Community Builders in Morristown only has been operating for a little over a year now —but its philosophy already is well established: The firm will only take on projects that will serve their communities for generations.
Owner Conor Evans says Community Builders is more than just a construction firm, it’s a company built on a culture that insists on being deeply embedded in the areas it serves —and serves only organizations and people who share common attitudes, interests and goals.
“We pride ourselves in delivering a higher level of thoughtfulness to the building process,” he said. “I wanted to build something meaningful, not just in terms of structures, but in terms of our approach to how we do so together.
“We lead with integrity, and we treat every job like it’s personal — because it is.”
While it’s not unusual for an entrepreneur to include an altruistic approach to their business, Evans said Community Builders truly practices what it believes.
Here’s how:
Community Builders is client-focused: Evans said the firm has a very well-defined client profile from which it does not deviate — owners (not developers) of community-oriented spaces (i.e. worship, education, health and wellness, cultural nonprofit, civic nonprofit).
“This matters because serving two clients of varying profiles puts an undue strain on all parties, leaving none ultimately pleased,” he said.
Community Builders is community-focused: Every CB employee is required, after 3 months of service, to be actively involved in the community, volunteering with a local charity. And, after 1 year, to serve on a committee or board of it.
“All our marketing dollars are focused in a very tight market —we work where we live,” Evans said. “We believe that creates an intrinsically deeper level of trust and commitment to the project, clients and trade partners.
“It is far easier to choose the ‘easy wrong’ over the ‘hard right’ in dealing with matters related to either the trades, client, or design partners when you don’t live and work in the community you’re serving. There is no risk of crossing paths with the wronged party on a Saturday night around town when you are both out and about with your families. We’re in it, we’re living it, it’s woven into the fabric of how we do business.”
Community Builders is employee-focused: After 1 year of service, each teammate becomes a fractional owner, Evans said.
“Every client is serviced by a CB owner, which is much different than an employee mentality,” he said.
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Being rooted in community has been central to Evans for his entire life.
He was raised in a family construction company (Evans Construction and Asphalt) started by his great-grandfather. It was the foundation laid by his ancestors of building environments that reflect the best of their heritage for generations to follow that drove him to start his own firm.
Just not at the start.
Evans began his career by working for larger general contractors. But, after two decades, he realized his true calling: He wanted to build more than structures and teams — he wanted to build community and an organization which reflects as much.
“I’ve seen early on that there is something deeply rewarding about building something with your hands and putting in honest work and seeing the tangible results of your efforts and orchestrating numerous organizations and people around a collective effort,” he said. “It was never just a job. It was never just a job for my father or my grandfather. That work ethic was ingrained in me and it became the foundation for how I approach business.”
Evans, who always speaks from the heart, said that while the daily grind of deadlines, payroll, insurance, vendors, etc., can take a toll, running Community Builders has unlocked a sense of freedom.
“It’s been incredibly rewarding,” he said. “I don’t have to justify any decisions that I’ve made. I feel the full consequences of my choices and from that perspective, it has been a very rewarding year.”
Evans said he builds relationships with his community that are strong as the buildings he erects. He feels craftmanship and character is what sets Community Builders apart and what gives him the chance to build something meaningful that endures.
But, more than that, he said his connection to the community is the key to the company.
Evans said it was important that Community Builders wasn’t just seen as another contractor, but as a company that genuinely shows up for the community.
“We didn’t wait for recognition — we got involved,” he said. “We’ve hosted volunteer days of service at JBWS and the Center for Evaluation and Counseling for not only our teammates but our trade and design partners and their teams.”
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Evans and business partner Niko Spasov love the company’s ability to go in numerous directions.
“We are agile, nimble and eager, without the bureaucratic nature of larger firms — while still having the larger firm experience,” Evans said. “We have an entrepreneurial mindset coupled with large corporate resumes.”
And an intense desire to do good. The Cheshire Home project in Florham Park is symbolic of that.
The project perfectly aligns with the company’s mission of creating spaces that help people move forward in life.
The firm is managing the work pro bono.
Evans said the project has made it clear that Community Builders is not just here to build structures but to invest in the people and organizations that make this community what it is.
It is not the only one.
Community Builders has been involved with several projects that reflect its commitment to community impact.
One of the highlights for Evans was completing the interior fit-out for the renovation of exhibit space at the Morris Museum. That project gave him the opportunity to support a cornerstone of local arts and culture, and he was proud to help enhance the visitor experience in a space that brings people together.
He also has completed work in the senior living sector, where creating safe, comfortable, and thoughtfully designed environments has a direct impact on quality of life.
For Evans, these projects require a special level of care and coordination so as to not interrupt our clients’ ongoing operations, and we take pride in delivering with both precision and compassion.
“I have come to believe that what really makes a company stand the test of time isn’t just the hard work, it’s how you treat people: Clients, trade partners, teammates,” he said. “When you speak directly, with authenticity and in a convicted and efficient manner which creates momentum and infuse a sense of urgency — all delivering the highest standards of excellence; showing your clients that their mission is your mission — that is how you create something lasting.”
