Minority contractor managing its growth
By Bill Beene
Of the St. Louis American
Jimmy Miller is so excited about the revitalization of the city and downtown in particular that he moved his contracting company from North County to Olive and Jefferson.
“I wanted to be in the Loft District, in the city doing business,” Miller said during his Miller Contracting Services, Inc. renovation party last Thursday.
Miller understands the big part his small company plays in the local construction industry.
“Without small companies, big companies wouldn’t be where they are,” he said. “We’re the first ones in and the first ones out.”
Miller said he wouldn’t be where he is either if weren’t for the executives at large companies who mentored him.
His primary mentors have been Eric Spirtas of Spirtas Wrecking and Scott Wilson of S.M. Wilson, who was Miller’s official mentor through the Stempel Plan administered by the Association of General Contractors (AGC) of St. Louis.
Len Toenjes, president of AGC, told the American that Miller has shown maturity and caution in growing his business. Capacity remains a major obstacle to meaningful inclusion in the local construction and building trades market.
“Jimmy is doing really well,” Toenjes said, a sentiment seconded by his mentor, Scott Wilson.
In the mentoring program, Miller said he met with successful industry pros at lease once a month. They helped him with estimating skills and jobs, managing his books and understanding cash flow.
Miller now wants to return the mentoring that he received back to his community.
“I would like to mentor not only African-American companies, but companies serious about being in this business, because you need African Americans to understand the business,” Miller said.
“It isn’t just about million-dollar contracts – you have pay taxes and union benefit contributions. You have to know how to bid, how the pay cycle works and how to manage projects.”
Miller admits that African-American companies are sometimes at a disadvantage, but most obstacles can be demolished from within.
“We need to know our forte – stick to what you know how to do and stop taking on big projects you know you can’t man or manage,” he said.
“If you understand your mission, you will have a vision and you will make good decisions. You have to push and push, and don’t expect anyone to give you anything – you have to take what you think you can do.”
Still, Miller says that for St. Louis to be like other big cities it needs to open doors for diversity, because everybody deserves an opportunity to better themselves in the construction industry.
Miller said he would like to make sure genuine MBEs and WBEs – not front companies – succeed in the construction business.
To do so, Miller said African-American companies must get out and network.
“Thirty years ago, I can understand the lack of opportunities, but today they are there, but we have to knock on those doors.”
While Miller admits having some doors slammed his face, he said many have opened and offered opportunities.
His career hasn’t been perfect or mistake-free, but he says he’s still around because he’s true to the construction trade and has passion for what he does.
“It’s been up and down, but I hung in there because I’ve been persistent and wanted to be an icon for the people who paved a way for me,” he said.
Miller’s father introduced him to the industry, giving him his first construction job.
He attended Alberici University, Washington University Business of Construction and Arkansas State University, where he earned a bachelor’s of science degree in sociology.
His company handles general contracting, which involves site laboring, steel erection and placing light ceiling tile; demolition that includes gutting small to commercial-sized buildings and interior setting for renovation; pouring and sealing concrete for new construction; and final construction clean up of new commercial buildings, industry plants and warehouses.