“What is the “why” is a common question these days. Following is my answer.
From a young age, the common theme throughout my life has been community and construction. The meaning I find in life is rooted in community, both connecting to and serving alongside it. Authentically knowing others while being known yourself is powerful.
Construction? In a world where we can choose to construct or destroy through our every word and action, construction is equally powerful. I am a builder; the Evanses are builders. Having been raised in a family construction company (Evans Construction and Asphalt) started by my great-grandfather, it’s in my blood and who I am.
I fondly recall spending time as a young boy with my grandfather, a WWII veteran, in the gritty maintenance garage of Evans Construction, surrounded by the scent of oil and the sounds of heavy equipment. To me, my grandfather was an Irish scrapper; wiry, 5 o’clock shadow, shrewd, quiet, unfiltered Camel cigarettes on the desk. Muddy boots. He embodied hard work and resilience. My great-grandfather, a WWI veteran, built a successful life alongside his wife (Claire Kelly- hence the Kelly green in the logo) with five children (3 boys, all constructors). He was the son of a railroad foreman in the Pennsylvania coal region. My father followed the family tradition of construction after service to our country in the Vietnam War. As a child, I accompanied my father to job sites, witnessing firsthand the dedication of the men and women who build our country. It is in my soul. Work was engrained in us as children. While athletics were fun, work was the focus that held reward. Production, contribution, carrying your weight, success through grit and determination. Service and community. That, to me, is who the Evanses are.
After 22 years in both operations and strategy roles for large building general contractors, I came to a point where I wanted to build something that had a greater chance of outlasting buildings—something to stand the test of time. I wanted to build a company like a family, built upon core values I learned from my family. I wanted to build something impactful for generations to come, like my great-grandparents. However, this time, it not being rooted in and named for any particular family, but rather that which brings meaning (community) and connections to the soul (building). Community Builders.
In a world often marked by destruction, my aspiration is to build together. My hope in doing so is to set an example for my young sons, Jack and Patrick, of what it is to be a builder. My hope is to build a company where the children of my CB teammates are likewise inspired to choose construction over destruction, guided by the values of their parents and upheld consistently at their place of work.
We are builders.
Forward,
Conor Evans
Managing Partner | Builder
