About Messer
Messer's purpose is at the core of everything we do: building better lives for our customers, communities and each other.
Local builder with national expertise
Messer provides unmatched leadership of complex commercial construction projects. For more than 90 years, our transformational investment in people, communities and Innovative building solutions has enhanced the landscape of the places we call home. As a result, we’ve become the trusted builder for hundreds of organizations across the Midwest and Southeast.
- Employee Ownership: As an employee-owned company since 1990, we're dedicated to building for long-term success.
- Community Investment: Investing in the people and organizations where we live and work is ingrained in Messer's culture.
- Leadership: Our Executives, Officers, Senior Managers and Board of Directors lead the way.
Building better lives for our customers, communities and each other.
HISTORY
A solid foundation for today and tomorrow
Messer was founded in 1932 and became employee-owned in 1990.
Here are several milestones and achievements from the early days of the company all the way to the present.
1930s–––––––––––
Frank Messer & Sons, Inc. is founded by Frank Messer in 1932. The family-owned company focuses on public works, constructing the central post office in Nashville, Tennessee, the public library in Toledo, Ohio, and a number of schools in Cincinnati, Ohio.
1940s–––––––––––
Messer is awarded the contract to build the $37 million Wright Aeronautical Plant in Evendale, Ohio. It was considered at the time to be the largest building award ever let under one contract in the United States.
1950-1970s––––––
Under the leadership of Frank’s son, Charles Messer, the company continues to grow with expertise shifting toward high-rise construction.
1980s–––––––––––
Messer focuses on attracting and retaining high-performing construction professionals and building the company’s capacity for performance. The focus pays off, and in 1987, the company performs more than $100 million worth of construction for the first time in its history.
1990s–––––––––––
Messer’s 99 employees purchase the company from the Messer family in 1990. The company begins to expand its footprint by opening regional offices in Lexington, Columbus and Dayton. Each region’s employees live and work locally, preserving the company’s longtime commitment to delivering quality to customers. Rapid growth follows, and by 1997, Messer hits the $300 million in annual revenue for the first time.
2000s–––––––––––
The company changes its name to Messer Construction Co. with a growing regional footprint in Louisville, Knoxville, Indianapolis, and Nashville. Messer puts in place more than $500 million of revenue for the first time in its history and forms its Economic Inclusion department in 2005.
2010s–––––––––––
Messer establishes its presence in North Carolina in Charlotte and Raleigh, as well as acquires EGC Construction. More than 25 years after becoming employee-owned, the company’s workforce has increased tenfold, its annual revenue has multiplied by more than eight, and it operates in 10 regions throughout the Midwest and Southeast.
2020s–––––––––––
2020 marks Messer's 30th year of employee-ownership and 90th year in business. In January 2023, Messer expands into South Carolina with a new regional office located in Greenville and serving the Upstate.