James Company’s President, Eric Cavanaugh, is carrying on his father James’ legacy of delivering the best price, quality and service.

The Magnuson Cafe & Brewery in Seattle was a unique remodeling project that involved the conversion of a World War II torpedo hangar into a production brewery and restaurant.

Eric Cavanaugh fondly recounts the story—which happens to also be his family’s history—of the James Company’s (James Co.’s) creation and evolution. “My dad (James Cavanaugh) started his career in the construction industry in the late 1960s in Eugene, Oregon,” he says. “Then, in 1991, he started the James Company with a focus on residential construction with some minor commercial improvement projects. As a young man, I watched as he poured his heart and soul into every job site he managed. He taught me that a strong finish is the key to a successful project, and that’s what he did.”

In 2016, when an opening presented itself for Eric to purchase the James Co., he jumped at the opportunity. “I knew I was purchasing a business with a spotless history in terms of credit, safety and insurance, and operated with integrity. That was critical to me,” he says. “Although my initial vision was to focus on financial goals, I quickly learned that price is important but is part of a larger strategy. It’s also about having a robust company providing a quality service and long-term employees that are committed to success.”

Though Eric has been at the company’s helm for the last four years, his father/mentor is still willing to offer guidance when asked. “My dad just turned 74 and it’s great I can still go to him for business and personal advice. He understands what it means to have integrity, which is why it is important he remains a board member at the company,” Eric says.

Under Eric’s leadership as President, the James Co. of today is significantly different from its original model. Still located in the greater Seattle/Puget Sound area, the James Co.’s clientele is now primarily commercial, including retail, restaurants, offices and health care facilities. Its footprint has expanded too—the company works with clients in Washington, Oregon, Texas, Indiana, Hawaii and Florida.

A New Owner, A Fresh Vision

Like with his own company, Eric believes the construction industry is changing. “The way things used to be done won’t work anymore. The old methods of the past and the top-down approach have changed to a more team-oriented, relationship-driven model. There’s not a business out there that isn’t interested in an open, collaborative workspace that fosters teamwork,” he says.

The James Co. has worked on many projects that promote interaction and innovation, such as the offices built for AECOM in Seattle and the Collinear Group in Renton, Washington. The architectural scheme of the AECOM project includes all-glass offices to allow for transparency and to promote collaboration. Eric says, “The Collinear Group project was interesting because the design incorporated one of the organization’s founding principles—having fun—so the office space has a lounge area and TV with sectional seating and foosball tables.”

Embracing teamwork is part of Eric’s leadership philosophy as well. He says, “We want to be the group that comes in and makes the project team fire on all cylinders. Our job is to be a thoughtful, supportive partner and we strive to build alliances, not adversaries. This means we check our ego at the door.”

Eric adds, “The most important thing we stress is that it is our job to make the project look like the picture.” He strives to be part of a team that can ensure the client achieves their original vision. This approach seems to be working well for the company, as many of its developer and architect partners are long-term clients that have collaborated on many projects alongside the James Co.

Bring on the Excitement

Although Eric feels retail projects can be stressful because they are schedule-driven and fast-paced, he loves them. “Retail is always exciting. With retail projects, there is a ton of scope, a short amount of construction time, and typically a smaller space. These projects are really challenging and fun,” he says, adding, “Lululemon is a great case study because although each store is constructed using a prototype design, the brand is always incorporating a unique design element to its location.” Eric’s team managed the construction of a new store at Tacoma Mall and store remodels in Lynnwood and downtown Spokane, Washington.

Because retail store construction projects are highly schedule-driven, Eric says, “Our business partners will tell you James Co. does everything it can to keep the job moving forward.” Although it’s imperative that a retail store is open to the public on time, it’s not much different in the office tenant improvement market. “If we’re working in a skyrise in downtown Seattle, the property manager (and tenants) need our team to do a precise job scheduling, managing the process, and ensuring the on-time hand-off from property owner to tenant,” he adds.

Eric is looking forward to expanding the company’s footprint in new construction. “I want us to continue progressing from something we’ve mastered (remodels) into something we want to do more of,” he says. “Now we’re comfortable adding larger, more technically complicated projects into our portfolio. For instance, I would love to do more restaurant work, including projects from the ground up. Again, we like the fast pace and the uniqueness of boutique commercial establishments. Working with new restauranteurs is exciting and the culinary scene is such a huge part of Seattle culture, it would be a fun thing to be a part of.”

The Magnuson Cafe & Brewery is a prime example of this type of project. “We converted a World War II torpedo hangar into a production brewery and restaurant,” Eric says. “It has a beautiful exterior deck, covered seating and great views of Lake Washington. I have no doubt the owner/developer is a visionary and will do well in the Seattle market.”

All Success Is Rooted in Opportunity

The James Co. was recently asked to provide pricing on a tenant improvement project for the Northwest Wall & Ceiling Contractors Association (NWCCA). NWCCA is a professional organization of ceiling, drywall and framing contractors in western Washington. Because NWCCA predominantly represents unionized companies, it meant a lot to Eric to be asked to do this project, as Eric has a ton of respect for the business it oversees. “We did a full renovation of their building, providing unique finishes to bring to life all the different trades NWCCA oversees. We used unique products like suspended pieces to act as architectural elements to absorb sound. We also used illuminated Pixels panels manufactured by USG.”

For Eric, the key to success resides in opportunities like this one. “Without opportunity there can be no success,” he says. “As our company grows, it’s important to recognize where our opportunities come from and how they were presented. In other words—know your roots.”

He continues, “Opportunity is all about seizing what is in front of you. An old football saying states that a wrong read is better than a long lead. In other words, sometimes an imperfect decision is better than no decision, and through collaboration, and repetition, these instances can be greatly reduced.” Eric explains further, “The construction industry is heavily reliant on adhering to schedules. At James Co., keeping the job on time is the No. 1 priority. We aim to give the customer the right product on time by drawing upon our experience and team collaboration to make the best decisions in the field.”

Ultimately, it’s about accountability. Eric’s philosophy on leadership is that accountability is the utmost priority. He notes, “Everyone has the opportunity to be a leader and everyone has to be accountable for their actions in order to seize that opportunity. I make sure this isn’t just applicable to management positions. Our field personnel are empowered to make decisions on the fly but first we ensure they are educated about the project and understand the client’s vision.”

“What makes us great is the people that work here,” Eric adds. “We have an amazing culture, everyone brings a diverse background, and they are all accountable individuals that are energized for the future.” That is important to Eric, because in his opinion, he needs “endless reminders of what has made us successful so we can respect our opportunities. If we do that, we will always find success.” For nearly 30 years, that philosophy has proven to be a winning strategy for the team at James Company.