Clint Graham discusses how he expanded his 53-year-old family business.
Lincoln Builders, Clint Graham’s general contracting and construction management firm, has been going strong for 53 years. The company was started by his grandfather, Hollis Graham, in 1962 when he saw a need for a contracting company in the area that offered quality work performed by professionals who had integrity and who would stand behind their work.
“Our business model and the culture of our company is to perform at a very high level, delivering a superior product at a competitive price to our customers and developing relationships with them to get repeat business,” Graham says. “We try to make it so they don’t want to look anywhere else for their construction needs.”
As their reputation grew and they became a leader in the region, opportunities presented themselves for expansion. Now, Lincoln Builders operates full-service offices in Dallas, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Ruston, Louisiana, where their headquarters are located. They offer general contracting, design building and construction management services to clients in a variety of different industries, including healthcare facilities, hotels, churches, educational facilities, banks, office buildings and industrial manufacturing and distribution buildings.
“Moving into new markets can be difficult when you are the new company in town, but word of mouth and client recommendations are hard to beat when sharing your reputation with new prospects,” Graham says. “We learned that, to succeed, we had to keep doing what we have always done: outperform other companies and build loyalty from the first day on the job. Challenges are just opportunities to learn and improve our performance. We are always striving for excellence.”
Lincoln Builders employs around 100 workers, including administrative staff, project managers and superintendents.
“The best part of being a small business owner is being a part of a team of employees that takes such pride in representing our company and taking care of our customers,” Graham says. “For me, it means I can provide a place where employees can grow and prosper, both professionally and personally.”
NFIB has also had a role in fostering a business climate that helps Graham and other small business owners succeed.
“In Louisiana, we feel NFIB has been a strong voice for small business for many years,” he says. “They are proactive and keep us informed of things happening that could affect our business. They do an excellent job of working with our legislators to help protect the pro-business environment we’re trying to maintain in our state.”
