H & R Construction

"It was definitely something we wanted to do, and the timing was right. The opportunity presented itself and we seized it," Herbst said.

For the past six years, H & R Construction has been turning building concepts into reality on a local and national level.

As a general contractor based in South Sioux City, H & R Construction oversees the construction of commercial, industrial, automotive and institutional/medical building projects in 17 states, including Iowa and Nebraska. Their project capacity range is from $150,000 to $30 million per project.

"We're a nationwide contractor based in South Sioux City," Herbst said. 

Companies all over the country choose to have H & R Construction oversee their building project for a variety of reasons.

"We pride ourselves on our work ethic and problem solving abilities," said Robinette. "We work hard to offer a cost-effective solution to meet our clients' needs."

"We're honest with customers and on time," added Herbst. "We get work done on time and before it has to be done. We try to make projects seamless for our customers as we realize that they have their own business to run; time spent dealing with the project is time taken away from what their main focus should be. We're fexible with the way we contract, and we have open communication with our customers."

The owners also attribute their success to their 38 employees. H & R Construction employees perform the carpentry and concrete work themselves on their construction projects and the company hires subcontractors for the other trades.

"We have good people all around," Herbst said. "Our craftsmen are great carpenters and laborers. We also have great site managers and superintendents. We have 15 superintendents that work for the company today. They're really the backbone of our company. Without them, and our administrative assistant Andrea O'Donnell, there wouldn't be an H & R Construction."

The company also places a strong value on the subcontractors they work with.

"We choose to work with the best ones in Siouxland," said Robinette. "We try to stay as local as possible."

Herbst and Robinette have a strong background in the construction field. Herbst, a Salix, Iowa native, earned his degree in construction management from Wayne State College in Wayne, Neb.  Robinette, a South Sioux City native, majored in construction management at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Among the buildings that H & R Construction has completed in the Siouxland area are Billion Nissan, Billion GMC, Whispering Creek office complex, Perry Creek Elementary School and Bodean's Bakery in Le Mars, Iowa.

In addition, some of their other local works include the first phase of the Goosmann Law Firm, the Security Forces Building - Air Guard in Sioux City which was LEED Silver certified, Sergeant Bluff Eye Care in Sergeant Bluff, and Family Healthcare of Siouxland (Morningside).

H & R Construction is currently working on  Cloverleaf Cold Storage's expansion in Sioux City, Bodega's on Pearl Street, and Thurston County Law Enforcement Center. 

Herbst said the most challenging and rewarding project he has worked on is the Billion Auto Campus in Iowa City. 

"We completed 120,000 square feet over four buildings in 7 1/2 months," he said.

Robinette's most challenging and rewarding project was Cloverleaf Cold Storage's 250,000-square-foot cold storage facility in Monmouth, Ill. completed in 11 months.

He also cited the Perry Creek Elementary School building, one of the bigger projects in Sioux City.

"The whole community can benefit from it," he said.