Kevin French, co-founder of Scarborough-based Landry/French Construction Co., is featured in an industry trade publication’s “50 States of Construction” series, in which leaders discuss the conditions in their market.
In a question-and-answer feature story by ConstructionDive writer Emily Peiffer published Feb. 27, French talks about the company’s rapid growth since he and Denis Landry created it in 2010. In 2015, the company was named by Mainebiz as the fastest-growing mid-sized company in Maine. It has been recognized as one of the fastest-growing companies on the Inc. 5000 list with $65 million in revenue reported last year.
Asked about the biggest challenge the company faces, French replied: “Skilled labor. I’m sure it’s just like that anywhere. We’re not having a difficult time finding labor, we’re having a very difficult time finding skilled labor. We’re mostly management, and it’s our subcontractors that are having difficulty finding qualified painters, drywallers, mechanical and electrical guys. There’s a lot of work out there to be had, and they just can’t go after more work because they don’t have the people to do it.”
French told Peiffer some of the steps the company is taking to counter that problem, including becoming an employee-owned company in May 2016.
For the full interview with French, go here.
