Mike Owings, Wally Owings, Wallace Owings Sr., Tim Owings

Owings Brothers Contracting, Eldersburg, MD

Award category: Teamwork
Speciality: Full-service remodeling
18 years in business
2000 volume: $2.2 million
Staff: 3 office, 13 field
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“Our brand is our name,” says Mike Owings (standing, right) of Owings Brothers Contracting. He is in charge of the business and looking at the big picture, while brothers Wally Jr. (standing, left) and Tim (seated, left) run the production side. When Mike finishes with sales and design, customers expect to deal with a brother, Mike says, and they appreciate it. One other family member works with the three brothers. Their father, 73-year-old Wally Owings Sr. (seated, right), is the punch out specialist.

To meet the demands of the growing family business, Mike is constantly searching for ways to market their services. He’s cultivated working relationships with seven architects by delivering what he promises: loyalty, respect, and hard work. More architects are taking remodeling seriously because of the shortage of new construction design work in the Baltimore area. “It’s gotten tough for them; they have a need for us,” he says.

Mike provides expert estimating. And for production, Wally Jr. chooses crews who are familiar with an architect’s preferences. Mike’s aim is to win one of the first three opportunities to bid from any new architect.