Markham Contracting celebrates 40 years of laying the groundwork for more than 4,000 municipal, commercial, residential projects in Arizona

PHOENIX, ARIZ. – Markham Contracting Co., Inc., founded in the Phoenix garage of President Mike Markham Sr., in 1977, is celebrating 40 years of helping shape the Southwest landscape.

Projects include the original Hughes Helicopter manufacturing plant, now Mesa Boeing; Phoenix International Raceway; the Omni Montelucia Resort; the Chicago Cubs’ spring training facility; the Wickenburg bypass; Grand Avenue; and Victory at Verrado, to name a few.

The management team includes Mike Markham Jr., COO; daughters Heather Markham Lacourciere, Vice President, and Jennifer Gough, CFO; Hollis Loper; Keith Blakslee; and Rob Paxson.

As a family-owned grading, paving, wet utility, concrete and general engineering contracting firm, Markham Contracting has left an indelible mark on more than 4,000 municipal, commercial, residential, industrial, and utility developments in Arizona.

To what does Markham’s president attribute success across four decades?

“You have to change with the times, but you can’t change the basic philosophy of what you’re doing,” Markham Sr. said. “You have to be flexible and not be changing with the wind. You have to be true to your core values.”

This philosophy is evident in Markham’s continuous investment in its GPS-integrated control systems, drones, and other high-tech solutions utilized throughout its operations.

The company’s first job was building a parking lot for Jorgensen Steel in Phoenix.      To what does Mike Jr. attribute the company’s success?

“I consider us to be more of a family than just a business,” he said. Markham has 250 employees; 22820 N. 19^th Ave., in Phoenix, is its home office. “Many of the people who work for us today are people I knew as a kid. They’ve seen me grow and I’ve seen them grow. That family environment has been a big part of our success.”

Markham’s philanthropic endeavors include the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) and the Valley Partnership Community Project. It also supports many charities of its employees, vendors, and clients including Florence Crittenton of Arizona, American Heart Association, Junior Achievement of Arizona, Salvation Army, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Ronald McDonald House, St. Mary’s Food Bank, Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC), UMOM, Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, and Sunshine Acres Children Home.

“Growing up in Arizona, a big part of our company culture is giving back and making sure community service is a priority,” Heather Markham said. “It makes us who we are.”

With operations in Phoenix, Tucson, and Flagstaff, Markham looks to diversify and continue serving the growing needs of its clients.

To learn more visit markhamcontracting.com.