Building And Construction Southwest

MAREK

8/7/08

3:18 PM

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m a r e k f a m i ly o f c o s .

Earning Loyalty + After 70 years in the Southwest, the Marek Family of

“[Our] 10-year vision is to find avenues that will continue to separate us from our competition.” > Brendan Doyle, division president

Cos. positions itself for further growth by distinguishing itself from the competition. By Brooke Knudson Marek Family of Cos. www.marekbros.com Headquarters: Houston Service: Interior construction Employees: 3,500 (company-wide)

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From its humble beginnings some 70 years ago, the Marek Family of Cos. has become one of the largest and mostrespected residential and commercial interior contractors in the Southwest. The family of companies consists of Marek Brothers Systems Inc., which services Houston, Austin, San Antonio, Dallas and Harlingen, Texas; Oak Forest Lumber & Supply Inc. in Houston; Marek Brothers Co. in Houston, Dallas and Austin; and Marek Interior Systems in Atlanta. Headquartered in Houston, Marek Brothers Systems (MBS) is part of the Marek Family of Cos. It provides interior construction services including drywall, metal stud installation, flooring, painting, acoustics, plaster and Mecho Shades. Marek has offices in Dallas, San Antonio, Austin and Harlingen, as well as Atlanta. The company was started in 1938 by brothers Bill, John and Ralph Marek, who began by hanging gypsum wallboard for residential customers. After World War II, the company took advantage of the rapid expansion of Houston and then expanded into commercial interior construction in the 1960s. The expansion made it the largest and most respected residential and commercial interior contractor in Houston, it says. Marek credits its success partly to its values. MBS says it believes in people, integrity, safety and customers.

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b&c southwest fall 2008

Marek Brothers is in the final phase of the drywall and acoustical ceiling for the University of Texas Executive Education and Conference Center project.

Building & Construction Southwest connected with Marek Brothers Systems Division President Brendan Doyle to discuss the significance of the company’s 70-year anniversary and its vision for the future. Building & Construction Southwest: The firm as a whole is celebrating its 70th anniversary. To what do you attribute that longevity? Brendan Doyle: Being in business for 70 years means that this company has been able to sus-

tain and grow in the construction industry during the many challenging trends and economic cycles by having strong leadership and vision from our owners and [through] the hard work and loyalty of the employees. B&C: What sets Marek Bros. apart from other commercial contractors in the Southwest? BD: Marek Brothers is a specialty interior contractor that is unique in the strong relationship it has developed and maintained with our customers over the 70 years. We