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Matt Cormier’s high expectations of staff members have bolstered his company’s reputation among general contractors, owners and other industry partners.

The stunning reception area at Executive West Building, LLC’s office in Goodyear, Arizona.

Acclaimed American engineer and inventor Charles Kettering once said, “High achievement always takes place in the framework of high expectation.” This same philosophy is what drives Matt Cormier, Owner of Executive West Building, LLC, to set the bar high for every member of his tight-knit team.

“I’ve spent the last two decades working in the construction trades. I love the challenge of turning over a quality product in this demanding, fast-paced industry—and so do the people we have working here at Executive West Building,” Cormier says. “Our loyal team members are dedicated, industrious, communicate well and take pride in what they do. Everyone is on board with supporting the longevity and reputation of this company by meeting our high expectations.”

Executive West Building employs drywall and metal framing specialists who have a knack for cultivating strong working relationships with many of the region’s general contractors, as well as property owners and other industry partners. The staff of about 75 is also skilled in interior demolition, concrete cutting, rough carpentry, insulation, millwork and finishes, acoustical ceilings, and door and hardware installation.

“Executive West Building is one of the best framing and drywalling contractors that I’ve worked with,” confirms Project Manager Salvatore Chirco of Fleming Complete, a general contracting firm based in Mesa, Arizona. “Executive West will meet and beat your expectations; they do exactly what is asked of them and more. I highly recommend them for any project large or small. Executive West will not let you down!”

Capable & Prepared

Cormier says his highly capable team operates out of a 12,000-square-foot office/warehouse facility in Goodyear, Arizona, which has ample space to house the company’s ride-on flooring machine, scissor lifts and other equipment as well as trailers to haul building materials and supplies. The location also contains a wide range of inventory to meet the residential and commercial construction needs of clients throughout the Phoenix metropolitan region.

“If someone needs something, we can usually facilitate the request by the next day (even with as busy as we are) because we are extremely organized,” Cormier says. This focus on maintaining an orderly inventory system also extends to job sites, where organization and tidiness work hand in hand with performing work efficiently.

“Keeping job sites clean is really something I take pride in. It helps with not just efficiency, but also safety,” Cormier says, adding, “Plus, it makes us look 10 times better. Overall, it’s just the sensible way to approach projects.”

The company also owns a fleet of 10 service trucks that Cormier says are “equipped like Home Depot,” carrying everything from fans and vacuums to paints and hardware to drywall and more.

“We do a fair share of night work,” he adds. “When we’re doing a night project and everything’s closed, we can usually keep on pushing ahead because of all the resources we have access to internally.”

Clear-Cut Efficiency

Another differentiator for Executive West Building is team members’ attention to detail—a tool as vital as the cutoff saws and electric shears used to enhance the productivity and quality on metal stud jobs. In bidding stages, for example, estimators always prepare a detailed, color-coded takeoff that clearly lays out the specifics of each construction task.

Cormier adds, “In addition to the printed plans, we color-code and label our walls and other building materials in the field. This step enhances efficiency throughout the project because people can identify details so much quicker, and there’s less room for error. Once we’re done framing, we roll those detailed schematics right onto a new plan that’s also color-coded to show all the installation areas, the different types of materials required for each location, and instructions on how each material is to be installed.”

No matter the task, nothing is too trivial to plan out. Even the taping plans on metal stud or drywall installations are color-coded—a clear sign this company means business in running tightly controlled projects, says Cormier.

One client’s testimonial affirms that these meticulous efforts don’t go unnoticed. “If the saying is true [that] ‘first impressions are all that counts,’ well then, we’re grateful to be partners with such a dedicated team,” says Morgan Betancourt, a Project Manager at Okland Construction, a century-old builder operating in Arizona, Utah and Ohio. “Our company has used them for several trades such as demo, drywall and finishing. Their work clearly shows with attention to detail, cleanliness and honest employees.”

On selective demolition projects, Cormier says above-average efficiency and precision are achieved by utilizing seasoned carpenters instead of laborers. “Carpenters are usually more experienced, more safety-oriented and more reliable. In a schedule that’s critical, these qualities help to trim inefficiencies by reducing the likelihood of mistakes,” he elaborates.

“Keeping job sites clean is really something I take pride in. It helps with not just efficiency, but also safety. …Overall, it’s just the sensible way to approach projects.” Matt Cormier, Owner, Executive West Building, LLC

Productivity & People

To further optimize productivity, the superintendent and foremen at Executive West Building utilize PlanGrid to access and update project information in real time on their company-issued iPads—be it blueprints, specs, photos, RFIs, field reports, punch lists or other information.

PlanGrid has been used on over 1 million projects worldwide across commercial, heavy civil and other industries. Executive West Building’s investment in this intuitive software solution exemplifies the company’s commitment to enhancing communication and data management practices, which in turn makes team members more productive and reduces the potential for costly rework.

“We chose PlanGrid for the field because it seemed to be the most user-friendly and organized solution for our needs,” Cormier says. “Our Operations Manager, Allen Gravitt, is in charge of deploying and populating this system. There’s definitely a learning curve for employees, but this is the way that we operate and Allen really helps us implement and stand behind this forward- thinking process.”

Gravitt joined the company four year ago—and just happens to be Cormier’s best friend from childhood. “Allen supports our company’s efforts by overseeing the day-to-day operations, handling personnel needs, facilitating our safety program, and more. It’s very important for me to be able to trust and count on people like Allen, to know things will get taken care of.”

Cormier mentions several other key employees who help him achieve his business goals, including his superintendent, a highly motivated and organized individual whom he says is one of the best carpenters he’s ever worked with. He also speaks highly of his four estimators, who are “hardworking and very passionate about the company and what they do.” The list goes on and on—with Cormier emphasizing his high regard for every member of his staff, as each one helps to fulfill the company’s ultimate goal—keeping customers happy.

One of these wholly satisfied customers is Southwest Architectural Builders (SAB), a local firm that has partnered with Executive West Building on numerous projects. “The knowledge of their craftsmen and the quality of the finished product exceed expectations on every project,” says SAB Project Manager Tony Semenza. “Matt and Allen are guys that have the utmost integrity and are always fair, open and honest in all my dealings with them. They are the ‘A’ team!!!”

Quality Is Key

To maintain its high standards for quality, Executive West Building prefabricates a variety of building products in-house, such as curved metal track or the exterior cornice detailing that wraps around a building. Cormier notes there are plenty of advantages to assembling building components in a climate-controlled warehouse environment, including the ability to quality-check materials before they are transported to a job site, which cuts down on labor and speeds construction.

“In the future,” he adds, “we hope to expand our prefabrication capabilities to include interior and exterior walls and panels.” The precision afforded through off-site construction also reduces the chance for errors in the field, which can lead to delays or disruptions on projects.

These expanded prefabrication goals align with Cormier’s mission to ensure scheduling and budgetary requirements are met on every project type in his company’s portfolio, which can range from high-end office spaces, health care facilities, pharmacies and retail centers to grocery stores, hotels, restaurants, luxury homes and more.

“The experience we bring includes projects with seemingly impossible construction schedules,” he adds. “In many instances, the metal framing/drywall contractor will push and ultimately define the pace of the project. This is why communication is a high priority for us. We always make ourselves available to clients, we communicate very effectively with them, and we strive to resolve any issues right away.”

Effective communication has been fundamental to the company’s growth over the years, along with sticking to its core values: integrity, follow through, quality and creative solutions/problem-solving.

“Our core values have remained unchanged over the years. Our services have also stayed virtually the same, but now we have the staff and experience required to do more jobs, and bigger projects,” Cormier says. He credits his father, who is also a construction professional, with imparting the “invaluable industry knowledge necessary to launch a business with robust service offerings that continue to carry the company toward diverse, profitable opportunities.”

Future Aspirations

As a father of three children (ages 13, 10 and 6), Cormier is excited to be able to share his enthusiasm for entrepreneurship and construction with his progeny. He says the prospect of furthering the longevity of his company for multiple generations is “definitely there.”

“I’ve spent my entire career doing what I love, which I hope to continue doing for another 30 years. I would be thrilled if any of my children wanted to get into this business,” he says.

One of Cormier’s future goals is to open up a new division in Flagstaff, Arizona, to meet the needs of clients on an even broader scale. He would also like to further diversify his firm’s project portfolio by building metal stud homes.

He adds, “I love what I do—it’s exciting, it’s fun. In the next 10 years, I really hope we are the biggest and the best within our region. We’re excited about the future and are definitely looking to grow and provide even higher quality and efficiency.”