Our founder, John Couts, is known in our industry by one simple mantra… “if we make a promise, you can take it to the bank!”. That’s what initially attracted me to the company. It didn’t take long for me to realize how ingrained this mindset is throughout the Couts team. It’s the #1 reason this “employee-owned company” stands strong 43 years later; because our customers trust us to do what we say.

I grew up in a small town in Cambridge Ohio. I may have gained a competitive spirit playing baseball from birth to my sophomore year in college. I may have learned mechanical engineering at Auburn University, but I learned teamwork, long hours, and discipline as a junior officer on a US Navy fast-attack submarine. I could tell you stories, but then I’d have to eliminate you.

I will always be thankful for my time with other firms, large and small. From the state-of-the-art processes and tools at very large companies (Trane, Johnson Controls, and others), to the teamwork and intimate attention to the details at smaller family-owned businesses. I have been blessed to be mentored by, and learn from, some of the very best in the industry.

Family is everything. At Couts, we are here to serve families. Each others’. Our clients’ and those in the communities we work. Our business partners’. And most importantly, our own families. My wife, Cindy, and I are truly blessed; celebrating and seeking wisdom at Daybreak Church. I have 3 amazing kids to rear, and 3 grandkids to spoil. And to be perfectly candid, I can’t think of anything I’d rather do than construction as a way to engage with and serve others. We literally get to build the buildings that “heal” people, “educate” them, “entertain” their families, and so on. As the President at Couts, my job is to share this passion for our business, and to mentor and coach our “employee-owners” to enjoy the process of becoming the very best at what we do.