LONG BEACH, California, March 28—Associated Builders and Contractors named MAREK, headquartered in Houston, as its 2018 Contractor of the Year, an award that recognizes companies for corporate integrity, commitment to safety, professional development and expert craftsmanship. Mike Holland, chief operating officer of MAREK, accepted the honor at the 29th annual Excellence in Construction® Awards gala during ABC Convention 2019 in Long Beach, California, March 27.
“ABC is proud to recognize MAREK’s 80-plus years of contributions to the construction industry with this esteemed award,” said 2019 ABC National Chair Tony Rader, telecom vice president of National Roofing Partners, Coppell, Texas. “With a long history of integrity, an exceptional safety record, excellent customer service and dedication to the communities they serve, MAREK is a standout in our field. The company’s commitment to developing, upskilling and retaining their workforce also sets an exceptional example for the construction sector.”
A leader in the merit shop construction community for decades, MAREK was a founding member of the ABC Houston Chapter and the Dallas-Fort Worth TEXO Chapter, and its executives remain active on several ABC committees and boards, including the ABC PAC and the Free Enterprise Alliance. MAREK is also is an ABC Accredited Quality Contractor with STEP Diamond safety performance status.
The company prides itself on a top-down, bottom-up approach to workforce development and safety initiatives. MAREK’s leadership is deeply invested in developing ABC apprenticeship and craft training programs and champions construction as a path to a high-paying, lifelong career. Mike Holland and Stan Marek also have testified in Washington, D.C., to advocate for immigration reform, diversity and removal of cumbersome policy regulations affecting the construction sector.
Started by three brothers as a small residential drywall company in the late 1930s, MAREK has grown to be one of the largest commercial specialty contractors in the South with more than 1,500 employees and seven regional offices. The company remains a family-owned business, now run by second-generation partners Stan Marek, chief executive officer, and Bruce and Paul Marek, executive vice presidents.