Fessler & Bowman isn’t just another contractor. It’s a Genesee County company that invests in people, builds futures, and elevates the industry.
For more than six decades, Fessler & Bowman has worked to establish itself as a premier contractor specializing in concrete and civil services. Today it’s ranked one of the top 100 specialty contractors in the nation.
From its origins as a small flatwork and basement wall contractor, the company has expanded to a full-service, large scale, concrete and civil specialty contractor performing work across the United States.
In addition to its new 102,000-square-foot headquarters in Grand Blanc Township, Fessler & Bowman has three fully staffed and equipped regional offices in Charlotte and Raleigh, N.C., and Smyrna, Tenn.
The firm employs 900 team members nationwide, including 300 in Michigan.
“Don Fessler and George Bowman, who started the company in 1963, laid a great foundation for us here,” said Jim Malenich, president/CEO.
“The success of this company is thanks to the exceptional work ethic and character of our team members right here in Genesee County. It’s the playbook we’ve used to create success in all the other regions we serve.”
Fessler & Bowman is committed to a people-first culture where team members are supported with meaningful opportunities for career growth and leadership development. The company invests in its workforce by providing a living wage, comprehensive healthcare, a benefits package, and a 401K/pension plan that reinforces long-term security.
Despite its expansion in recent years, Fessler & Bowman remains committed to its Michigan roots.
“When we decided to move our headquarters from Flushing we could have gone anywhere in Michigan or the United States. But we chose to remain nearby because of our strong belief in Genesee and the surrounding counties.” Malenich said.
Its new headquarters in the Grand Blanc Enterprise Park off Baldwin Road showcases the company’s range of expertise and serves as a practical learning environment for their team members.
They recently established a workforce development division that includes innovative training tools, such as a mobile equipment simulator designed to engage new talent in the construction industry.
“There’s no greater reassurance than knowing your employer is fully invested – not just in today’s team, but in the future of our industry,” said Andrea Alvarez, the company’s director of workforce development.
“By prioritizing workforce development, we’re not just building projects – we’re helping team members build lasting careers and a legacy they can take pride in,” Alvarez said.
The company has received two grants from the state of Michigan’s Going PRO Talent Fund to assist in training, developing, and retaining current and newly hired workers.
“We all know our workforce is aging rapidly,” Malenich said. “GST Michigan Works! is giving us these grants because of the commitment that we’ve made to developing our workforce, including fast-tracking a lot of young professionals.”
Thanks to a vibrant youth program, high schoolers are given real job site experience and the chance to work alongside seasoned professionals.
“We’re training more apprentices than ever, shaping future leaders through our youth programs, and upskilling our team with hands-on learning that drives real career growth,” Alvarez said.
Fessler & Bowman also offers annual safety and skills training for all its workers. Using hands-on courses, the latest technology and industry-leading instruction, the company has set the bar for the entire concrete and specialty contracting industry, Alvarez said.
“It’s important to us to do everything we can to provide a workplace that will help create success for our team members both professionally and personally,” Malenich said.
That commitment is paying real-life dividends.
“Of everything we’ve accomplished at Fessler & Bowman, what I am most proud of is our commitment to paying our people a strong, reliable, living wage – one that they can count on to support their families and retire with confidence,” Malenich said.