Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Maher.
Michael, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
In 2006, I was at a point where I could either continue on with a current employer or try to start our own business. After talking it through with my wife, we decided now is the time to step out on our own. We put a business plan together to try smaller jobs that required unique cabinetry and detailed attention. We thought by focusing on one job at a time, using fair and open pricing policies and utilizing my construction experience and art degree, we could start something special. Smaller projects turned into larger ones and so on. Customers were my best form of advertisement as one happy customer turned into three or four more. Every job is a learning process. Its great fun sitting with customers, brainstorming and listening to their ideas and turning them into reality.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
No, it has not always been a smooth road but each bump has helped us do better and improve for the future. Some struggles are self-made while others are totally out of our hands. The recession was a tough time for many in the trades but luckily we were able to stay busy through it all. Just as difficult for us was the winter of 2012 that seemed to never end. The snow put a halt to everything, turning simple tasks into a monumental effort. But again, both those periods taught us a lot about our resiliency. When starting a project, we try to be open about the process. I let customers know that they will have to work just as hard as we do to pull this off. No project goes perfectly. How these challenges are met and handled by the contractor and owner will dictate the success of the project. We try very hard to meet these issues head-on. Customers appreciate the extra effort to resolve these issues.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Birch Tree is a simple construction company that is not looking to grow. That may sound strange but I’ve seen too many businesses try to grow and expand, and in turn, they lose focus. Some land jobs just to keep guys busy, creating massive overhead and all the while are trying to outdo last seasons numbers. Many companies do well with that model but that is not our goal. I try to keep the focus on our current customer by listening to their needs and solving it with solid and creative design ideas. So far it had worked out very well. What I’m most proud of with our company are the relationships we have created with our customers. They are the driving force of our momentum. Many are repeat customers and when I look at the history of our clients, I can trace them through a family tree of projects leading back to the start 10 years ago. Additionally, our relationships with our subcontractors are critical. We have maintained the same subcontractors for the past ten years. I feel its important to let them know I will work hard for them and in turn, they will make every effort to keep the project on schedule and successful. Without their consistent effort, none of the projects would be possible.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I was the youngest of four in a neighborhood full of kids. I was very lucky to live in a neighborhood like ours. We were constantly outdoors playing in the woods, riding dirt bikes, sledding at the golf course and skating at the reservoir. But the true influence from my upbringing was the creative older kids. Art was in the four front with many of the people we grew up with. I always, and still do, admire the incredible talent some of the people held. My parents also never held back in encouraging my talents. They let me paint murals on my bedrooms walls, pushed me into high school art programs which in turn led to an art scholarship at Westfield State College.
Contact Info:
- Address: 39 Emery St., Medford MA
- Website: buildwithbirchtree.com
- Email: mike@buildwithbirchtree.com
- Facebook: Birch Tree Construction Inc.
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