Willow Construction - About The Company

The professional team at Willow Construction has been dedicated to quality craftsmanship and customer satisfaction for over 30 years. Our philosophy is simple: integrity is the foundation of every Willow project. Whether a multi-complex facility or a minor renovation, we employ the same guidelines for value management, scheduling, budgeting, coordination, and follow-up to ensure a successfully completed project every time.

History
In 1973 Willow Construction broke ground on our first building site; thus began a reputation built on time-honored values – quality, stability, and honest relationships with people and the land. Founded by William W. Ditman, Willow Construction has grown over the years to become one of the most respected commercial, industrial, and residential builders on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. To accommodate this extraordinary success, Willow shifted ownership in 2001, dividing it equally among its three officers: founder and Chairman William W. Ditman, President Michael S. Hiner, and Vice President Bernard A. “Andy” Cheezum, Jr. This partnership shares in the original business philosophy: maintain integrity while keeping close attention to details, scheduling, and costs.

Integrity
The Willow Construction approach to every project can be characterized by one word – integrity. Founded on the principal that our entire management team must conduct their duties with the highest standards of honesty and credibility, our goal is to achieve a value oriented, quality building project that satisfies the client’s objectives and intended use.

Experience
Led by construction professionals Bill Ditman, Mike Hiner, and Andy Cheezum, the executive team at Willow Construction has more than 89 years of combined experience in commercial, industrial and residential construction. They head a team of knowledgeable and skilled project managers, project engineers, superintendents, carpenters, and craft professionals who incorporate the latest engineering and construction technologies to build the very best, time and time again. With 30-plus years of building on the Mid-Shore, Willow has developed comprehensive guidelines applied to each project incorporating our high standards and measures of quality control. (See our Qualifications Statement for specific construction experience.)

Reputation
Willow Construction has a diverse range of residential, commercial, and industrial projects underscoring our reputation for quality, plus a roster of clients to speak for our business integrity and performance. Customer satisfaction and superior construction is our investment in the future. As testimony to our dedication to quality service, read some of our client comments. Additionally, the Willow team is committed to giving back to the community in which we live, contributing time, funding, resources, and materials to building neighborhood relationships and fostering community fellowship.

Accreditations
Over the years, Willow Construction has earned numerous awards in both residential and commercial categories, including “Project of the Year”. In earning the prestigious honor of Accredited Quality Contractor by Associated Builders and Contractors, Willow has demonstrated outstanding commitment to employees, clients, and community, as well as consistent, superior construction.

Accreditations & Memberships:

STEP - Safety Training and Evaluation Process Silver Level (ABC)
ABC - Associated Builders and Contractors
AIA - The American Institute of Architects
ASCE - American Society of Civil Engineers
CCCC - Caroline County Chamber of Commerce
CFMA - Construction Financial Management Association
CMS - Cambridge Main Street
DCCC - Dorchester County Chamber of Commerce
KCCC - Kent County Chamber of Commerce
QACC - Queen Anne’s County Chamber of Commerce
ROTARY - Rotary Club of Easton
TCCC - Talbot County Chamber of Commerce

Manpower
Willow Construction maintains a crew of approximately 50 craftsmen proficient in finish carpentry, hardware, cabinetry, framing, metal building erection, and site management. We have developed a comprehensive list of only the most reputable vendors and sub-contractors who perform at the same level of excellence demanded from our own staff. Each building project is assigned a qualified superintendent who is responsible for safety, site management, and security to ensure the work of all self performed labor and trade professionals is performed to our quality control measures and to your budget.

Diversity
Retail, office, municipal, industrial, medical, institutional, light commercial, multi-family, assisted living, residential, remodeling – Willow Construction has extensive experience in each of these building sectors. No matter how large or how small, each project is treated with the same attention to quality craftsmanship and customer satisfaction.

Bonding
We maintain a strong relationship with our surety provider, Federal Insurance Company, which holds an A.M. Best Rating of A++ Superior. Federal Insurance is a subsidiary of Chubb Group Insurance Companies, a world renowned leader in the surety industry.

Team Building
In coordinating the needs of a client to produce the best project, Willow relies heavily on a team approach, allowing individual managers to do what each does best. Proper documentation, accurate budgeting, and precise communication between every member of the Willow management team and the customer ensures a successfully executed project. This coordination of talents has enabled Willow Construction to develop a high level of professionalism, earning the respect of clients, craftsmen, vendors, inspection personnel, financial institutions, and other construction professionals.

Competitive Edge
From start to finish, every Willow Construction project receives the full benefits of our combined expertise. At onset, we provide a detailed schedule indicating the milestone dates for bidding, permitting, ground breaking and projected progress through completion. During the entire construction project, Willow pays close attention to material specifications and site logistics that may affect the availability of building products and local manpower. Our excellent rapport with local building officials allows us to streamline the permitting and inspection processes which, if not carefully monitored, can lead to significant delays. We scrutinize each phase of the project to ensure our client receives “the best for the least.”

Design-Build
During a conventional building process, a project owner typically coordinates all phases of the project, including the selection of architectural, engineering, and contracting firms, permitting, and monitoring construction. If the owner is not thoroughly familiar with the building industry, delays and increased costs often result.

Willow Construction offers a more comprehensive and cost-effective approach – design-build. In most of our design-build relationships the owner selects Willow to handle all stages of the building process, from concept to completion. The design-build project is divided into three phases: preliminary, design development, and final costing/permit.

The preliminary phase allows for the design-builder to participate in all early design discussions, offering valuable input into costing issues. After an initial design is presented, Willow prepares a budget estimate, giving the owner an opportunity to either adjust the design to reduce construction costs or add amenities not previously thought affordable.
During the design development phase, Willow Construction works closely with the owner and architect to finalize drawings. As the design-builder, we present information on available building materials and provide cost comparisons leading to the selection of building products. This phase unifies design versus cost issues, keeping the owner’s best interests and budget constraints at the forefront.

The final phase rests solely on the design-builder. Willow Construction files for all building permits, consulting with local authorities to determine if any site-specific requirements are needed. Competitive pricing is solicited from sub-contractors of all trades and a final guaranteed price is then established. Construction is ready to begin.

On average, the entire pre-construction process takes three months to complete; the conventional method can stretch to five months or longer. Since total costs and material selections have already been established with design-build, the owner has a greater understanding of the scope of the completed project.

Awards
2007 Top Contributor “Handlebars for the Holidays”
2007 First Place Commercial Project of the Year
2007 Overall Outstanding Project of the Year – Commercial
2007 Excellence in Construction – Commercial (Delaware Office)
2007 Honorable Mention – Commercial (Delaware Office)
2007 First Place Project of the Year – Residential
2007 First Place Project of the Year – Municipal/Institutional
2007 Second Place Project of the Year - Renovation
2005 Top Contributor “Handlebars for the Holidays”
2005 Excellence in Construction – Residential
2004 Top Contributor “Handlebars for the Holidays”
2004 Excellence in Construction – Residential
2004 Excellence in Construction Award – Commercial
2004 Member Involvement – Commercial
2004 National Merit Award – Residential
2003 Project of the Year – Residential
2003 Project of the Year – Commercial
2002 Project of the Year – Commercial
2002 Honorable Mention
2000 Project of the Year – Commercial
2000 Project of the Year – Residential
2000 Outstanding Project of the Year – Residential Category
1999 Project of the Year – Municipal/Institutional
1998 Project of the Year – Residential
1998 Project of the Year – Municipal/Institutional
1998 Outstanding Utilization of ABC Member Firms
1998 Project of the Year
1996 Overall Project of the Year
1996 Outstanding Project of the Year – Commercial Category