Delivering Exceptional Client Experiences
Our Foundation
Purpose: To be People Serving People
Our purpose is to be People Serving People. Since 1968, we have charged our teams, nationwide, to be servant leaders who lead by example and inspire and serve others.
Whether in an office, at a meeting, or on a job site, we perform our work by serving others.
Mission: To Deliver an Exceptional Experience
Empowered by our purpose to serve and guided by our core values, we aim to deliver an exceptional experience to our clients, partners and colleagues.
We bring together employees of various specialties to steward construction projects, which cultivates collaboration and enables us to deliver our best work.
Values: Selfless, Trustworthy & Gritty
Selfless – We support and invest in our clients, partners, colleagues and communities.
Trustworthy – We are truthful with ourselves, developing self-awareness and humility.
Gritty – We are courageous, of strong character, and able to persevere in difficult situations.
LEADERSHIP
Alex Miller
President
Joey Barbeauld
Vice President of Construction
Lance Gopffarth
Executive Vice President
Chris Grannan
Vice President of Preconstruction
Lance Gopffarth
Executive Vice President
As the Executive Vice President, Lance provides strategic leadership and and technical expertise in all areas of operational execution.
Lance has more than 40 years of construction-related experience, 32 of which is with EMJ. Previously, he served as a VP of Construction in Dallas, then EVP of EMJ’s office in Tulsa, OK. In addition, he ran the wind division at a renewable energy constructor and provided operational oversight for a renewable energy subcontractor.
Lance lives in Fort Worth with his wife, Colette. He is passionate about helping others grow and service to his faith, family, friends and coworkers.
Alex Miller
President
As President, Alex provides day-to-day leadership to EMJ operations, ensuring alignment with EMJ’s overall strategic vision, culture, philosophy, mission, goals, and policies.
Alex brings a wealth of construction experience to his role, having served in various capacities such as Project Engineer, Senior Project Estimator, Director of Preconstruction, Senior Vice President of Preconstruction, and Executive Vice President. His diverse background and deep industry knowledge make him an invaluable asset to all facets of the company’s operations.
A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Alex earned a degree in civil engineering. He began his journey with EMJ in 2005 as a co-op and transitioned to a full-time role at EMJ three years later. During his tenure at EMJ, Alex has been instrumental in numerous high-profile projects across Tennessee, including the Wacker Polysilicon production plant in Bradley County, the Market City Center—a 10-story mixed-use project in downtown Chattanooga, and the significant renovation and addition to Ruby Falls, a 145-foot high underground waterfall within Lookout Mountain.
In addition to his professional accomplishments, Alex serves on the board for Junior Achievement of Chattanooga. He is married and has one daughter. Outside of the office Alex enjoys working on his classic car and is an avid Volunteer fan.
Chris Grannan
Vice President of Preconstruction
Chris brings more than 32 years of commercial construction experience.
Throughout his career, Chris has played a key role in delivering successful projects across a variety of market sectors, developing expertise in estimating, budgeting, procurement strategy, constructability reviews, and client-focused preconstruction services.
Joey Barbeauld
Vice President of Construction
Joey has a reputation for turning relationships into long-term partnerships and plans into successful project outcomes.
Known for navigating complex challenges, developing high-performing teams, and creating a culture where ownership, communication, and execution are expected at every level.
Expect More from Your Construction Experience
The construction industry can be frustrating.
General contractors focus on things like revenue, size or industry rank. But, it’s all the same, a focus on self. That often leads to conflict between clients, general contractors and partners.
We are focused on strategies that exceed expectations.
Born from our purpose, to be people serving people, our approach is designed to make the experience enjoyable. Yes, construction can be enjoyable.
Clients drive our decisions and behaviors.
We know clients have a specific purpose for their projects and a unique set of values. Our team will ask deep questions to understand that perspective and make sure our construction plan is tailored to it.
We measure success by remarkable client experiences.
We measure our success by more than those basic expectations. We measure our performance on how well we meet your goals and prioritize your needs to deliver a positive construction experience.
HISTORY
Evolving With a Changing World
We’ve been around for a while. And while building projects across the country has given us plenty of experience, we don’t spend much time thinking about the past. We’re more focused on now, and how we can apply all of that experience to ensure that the clients we serve today receive the best possible experience and results.
For us, that means understanding that our clients’ goals are different than they were 50 — or even five — years ago. It means tailoring the construction experience to the values of our clients so we can communicate better, build better, and be better.
So sure, we’ve been completing projects for the last half-century. But we’d rather talk about the project we can start for you today.
LOCATIONS
National Reach with a Local Presence
For over 50 years, we’ve expanded into a range of markets in our effort to bring unique value and innovation to clients around the nation. Now, we’re more equipped than ever to serve clients in a variety of industries from our strategic regional locations.
Chattanooga
Founded in 1968, Chattanooga is where our story began.
Charlotte
Our Charlotte office proudly serves clients across the eastern United States and beyond.
Phoenix
Our Phoenix location serves a diverse range of clients across the western United States.