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 […]
Spotlight: An Interview with JR Howell, Senior Superintendent at Crain Construction
JR Howell was born and raised just 40 minutes from downtown Nashville, but his neighborhood wasn’t packed with houses. In fact, to this day, it remains a peaceful oasis resting on 5,000 acres. JR had the unique experience of growing up inside Montgomery Bell State Park, a vacation destination for thousands of people. His dad […]
5 Timeless Construction Principles We’ve Used Over the Past 90 Years
2023 is an exciting year for our team at Crain as we celebrate our 90th year as a commercial construction firm in Nashville. Over the decades, the Crain name has been known for a commitment to quality, integrity, and doing business in a way that puts relationships first. While our focus has shifted from building […]
Executive Spotlight: An Interview with Jim Pedigo, CFO at Crain Construction
As the CFO of Crain Construction, Jim Pedigo was initially hired in 1985 by Lewis Rankin, former CEO of Crain Construction, to replace Crain’s bookkeeper at the time. Taking the position at Crain is a decision that Jim looks back on as one of the best he’s ever made. “Crain is a great place to […]
9 Memorable Projects and Moments from 2022
2022 was a memorable and momentous year for our team at Crain Construction. While there have been noteworthy milestones in our company’s history, we can honestly say that this year has been one of the best. As we look toward 2023 and our 90th anniversary, we are excited about the opportunities and potential for our […]
The Top 10 Crain Construction Articles & Insights from 2022
2022 marked our 89th year as a commercial contractor in Nashville. We’re proud of our roots here, and we also recognize the exciting opportunities created by Nashville’s growth in recent years. The need for quality craftsmanship, relationships built around honesty and integrity, and a commitment to serve have never been more important in our industry. […]
