Bouwman, 1939 - 1953 Mercy Health Hauenstein Neuroscience Center Groundbreaking Neuroscience & Epilepsy Surgery Facility Celebrating the people and projects who have made us a success. Rick Smith 31 Years at WBG Ralph Faulkner 30 Years at WBG Doug Middleton 30 Years at WBG Jack Eyer, 28 Years at WBG Matt Wieringa 28 Years at WBG Jim Bouwman, 1953 - 1980s The Residences Stan Cheff, 1980s - 2001 Jeff Ridings, 1980s - 1995 Dick VanderZyden & Mike Kelly, 2001 - Current 4045 Barden SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49512 • Phone: 616-949-3360 • Fax: 616-949-6211 • www.wolvgroup.com 502 Second Street Earned the most LEED Points of any project under LEED 2.0 Rating System Photo by Eric Doyle Our 75th anniversary is an occasion to celebrate, and yet we are humbled by this landmark. This is a milestone that most companies will never see – most do not make it to the five-year mark, let alone to three-quarters of a century. A great deal of hard work and strategic planning has gone into Wolverine’s development, but we also owe our success to the people, companies, and community around us. Check us out at: www.wolvgroup.com A NOTE FROM THE PRESIDENTS Tallest Building in East Lansing Spectrum Health Meijer Heart Center State-of-the-Art Heart Services Center Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital First LEED Gold Hospital in Michigan Vincent & Helen Bunker Interpretive Center, Calvin College First LEED Gold project in the Grand Rapids area RiverHouse Condominiums Tallest Building in Grand Rapids C E L E B R AT I N G YEARS Wolverine Construction Management Founded New company HQ Known as “The White Owl” Goodrich Building Frost-Pack (Now Sysco) Mike Kelly & Dick VanderZyden take leadership of the companies St. Stephen The Lodges of Colorado Springs 2012 2014 Lodges of East Lansing, Phase I Riverhouse Condominiums Multiple L&W Projects Houseman Construction team joins WBG Five Star Brands / Elan Nutrition City Place James H. Zumberge Hall GVSU Allendale Campus Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital Eaglecrest Office Park Major project spanning the 1990s Cottage 36 Fred & Lena Meijer Heart Center Fryling Construction founded by Nicholas Fryling 2011 2007 2009 2010 MVP Sportsplex The Durant 2008 2005 2004 2006 2002 2001 2000 1996 1994 Harbor Industries Old Kent Park Groundbreaking at Auto Top Grandview Apartments First MSHDA/HUD Project Wolverine North America founded Morey Charter Schools First Assembly of God New company HQ with solar panel technology North America Calvin College Life Science Building 1993 Extensive work for Robert Grooters Development Company throughout 1990s 1992 1990s 1980s 1977 1978 Stan Cheff and Jeff Ridings take ownership of the company 1970s 1970s 1974 1972 1969 1957 1945 1939 Wolverine Tile Company becomes Wolverine Building Products 205 Division & 26 Cherry Icon on Bond 1995 Wolverine Building Group began in 1939 as Wolverine Tile Company, a small family-owned subcontracting company. Through the years, we have grown into a nationally recognized general contractor, construction manager, and design/builder with 120 full-time employees. Fifth Third Ballpark Re-build Manufacturing team travels out of state to serve our clients Wolverine’s divisions unite under one name Peregrine Pointe Spectrum Health North & South Parking Ramps WBP begins self-performing select trades Farmers Insurance BUILDING GROUP Portable Recording Ministries A Butler Building These are some of the milestone projects and events that helped to transform Wolverine Tile Company into Wolverine Building Group over the course of the past 75 years. Hauenstein Neuroscience Center Spectrum Health South Pavilion Extensive work for Prince Corp. (now known as Johnson Controls) throughout 1980s & ‘90s WBP Becomes Nation’s Largest Builder of Butler Buildings Company Timeline Wolverine Tile Company founded by Peter Bouwman Advance Packaging 2013 BUILDING GROUP Calvin College Overpass Wolverine aquires Fryling Construction CONSTRUCTION Calvin College Vincent & Helen Bunker Interpretive Center 101 South Division Kentwood Branch Library Family Fare Metro Health Marketplace at Delta
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