Accelerate April 2021 Magazine

Q: Describe your business. A: Duffek Construction is a commercial general contractor serving Wisconsin with a deliberate focus on caring for our customers and their success. At Duffek we take great pride in building great projects for great people because we genuinely want to see our customers grow and succeed. Our growth is built upon incredible relationships. Q: How and why did you start the business? A: After years of travel and missing my wife and three children, I decided to take a chance and pursue a dream of starting a general contracting firm. After 17 years of working for both large and small firms throughout the United States, I had a burning desire to start a firm with a sole focus of doing what was right for our clients. I wanted to be a part of a company that had three core values: honesty, humility and hard work; where the lasting relationship with our client outweighed the percent of profit. I wanted to start a firm where we treated people exactly how we wanted to be treated. Q: What sets your company apart? A: The relationships we have with our customers. We care not only about the project we are building, but about the people we are building for. Our drive and desire to do the right thing, at all times, for our clients has fueled our growth since our very first project. Q: What are your biggest challenges as a small business? A: We have been very fortunate to see growth and success in our short time as a company. COVID-19 was definitely a challenge, but more than anything, public awareness is our biggest challenge. When people or organizations realize how we combine big project experience and management with the care and attention of a small firm, they see the Duffek difference. Q: What have been your biggest successes? A: I feel like in many ways I am living a dream and we continue to stack successes. In 2018, we were recognized as Newsmakers “Up and Coming Firm of the Year." In 2019, we continued to build an incredible team and culture. In 2020, we purchased our building and SMALL BUSINESS SUCCESS DUFFEK CONSTRUCTION MIKE DUFFEK President, Duffek Construction, Construction Alliance Executive Council Member Building Trust, Confidence & Quality APRIL 2021 MAGAZINE 9