Built on Experience: Insights & Advice from Long-Lasting Careers in Construction
At Crain Construction, we love the work we do. As an employee-owned, commercial contractor with over nine decades of experience in Nashville, we’ve had the privilege of building more than just impressive structures. We’ve built a legacy—a legacy founded on the dedication and hard work of our people. Our success is deeply rooted in the […]
Spotlight: An Interview with Brian Hopwood, Superintendent at Crain Construction
At Crain, we’ve worked hard to build a reputation for genuinely caring about the well-being of our employees and passing along wisdom and knowledge to help others grow. These are the core values that inform the way we work at Crain, and Brian Hopwood embodies these characteristics well. Brian’s unwavering dedication to the team, experience, […]
“Work-Life Balance” in the Construction Industry: How Crain Prioritizes Employee Well-being
Work-life balance and employee well-being are essential in any industry, but they are particularly important in commercial construction. The nature of our work often requires long hours and irregular schedules, which can lead to stress, fatigue, and burnout. In recent years, there has been a growing awareness of the importance of work-life balance. At Crain, […]
Team Dedication: A Look at Crain’s Collaborative & Empowering Approach to Commercial Construction
A culture of team dedication and collaboration is crucial in the commercial construction industry. From creating a successful partnership between stakeholders to working together to complete a deadline, fostering collaboration, and empowering individuals to flourish are all essential for project success. At Crain, we refer to this as “team dedication.” Team Dedication is one of […]
Spotlight: An Interview with Sherry Crain Arledge
Crain Construction has always been a family-oriented company. J.E. Crain started the business during the Depression in 1933. While its name has changed slightly over the years, many of the familiar faces of the original family remained the same. Sherry Crain Arledge is one of those faces. The granddaughter of J.E. Crain, and daughter of […]
How Crain’s Company Culture Improves Project Outcomes
Every company has a culture. When it comes to commercial construction work, combining tight deadlines and high-pressure projects with a commitment to safety and quality can create some fairly complex situations. A strong, healthy company culture makes a big difference in how those situations are handled—and how employees, stakeholders, trade partners, and owners are treated […]
Building with Giants: Honoring Those Who Impacted Our 90-Year Legacy
“I can’t imagine anybody telling you there’s something you can’t do,” says Sherry Crain Arledge, the granddaughter of Crain Construction’s original founder, J.E. Crain. In this case, Ms. Arledge was speaking to former Crain CEO Lewis Rankin about his golf game. However, the same can be said of Ms. Arledge herself, her father, her grandfather, […]
Spotlight: An Interview with Chad Thomas, Project Manager at Crain Construction
As a Nashville native, Chad Thomas has seen a lot of changes to the city’s skyline. But one thing that hasn’t changed over the years is Chad’s commitment to Crain Construction. He’s been with the company since he was 15 years old. “I started in the summer of 1991 when I was a student at […]
Spotlight: An Interview with Lewis Rankin, Former CEO at Crain Construction
In 2023, Crain Construction celebrated 90 years of construction in Nashville. Earlier this year, the company celebrated this major milestone with hundreds of friends, clients, and industry partners. While Crain is now run by brothers Michael and Mark Rankin, their father, Lewis Rankin, started working for the company in 1972, when it was still known […]
Our Effective Framework for Commercial Construction Communication
Every commercial construction project consists of many different elements. These include different roles, tasks, meetings, details, and decisions throughout the course of the project. Clear and effective communication is key to ensuring all of these factors work together smoothly. On the flip side, poor communication is one of the prevailing issues that can derail a […]
