Construction Business Review

GEMCO
Leading the Course of Success in the Cold Storage Industry

Jim Bates, GEMCO | Construction Business Review | Top Cold Storage Construction CompaniesJim Bates, COO; Andrew Toth, CFO; William Bates, CEO
GEMCO is a leading commercial construction service provider specializing in cold storage construction. The company is well-known for its unique approach to project execution based on its traveling model. This approach involves keeping its team in constant motion, working for 17 days and then taking four days off as they travel across the country to serve clients. This mobility has allowed GEMCO to establish registrations in over 30 states, enabling seamless service delivery and fostering long-lasting client relationships.

"We aim to provide comprehensive solutions that simplify our clients' lives and address their needs to the fullest," says William Bates, CEO of GEMCO. This ethos of simplicity and comprehensive service resonates throughout GEMCO's business model, which hinges on continuity and efficiency.

GEMCO's success is attributed to its ability to accompany clients to different locations, eliminating the need for new contractors. This continuity ensures consistent standards and practices. GEMCO further distinguishes itself by incorporating its clients' existing standards, providing a seamless service experience from start to finish. By engaging with clients early on, GEMCO helps in providing responsible budgets and collaborates with designers to ensure projects run smoothly. Its ability to execute multiple trades in-house adds to its competitive edge, providing clients with a one-stop solution for their needs.

One of the company’s key strengths is its close-knit workforce, with many team members having worked together for a considerable time. GEMCO fosters a secure and collaborative environment, encouraging its employees to achieve their goals, cultivate relationships, and experience personal and professional growth.

Its project management capability sets it apart, where a single project manager oversees the entire project. This implies constant client communication, thereby eliminating information loss and avoiding the need to update new team members at different project stages. This integrated approach also allows for better customer service, as clients will have a single point of contact throughout the project.

The company’s project managers also act as sales representatives, further strengthening client relationships and streamlining project management processes. While GEMCO’s specialty is its electrical work for cold storage facilities, the firm has expanded its services to include HVAC, plumbing, refrigeration controls, and building automation systems, all of which it self-performs.

A notable instance of the company’s proactive work culture is illustrated by a recent project in Arizona. Immediately after the team was informed about the client’s upcoming design phase, which starts in a month, GEMCO sprang into action. By collaborating with the customer's project manager, the team developed a comprehensive game plan and critical path list for the project. This included identifying essential equipment with long lead times and procuring them in advance. Moving into the design phase, GEMCO strategically integrated these pre-secured items to shorten the construction timeline. Throughout the construction phase, its dedicated cold storage crew, with a single point of contact, meticulously followed the critical path, addressing open items and ensuring smooth progress toward project completion. This underscores GEMCO’s commitment to efficiently delivering projects.

Our goal is to provide comprehensive solutions that simplify our client’s lives and address their needs to the fullest extent possible


By consistently delivering high-quality results and providing comprehensive services, ranging from design to project management, GEMCO has established itself as a trusted partner in the cold storage construction industry.