From Revenue Growth to Full Operational Capacity — and Beyond
The engagement concluded with a new ERP platform, repeatable project management methodology, comprehensive Operations Manual, and a newly recruited Director of Construction — giving a $20M+ contractor the operational foundation to capture a bigger market share while maintaining profitability.
CLIENT
Meridian Development & Construction is based in Canton, GA, with over 35 years’ experience in residential, industrial, and commercial real estate development and construction. Annual revenue exceeds $20M under owner Chris McCurry’s leadership through 12 years of consistent growth.
CHALLENGE
While revenue and project size had grown steadily over the past decade, Meridian’s operational framework hadn’t kept pace. Management recognized they needed to retool in order to capture a bigger market share while maintaining profitability — including new software, standardized processes, and clearly defined roles.
RESULTS
Over six months, Ascent implemented a new ERP platform, developed a comprehensive project management methodology, streamlined processes across PM and Accounting, recruited a Director of Construction, created incentive structures, and delivered a complete Operations and Training Manual.
Has your revenue growth outpaced your operational infrastructure?
The Ascent Difference
We gave a consistently growing contractor the operational infrastructure to match their ambition — new software, standardized methodology, defined roles, and a recruited executive, all in six months.
Chris McCurry had led Meridian through 12 years of consistent growth in one of the most competitive markets in the Southeast. Revenue was increasing, project sizes were expanding, and the pipeline was strong. But growth without operational evolution creates a hidden ceiling — one that Meridian’s leadership was smart enough to recognize before it became a crisis.
The company was using a patchwork of standalone software platforms and manual processes. Project management methodology existed but wasn’t formalized. Roles and responsibilities were understood informally but not documented. Meridian needed a comprehensive retooling — not because anything was broken, but because they had outgrown the framework they’d built.
Ascent engaged through a phased approach covering software, processes, people, and documentation. Our engagement included:
- Phase One: ERP evaluation (6 platforms analyzed) and implementation
- Phase Two: Process mapping workshops for construction, operations, and accounting
- Phase Three: Job narratives, descriptions, and role calendars for all current and future positions
- Director of Construction recruitment
- Employee onboarding, performance evaluation, and incentive structure design
- Deliverable: Comprehensive Operations and Training Manual unifying all phases
“This will not be our last project with Ascent. If you’re looking to get your company to the next level, I highly suggest working with Ascent Consulting.”
— Chris McCurry
Owner, Meridian Development & Construction
Meridian now operates with a unified ERP platform, a documented and repeatable project management methodology, and clearly defined roles with associated accountability and incentive structures. The Operations Manual serves as both a reference guide and an onboarding tool, ensuring consistency as the company continues to grow.
The engagement’s scope expanded organically as Meridian recognized additional needs — including recruiting a Director of Construction through Ascent’s network. That’s the value of working with a partner who understands the full picture of what a growing construction company needs.
For contractors who have grown steadily through market relationships and execution quality, the temptation is to keep doing what’s working. But the systems that supported $10M in revenue will break at $20M, and the ones that support $20M will break at $40M. The contractors who capture their full market potential are the ones who invest in operational infrastructure before they need it — not after.
Ready to build the infrastructure for your next phase of growth?
If your construction company’s revenue has outgrown its operational systems, let’s talk about how Ascent designs the framework that supports where you’re going.