Kincaid Henry Honored with 2009 Entrepreneurial Award

Greater Lansing Business Monthly

Author :  Jane Whittington

Construction Entrepreneurs - Kincaid Henry Building Group, Inc.

Just as any construction and development project needs a well thought out plan, considerable expertise and ongoing cooperation, so too does a business.

Ryan Kincaid and Ryan Henry of Kincaid Henry Building Group, Inc. know that. Just as they expertly steer a project from its initial idea through development and on to success, their business benefits from the same conscientious attention to detail, innovation and willingness to work hard to guarantee the best possible outcome. They are changing the Lansing landscape, and, at the same time, growing a flourishing company which will surely be part of Lansing for years to come. At a time when the economy is, shall we say, “challenging,” Ryan Kincaid and Ryan Henry are meeting those challenges head-on and forging ahead.

Co-owners of Kincaid Building Group since 2005, they have been friends far longer. The Ryans met in elementary school in Owosso and had thought about going into business together for many years. Kincaid received his degree from Lansing Community College in architectural design, obtained a residential builders license and went into business for himself in 1999. For the next four years, he was an owner representative/project manager for multi-family, single-family, senior and mixed-use commercial construction companies throughout Michigan. Long interested in and committed to green building and technology, Kincaid received LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) AP (Accredited Professional) certification through the U.S. Green Building Council and is now chair of the United States Green Building Council Heart of Michigan Branch which he helped found.

Henry served as a United States Marine Corps sergeant from 1997-2003, stationed in California as part of a heavy equipment engineering battalion. When he returned to Michigan, he and Kincaid finalized the plans they had started making in second grade and became partners in Kincaid Building Group. A founding member of the USGBC Heart of Michigan Branch, Henry is currently vice-chair of Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) of Central Michigan.

Strong believers in community and professional involvement, Kincaid and Henry are part of the U.S. Green Building Council, Associated Builders and Contractors, Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Lansing Community College Academic Advisory Council, City of Lansing Downtown Development Team, Capital Area Construction Council and other such groups.

Kincaid and Henry shared a vision of creating a distinctly different construction company. With a combined 25+ years of experience in both hands-on and management of construction, architecture, engineering, owner representation, planning and development, Kincaid and Henry saw the need for clients to have a construction and development partner who could offer innovative services to assure success.

Kincaid Henry Building Group has built its reputation by promising—and providing—timely and high quality residential and commercial design and construction. Kincaid and Henry bring experience as hands-on builders together with practical construction knowledge. Through careful and constant supervision, open communication and the fostering of good working relationships, Kincaid Building Group assures superior results.

According to Henry, “A client might come to us and say, ‘We need 20,000 square feet; can you help us?’ Our company can provide everything from soup to nuts, inception to completion. We can assist in site selection, research tax and other incentives, design and develop the building or renovation plan, assemble the project staff and see it through from day one to the grand opening.”

With a special expertise in urban redevelopment, Kincaid Henry Building Group is uniquely qualified to take on the challenging and complicated projects that others might avoid. Kincaid Henry Building Group is also establishing quite a name for itself as expert in green building. Says Kincaid, “Not only are we working to become the go-to company for urban revitalization projects in Greater Lansing, we are also striving to be an industry leader in the emerging green building movement. We like the idea of reusing old buildings and breathing new life into what was unused or underused space, and we have a passion for remodeling and renovating. Our goal as a company is to incorporate sustainable construction practices into each project while at the same time meeting the needs of our clients.”

Kincaid’s list of projects include Riverwalk Theatre, Calvary Lutheran Church, Annabelle’s Pet Station, Career Quest Learning Centers, Smith Barney, Campus Village Communities, Ameriprise Financial, and others. For the State of Michigan, they completed a major renovation of the old DARD Building in Old Town, an 1890s-era plumbing warehouse and workshop which is now serving as headquarters of the Michigan Fitness Foundation. Their largest project to date is the renovation of the Cedar Street School building in Lansing which will see its grand opening in May as it becomes a medical office and retail center.

If success depends on the bottom line, Kincaid and Henry are there. In 2008, their net annual sales increased almost 400 percent over the previous year. Starting with only two employees (themselves), they now employ seven and are continuing to grow and thrive. But for these two young entrepreneurs, it’s not all about the bottom line. A commitment to their faith, their families and their community undergird their professional success. Just like the buildings they erect, their foundations are strong. ■

Editor’s Note: As we prepared to go to press with this issue, we were notified that the name of the Kincaid Building Group was being changed to Kincaid Henry Building Group. This change represents and solidifies the partnership of Ryan Kincaid and Ryan Henry