About Us
Builders, engineers, and stewards of the built environment.
Acme Construction is an employee-owned general contractor delivering complex commercial, residential, industrial, and infrastructure projects across the Midwest. Since 1985, we've earned trust the same way: one disciplined project at a time.
Our Story
From a two-person practice to a regional leader.
Acme began in 1985 when two structural engineers, frustrated by the disconnect between design and field execution, decided to start a firm that did both well. Four decades later, that same philosophy — engineering rigor paired with field craftsmanship — guides every project we touch.
Today we're 420 employee-owners strong, with active projects in Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan, Iowa, and Missouri. We've delivered more than 1,240 projects with a 98% on-time record and an industry-leading safety rating.
Mission
To deliver complex construction projects with absolute integrity — protecting our clients' time, capital, and reputation as if they were our own.
Vision
To be the most trusted builder in every market we serve, recognized for the quality of our people and the durability of our work.
Promise
Safety first. Quality always. Schedule honored. Budget respected. Communication relentless.
Core Values
The principles that show up on every jobsite.
Craftsmanship
We build for permanence. Every weld, every pour, every detail.
People First
Safe, respected teams build great buildings. Period.
Accountability
We say what we'll do, then we do it — on time, on budget.
Stewardship
Our work shapes communities for generations.
Leadership
Built by builders.
Our leadership team averages 22 years of industry experience. Every executive came up through the field, design, or engineering — not just the boardroom.
Robert Chen, P.E.
Chief Executive Officer
32 years in heavy commercial and civil construction. Joined Acme in 1998.
Amelia Hawthorne
President & COO
Former VP of Operations at a national ENR Top 50 contractor. Leads delivery and field operations.
James Okafor
Chief Financial Officer
20+ years of construction finance leadership and ESOP stewardship.
Priya Iyer, AIA
EVP Design-Build
Licensed architect leading our integrated design-build practice across all sectors.
Marcus Reed, CSP
VP Safety & Compliance
Architect of our 0.42 EMR safety program and OSHA VPP Star certification.
Sofia Garcia
VP Pre-construction
Owns estimating, scheduling, and target value design across the firm.
Company Timeline
Four decades. One discipline.
1985
Founded
Two structural engineers open a small office in Joliet, IL.
1994
First $50M project
Northshore Logistics Center cements our industrial reputation.
2003
Civil & infrastructure
Awarded our first IDOT bridge project.
2014
Employee owned
100% ESOP transition completed.
2019
Design-Build practice
In-house architecture and engineering team launched.
2024
$1.8B in active work
Six-state operations, 420 employees, 28 active projects.
Culture
An ownership culture, on every jobsite.
As a 100% employee-owned company, every team member has a real stake in our outcomes. That ownership mindset shows up in the details: a tighter punchlist, a cleaner jobsite, a more honest conversation when something needs to change.
- Industry-leading benefits and ESOP participation
- Continuous learning — 40 hours/year per employee
- Mental health and wellness programs
- Field-to-office mentorship pathways
Community
Building beyond the jobsite.
We commit 1% of profits and 4,000 employee hours each year to community programs across the Midwest — from trade-school scholarships to volunteer rebuilds after natural disasters.
$2.4M
Donated since 2019
38
Scholarships awarded
12
Community rebuilds
Ready to build?
Let's break ground on your next project.
Get a no-obligation quote within 48 hours. Our pre-construction team will review your scope, timeline, and budget.