In 2014, Brandy Dodd was a project manager looking to expand her horizons and start her own company. Always a curious person, she wanted to know what she could accomplish if she started her own contracting company. Her stepfather founded a construction company and Brandy saw firsthand what it took to create and grow a company.
So, that year she took the leap and founded Mia General Contracting.
With a small but mighty team of two employees, Mia General Contracting’s first jobs started off small but mighty, too. They started working with financial institutions doing clean-up, renovation and repair work on re-possessed buildings and homes that were around $10,000 jobs.
After successfully completing smaller projects, the Mia team became focused on growing the business.
Relationships are so important in the contracting business. Having many different contractors to call on often means that a business can manage larger jobs and a wider range of jobs. So, when Brandy first started out connecting with more contractors was crucial.
Fortunately, Brandy’s family had a longstanding relationship with REI Oklahoma, and the team at Mia General Contracting reached out for help building their contractor base. Brandy, and Mia president, Paul Macip, knew that companies that had worked with REI Oklahoma had a certain level of business counseling, planning and training that would make them ideal subcontractors. Finding subcontractors who did quality work was as important as how much they would cost. Knowing that they worked with REI Oklahoma gave the Mia team peace of mind.
In pursuit of that certification and expansion, the Mia team, with its 8(a) certification in hand, decided to focus on working in Florida where their staff had previous relationships.
Once in Florida they received their first small government contract with the National Park Service. It was to remove sand from parking lots in Santa Rosa Beach after a tropical storm. As a local contractor, they were able to complete the job quickly, which built a stronger relationship between them and the National Park Service on a much broader level.
Having the chance to show federal entities their ability to get the job done quickly and thoroughly resulted in more opportunities with them, leading to higher paying contracts, too.
With a pipeline of successfully completed projects, they were ready to refocus their efforts in Oklahoma. They quickly reconnected with REI Oklahoma.
“REI Oklahoma and it’s team members had a wealth of knowledge and information for us and were a great asset when we were ready to actively grow Mia’s client base in Oklahoma,” said Paul.
Every time Paul speaks to an Oklahoma business looking for support, resources or learning how to grow their business, he refers them to REI Oklahoma.
“We continue to engage with REI Oklahoma because the benefits that we receive from our relationship,” said Macip. “What we are able to gain as far as a customer base, the contractors we work with and also just the ability to also help other companies.”
As time went on, Mia General Contracting went from securing $10,000 jobs to over $7 million jobs in different states. They are currently working on projects in Oklahoma, Florida, Louisiana, Texas, Tennessee and Kentucky with offices in Oklahoma, Louisiana and Florida.
With growth and expansion came the chance to mentor subcontractors who were new to the contracting world.
It’s their team’s pride and joy to act almost like an incubator to these subcontractors. Paul noted that he especially enjoys mentoring. He provides advice and guidance to subcontractors looking to take the next step and think of it as paying it forward. He said that REI Oklahoma has even referred subcontractors to them who want to learn more how to best operate an expanding business.
Paul said that he has never interacted with a resource like REI Oklahoma in any other state he’s worked in and that he is always referring people to REI Oklahoma.
“Reach out to REI Oklahoma regardless of your need. Their services are uniquely tailored to those they work with,” he said.
“There is nothing cookie cutter about REI Oklahoma.”
– Paul Macip, President, Mia General Contracting
Brandy Dodd, Owner
Paul Macip, President
Mia General Contracting
Oklahoma City Office:
2701 Liberty Parkway, Unit 310,
Midwest City, OK 73100
(405) 225-6894 | Mia@mia-gc.com | https://mia-gc.com