Baldwin & Shell Construction Co.

Baldwin & Shell Construction Co. of Little Rock has built a 61-year legacy of projects that dot the Arkansas landscape. In fact, the general contracting firm’s list of construction work is an Arkansas-only affair.

“It’s part of our philosophy,” said Bob Shell, company president and chief executive officer. “We think this really allows us to hone in on customers and take care of them the way we like. That’s why our repeat business is so high.”

Repeat customers account for 84 percent of jobs in a given year, a testimony to the firm’s emphasis on customer satisfaction.

The self-imposed Arkansas-only policy was reviewed without change in 1960 and again in 1980. Consecutive years of record revenue made the issue moot the past few years.

In 2006, Baldwin & Shell topped $121 million in revenue, its best year ever. The firm ranks among the largest Arkansas-based construction companies as well as the top 400 contractors in the nation.

The company originally was established as The Baldwin Co. in 1946 by P.W. Baldwin, a builder, Werner Knoop, an engineer, and Olen Cates, an accountant.

Stock ownership was opened up within the company in 1983, and the roster of shareholders has grown from two to 17. Among the veteran workforce of 300 are 16 superintendents who have each worked for the company more than 20 years and many more employees with 10-plus years.

Baldwin & Shell became something of an Arkansas pioneer in construction management 20 years ago. A change in corporate philosophy marked a departure from the bid market to landing negotiated contracts, the only way it has done business since 1998.

The move helped broaden its customer base for growth in Arkansas, a selling point for employees who don’t have to travel as far to reach job sites.

“Family life is more important than dollars,” said Shell.