Manchester, NH PROCON’s formula for success is a strong family presence coupled with a dedicated workforce, collaborative team culture, commitment to meeting client’s needs and offering solutions, and the high value placed on serving the local community. In recent times PROCON has experienced explosive growth hiring over 100 employees in the last two years while remaining true to the Company’s core values. PROCON is a third generation, $200 million design and construction firm with 90% repeat business. Their success story began 80 years ago with the Stebbins family in Manchester.

Shown (from left) are: John Stebbins; John Samenfeld, president; Mark Stebbins, CEO; Sally Stebbins and Jennifer Stebbins.

Three Generations Strong Blanchard Stebbins opened a small family business in 1935 building modest single-family homes in Manchester. In 1946, Blanchard began focusing on commercial, industrial and public works projects. Ten years later, Herbert Stebbins joined his father Blanchard in the business, after graduating from the University of New Hampshire. Herbert started as a laborer and learned every aspect of the business before taking the company helm in 1963. Herbert steadily grew the business while serving as a tireless community leader in a variety of Granite State business and civic organizations. He served as president of both the Boys & Girls Club and the University of New Hampshire Alumni Association and was the youngest recipient of the UNH Alumnus Award. Elliott Hospital awarded him the “William S. Green Award” for lasting impact as a longtime trustee and he was a longstanding supporter of Granite United Way. In 1989, Herbert received the “Citizen of the Year” award by the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce.

Herbert’s son, Mark, graduated from Dartmouth College and launched his professional career working in the real estate department at Chase Manhattan Bank in Manhattan. In 1979, he returned to New Hampshire and established the development arm of the company. Among the early projects Mark developed were Straw Hill in Manchester, Blye Farm in Concord, renovation of the Opera Block in Manchester, and the operation center for First New Hampshire Bank in Hooksett. Herbert quickly recognized Mark’s keen business sense and was supportive of his willingness to take risks necessary for growth. Mark increasingly assumed the business’ leadership responsibility and took over as chairman and chief executive officer of PROCON in the mid-1980s.

Shown (from left) are: Mark Stebbins, CEO and John Samenfeld, president.

Exponential Growth As the next decade unfolded, Mark and PROCON president John Samenfeld recognized the benefits of a seamless approach to construction by combining the architecture and construction management services for a customized project delivery process. In 1988, PROCON hired its first in-house architects, moving the company towards the design-build paradigm. Architects, engineers, estimators and construction managers collaborated to define the project parameters in design, derive cost estimates, produce value-added solutions, and work through issues of constructability before the start of construction. The results have been exceptional; a 30-year revenue growth from $5 to over $200 million, a thriving 190-strong workforce, and 90% repeat client business.

PROCON’s extensive design and construction portfolio specializes in athletic, aviation, commercial, hospitality, industrial, institutional, multi-family residential and senior living projects throughout the Northeast. The firm’s high profile projects include the Renaissance Hotel at Patriot Place, the Portwalk Urban Development, Exel Warehouse, Merrimack College Dorms, The Volpe Center Ice Arena at Merrimack College and Brightview Senior Living Communities.

The luxurious 150-room Renaissance at Patriot Place Hotel is adjacent to Gillette Stadium in Foxborough; home to the World Champion, New England Patriots. Downtown Portsmouth’s skyline has been rejuvenated by Portwalk; a pedestrian friendly, urban development covering a full city block. Exel Warehouse in Bow, NH is a 247,000 s/f warehouse/distribution center for the State Liquor Commission. Residential Village at Merrimack College accommodates 350 students in town-home style dorms. The Merrimack Volpe Skating Complex was an 83,000 s/f expansion in N. Andover, Mass. Also completed are six Brightview Senior Living Communities’ that redefine a new generation of upscale amenity-rich living accommodations for seniors. 

PROCON Headquarters - Manchester, NH

Even as the company celebrates its achievements, Mark Stebbins, and the PROCON team remains conscious of the perils of complacency. At a recent company-wide meeting, he inspired his workforce with the words, “Our goal is to always be reinventing ourselves. We should never stop evolving or changing to meet the needs of our clients.”

Value-Based Leadership PROCON’s remarkable success can be attributed, in part to the company’s commitment to attracting and retaining only the highest skilled professionals who fit into their collaborative culture. The company’s long-term stability and proactive approach translates into increased productivity and higher levels of satisfaction to their clients. It is a highly collaborative atmosphere where all employees regardless of position, are recognized for their hard work. President John Samenfeld will celebrate 40 years with the firm in 2016, and shares these values with Mark. Together, they share profits through surprise bonuses with the employees throughout the year. Like John, most of the executive team members have been with PROCON for 20 to 35 years. Among those clocking in with longevity is Mark’s wife, Sally, who joined her husband in the business in the early 1990s. She has spent 25 years overseeing public relations that have been strategic in building and solidifying the corporate brand.

Giving Back The Stebbins family and PROCON’s management team has always placed high priority on giving back to the local community, and employees are encouraged to do the same. PROCON and its employees have supported many organizations including Easter Seals of NH, the YMCA, Manchester Boys and Girls Club, and Child and Family Services, to name a few. The company has particularly championed the cause of Granite United Way raising hundreds of thousands of dollars over the last 30 years through concerted fundraising drives and generously matching employee contributions.

Ongoing Commitment PROCON remains committed to the core company values that characterize the heart of the PROCON experience; customer service excellence, a high-performance workforce, team-culture dynamics, community service and a strong family presence. This collective ideology epitomizes the spirit of how this family-owned business continues to thrive 80 years since its humble beginnings.