The Jansen Group’s projects have included the Veteran’s Administration Regional Office in Milwaukee.

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For nearly eight decades, The Jansen Group Inc. has successfully traveled the highs and lows of its industry, Chairman Thomas O. Miotke says. Today, the Milwaukee-based firm stands as one of the oldest general contractors in southeast Wisconsin.

Joseph Jansen started the company in 1930, and one year later, it earned its first major project, the carpentry contract for the Steuben Junior High School project in Milwaukee. Over time, the company built a niche in school and housing projects.

During the 1960s, the company added concrete, masonry, construction management, real estate and development to its specialties. In the mid-1980s, Miotke assumed leadership of the company, which later reorganized and focused strictly on construction.

Today, Jansen offers services through two divisions: Jansen Construction Inc., a general contracting firm, and Signature Group Inc., which provides excavation and concrete work, masonry, rough and finish carpentry. Jansen had sales of $75 million in 2007.

Miotke notes that Jansen has responded to growing competition by consolidating its corporate structure for efficiency, focusing on general and trade construction, and assembling a skilled work force.

In addition, “We are partners with defined developers, defined architects and defined contractors,” he says. Jansen uses a careful selection process, using business knowledge, industry experience and management wisdom.

‘Joy’ of the Industry
Miotke has a family heritage in construction. Both his father and grandfather worked in the industry, while he began as a union laborer and joined Jansen in 1965.

In addition, he has chaired several organizations, such as the Young Presidents’ Organization and World Presidents’ Organization, the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of America and the Mason Contractors Association of Milwaukee. Miotke was also the 1995 recipient of the Skill, Integrity and Responsibility Award from the AGC.

He notes that he enjoys “working with clients in identifying and solving their construction requisites and sharing in the projects’ success.

“That joy includes working with my associates and the wonderful people involved in this truly great industry,” Miotke says.

“It also embraces the Junior Achievement youth, educators, college students, our tradespeople and journeymen, engineers and architects, developers and bankers,” he says.

The construction sector “requires passion and hard work,” he continues. “The future of the Jansen Group should be promising, as long as we stay focused on our business plans and execute our vision, mission and values with excellence and passion. As for myself, I must transplant that joy to all my associates, clients and industry contacts.”

Doing Its Part
Jansen has focused on green building, Miotke says. “Stewardship, conservation, the environment, values and leadership have always been priorities,” he states. “As a small company, we strive to do our part in the large global community.

“Today’s green initiatives are more than ‘vogue,’” Miotke declares. “It is simply another step on a journey.”

Miotke says the company has extensive experience utilizing green practices on such projects as the Schlitz Audubon Nature Center in Bayside, Wis., and the Urban Ecology Center in Milwaukee. The 30,000-square-foot Schlitz Audubon center uses geothermal energy and a photovoltaic system.

The project received the LEED Gold rating from the U.S. Green Building Council in 2004.

The Urban Ecology Center, a winner of the Energy Efficiency Leadership Award, was built with the intention of making sustainability part of urban life. With a reliance on day lighting and photovoltaic panels to generate some of its electricity,

“The building is a showpiece of good architecture, applied to the challenge of recycling, reuse and adaptation,” per the Jansen Group.

“The building houses classrooms, exhibit areas, research labs and other components, including a roof garden and observation tower.”

A Strong Addition
A recent development for Jansen Group has been the addition of Executive Vice President Robert Schmitt, who has more than 38 years of industry experience in engineering, business and management. Miotke notes that Schmitt’s vast experience has benefited the company. Schmitt previously was vice president for regional operations for Gilbane Building Co.’s North Central Region and prior to that, he was the president of Grunau Project Development Inc.

“A reality is that much of our knowledge is tribal,” Miotke says. “Robert brings world-class experience to Jansen from a different tribe.”

Miotke adds that Schmitt brought several contacts and relationships that he developed throughout his career. “More [importantly], Robert brings us not only a passion for construction excellence, but a personification of our values,” he states. “He has been a tremendous addition to our corporation.”