Remodeling.com – Spring 2013

Spread across four divisions, Matthew Cole’s staff of in-house trades is growing into the triple digits. But that doesn’t keep Cole tied to his desk. “At most 100-plus-employee businesses, the owner would take more of a 30,000-foot view, but construction is very different,” he says. “When my grandfather was running the company, he worked in the field all day banging nails. For me, it’s a good mix of running projects and checking in with crews.”

• Cape Associates crews rotate from job to job. This lets newer crew members learn from several skilled craftsmen.

• Cole sits on the local zoning board to offer a business and construction perspective.

• Annual staff surveys and monthly all-employee meetings keep the large staff on the same page.

Matthew Cole

Cape Associates, North Eastham, MA

Award category:

Speciality: Full-service remodeling

42 years in business

2012 volume: $25 million

Staff: 23 office, 85 field

If the adage holds true that “to have something done right, you have to do it yourself,” then Cape Associates does a lot right.