A core tenet of any great ESOP is that when one project is successful, everyone wins — from the highest-budget data centers to small-scale renovations. One team helps to drive smaller-scale projects, filling in gaps, strengthening communities, and exemplifying the boots-on-the-ground qualities that have made JE Dunn a trusted partner across the United States.
JE Dunn Project Solutions, commonly known internally as Dunn Project Solutions or DPS, has been leading the company’s smaller-scale efforts since 2007, playing a unique role in JE Dunn’s business strategy. Focusing on quick, lower-budget projects — typically around $5 million — DPS projects not only create dynamic spaces, but also build lasting partnerships and community.
Chris Catron, Group Manager 1, said DPS is focused on taking care of existing clients, engaging with new clients, supporting nonprofits, and pursuing select projects that align with JE Dunn’s unique expertise.
“These are the projects that are at the roots of the company,” Catron said, “keeping existing relationships going, building new relationships, and doing nonprofit work.”
The team, expertly specialized in these types of projects, operates differently from larger JE Dunn project teams. With processes designed for speed and efficiency, DPS allows JE Dunn to work nimbly and keep work flowing. Additionally, the use of master service agreements allows for a no-frills onboarding, enabling trade partners to focus on the work at hand.
“It really streamlines the process for getting our trade partners on board,” Catron said. “The smaller these projects are, the faster they start. Already having these agreements in place is a huge benefit to us and our trade partners.”
While JE Dunn Project Solutions’ main call is to nimbly compete in the small-scale construction space, the team also plays an important role in keeping JE Dunn connected to its local communities and long-standing partners.
“I feel like, in DPS, we do the work that Mr. Dunn would want to do,” Catron said.
DPS’s impact is easy to see in the communities they serve. From small-scale renovations at local nonprofits to timely updates for long-standing clients, the team ensures each project is handled efficiently and thoughtfully.
Current efforts include support for Mother’s Refuge — a hotel conversion that will bring safe and welcoming spaces for mothers and families in need — as well as the Metropolitan Organization Countering Sexual Assault, where DPS is lending their expertise in adaptive reuse practices to convert a retired data center into nonprofit office spaces.
By building projects that impact the community he calls home, Catron can directly see and reflect on the impact that he and his team make.
“These projects really hit me right in the feels,” Catron said. “Especially the nonprofit organizations I have come to know and love. You can actually drive by or take your family and say, ‘Hey, JE Dunn built this and made a difference in people’s lives.’”
While DPS primarily focuses on quicker-turnaround projects, the team’s work fits into a broader strategic picture for JE Dunn. The company’s large-scale, complex work in Mission Critical and Healthcare showcases JE Dunn’s technical expertise and national reach, while DPS complements those efforts by keeping the company responsive on projects that are faster-moving, lower-risk, and local in scope. In doing so, the team helps diversify JE Dunn’s overall project portfolio, keeping the company versatile and resilient in a competitive and ever-changing market. And in a company that is employee-owned like JE Dunn, staying competitive ensures that everyone will continue to benefit and succeed.
“While larger and shinier projects keep the ESOP strong, DPS projects really help to keep relationships going and build strong foundations for more work in the future,” Catron said.
DPS projects also provide valuable opportunities that ripple throughout the organization. Fast-moving timelines, creative problem-solving, and adaptive project management are all spaces that can help early-career JE Dunn employees hone their skills.
“Another advantage of DPS is that it gives project engineers who are real go-getters a chance to take on their own projects,” Catron said. “They can hone their skills, learn to manage independently, and come out even better project managers when they’re ready to rotate out.”
Looking ahead, Catron envisions DPS further expanding its model to other cities if resources and labor availability allow, continuing to train emerging project managers, and maintaining a strong community presence in Kansas City.
“It’s important that we continue to do these smaller projects so that we can continue to build relationships that fuel all of JE Dunn’s success,” Catron said. “We want to keep contributing in every way we can.”
