Rep. Wenstrup Visits Messer Construction

For Immediate Release:

August 8, 2018

Home News Rep. Wenstrup Visits Messer Construction

Cincinnati, OH – Last week, the newest Republican on the House Ways and Means Committee, Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-OH), visited ESCA Board member company Messer Construction’s Cincinnati regional office. During his visit, the congressman learned about Messer‘s history of employee ownership from the company’s CEO Tom Keckeis and other executives. He also heard about the benefits of working at an employee-owned company—from worker loyalty and retirement security to company growth and employee trainee programs—from individual Messer employee-owners.

Wenstrup commented that because of Messer‘s model, “the company was likely ahead of its competitors in recruiting and retaining workers because of the investment Messer has made in its people.” Rep. Wenstrup said he would look into cosponsoring S ESOP legislation, H.R. 2092, when the House is back in session next month.

“The S ESOP model began as a vehicle for the employees to purchase the company from the Messer family, and 28 years later it’s proven to be an engine for growth and retirement security for more than 1,000 employee-owners,”  said Mark Gillming, Senior Vice President at Messer Construction. “We thank Rep. Wenstrup for coming back to Ohio and seeing the strength in our employee-owners.”

Messer Construction is a general contractor and construction company providing leadership for complex commercial building projects. Headquartered in Cincinnati, the company was founded in 1932 and became employee-owned in 1990. Messer has over 1,200 employee-owners and operates in 10 regions throughout the Midwest and Southeast. Messer’s Cincinnati regional office has over 160 employees and this office has been responsible for the construction of regional projects such as Kenwood Collections, Cincinnati Belt and Transmission Office and Warehouse, Allergan Pharmaceutical, Music Hall Renovation, CCHMC Expansion and multiple projects at Xavier University including the current work on the Xavier University Hub.

Rep. Wenstrup (6th from left) with Messer executives and employee-owners / Rep. Wenstrup (right) listens to Messer CEO Tom Keckeis talk about Messer’s employee ownership history.

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