In today's world, it is not often that two companies seal a deal with a handshake. Nonetheless, this did not deter Jim Chrisman, owner of Chrisman Construction, from making such a deal to remodel the old Head Ski facility in Boulder. He takes pride in knowing that Complex Tooling and Molding hired him in part due to his policy of "rigorous honesty." This policy, along with an excellent group of employees, accounts for Chrisman Construction's remarkable success since its inception in 1985.

Jim and his wife, Susan, incorporated under the name Chrisman Construction in January 1985. Prior to this time, Jim had been working in a furniture warehouse until an opportunity to get involved in construction arose through a cousin. Despite ensuing differences with his cousin, the combined experience of self-employment and construction work inspired Jim, who had not yet found a career that held his interest, to continue in the field.

Discovering satisfaction and motivation in the field of construction, Jim recruited Susan to assist with the accounting and business end of the company. Her help proved instrumental as Chrisman Construction worked to establish itself in the Boulder community. Though Susan later relinquished her official position in the company to pursue her career as a commercial real estate broker, she has maintained an active role in Chrisman Construction, and is viewed as the Chief Financial Officer by Jim and his employees.

Jim and Susan's dedication to creating a company that would strive for continuous quality within budget standards drew not only clients, but also a group of talented employees. Chrisman Construction's employees take pride in their finished work, recognizing the value of each individual involved in the creation of the final product. Indeed, Jim attributes much of the company's phenomenal growth to the employees' commitment, which he believes stems in part from his policy to treat each employee the same way he would like to be treated.

Aside from terrific employees, a key factor in Chrisman Construction's success has been the contribution of Jim's father, Byron Chrisman, a well-known retired tax attorney in Boulder, who has become an avid real estate developer. Much of Chrisman Construction's work has come from the elder Chrisman, who has hired the company to construct buildings and do tenant finishes for entities with which he is involved. Other than his father, Jim believes that most of the company's business comes through word-of-mouth. His reputation as an honest, budget-attentive, quality-oriented business owner has grown over the years.

Since Chrisman Construction's first days, Jim has made a point to always conduct business with strict attention to honesty.  His attainment of sobriety in 1990 only served to enhance his integrity.  While undergoing this process, he recognized that absolute honesty and morality, not only in business, but in all aspects of his life, would provide the only acceptable path to which he could subscribe.  Jim has found that both customers and employees respond positively to his genuine commitment to his work and the pride he takes in the finished projects.

Buildings constructed by the company have certainly made their mark in Boulder County.  Chrisman Construction completed is responsible for hundreds of tenant-finish jobs, in which the shell of the building is complete, but the interior has yet to be divided and finished to tenants' specifications.  The company has constructed numerous light industrial projects, and research and development facilities as well.  In 1996, Chrisman Construction completed the building that currently houses its own offices, providing a much-needed space gain from the small sublet in which the company was previously headquartered.

While most of its business has been in Boulder County, the long waiting period for building permits in Boulder and the limited amount of building space have prompted Chrisman Construction to expand its horizons.  One newer project involves the construction of a retail shopping mall in Steamboat Springs.  This project has been a learning experience for the company, in that the weather and altitude, not to mention cost differences, contrast sharply with Boulder projects.  Encouraged by this project and the company's success within Boulder County, Chrisman expresses with certainty that the company will continue to grow and that the scope of its projects will increase as its reputation develops.

The strength of the economy and the development of new technologies and better products have contributed and will continue to contribute to Chrisman Construction's success.  Construction products are constantly changing and improving, and while some naysayers may comment that "they don't build things like they used to," Jim, for one, believes that his company builds things better than they used to, citing the fact that his employees are detail- and quality-oriented.  Partnered with the fact that construction materials are much improved, he believes his company provides a winning combination.

Along with better building materials, new technology has only increased the efficiency of Chrisman Construction's building process.  The company uses the Internet frequently, especially to facilitate the design process.  Chrisman Construction helps the client design their space on the computer.  The file is then transmitted to engineers, who perform the necessary work to prepare the design for the blueprint company, which also receives the plans via the Internet.  The blueprint company then produces the blueprints and delivers them.  The process represents a remarkable increase in speed, cutting as much as two weeks out of the construction process.  Thus, Internet use has assisted the company in its efforts to ensure the highest quality of service to its customers.

In addition to high-quality customer service, Chrisman Construction has made itself known in the community, largely through its commitment as a primary sponsor of the Eldora Mountain Ski Club.  Jim serves on the board of this nonprofit ski-racing team for young athletes, of which both of his children are members.  Susan is involved with the Boulder Valley Rotary Club, serving as its treasurer, as well as being a board member for AAHOP (Accessible and Affordable Housing Options, for the physically challenged).  As Jim has Multiple Sclerosis, both he and Susan are also very active in raising money for the Multiple Sclerosis Society.