Marion has earned recognition as America's Workforce Capital, combining manufacturing strength with educational infrastructure that produces skilled talent. A quarter of Marion's workforce is in manufacturing, the largest industry in the county. Whirlpool Corporation manufactures 4.2 million dryers annually in Marion. Nucor Steel Marion operates as the nation's largest steel producer using mini-mill technology. Yachiyo produces a million plastic fuel tanks each year for Honda and other manufacturers. Andersen Windows operates a major logistics and distribution hub, while food and beverage manufacturing thrives through companies like Mennel.
The Marion Industrial Center offers exceptional logistics advantages, with rail access and highway connectivity placing two-thirds of the US and Canadian markets within a day's drive. The workforce pipeline flows through Ohio State University's Marion campus, Marion Tech, TriRivers Career Center, and the regional RAMTEC advanced manufacturing training center. This combination of established employers, logistics infrastructure, and workforce development creates steady industrial and commercial construction activity.
Whether you're expanding a manufacturing facility, developing warehouse or logistics space, or constructing commercial property to support the growing workforce, Marion projects benefit from experienced oversight. An independent Owner's Representative ensures that industrial project complexity doesn't compromise your budget and timeline.
Every construction project involves three core parties: the Architect, focused on design and code compliance; the General Contractor, focused on means, methods, and their own profitability; and the Owner, who funds everything but often lacks the technical expertise to protect their investment. This creates what we call the Leadership Vacuum, where no one is truly accountable for the owner's budget and schedule.
DeVore Consulting fills this vacuum. We work exclusively for you, never holding trade contracts or self-performing work. Our role is to translate your business objectives into construction outcomes, providing a single point of accountability from pre-design through project closeout.
We bring disciplined methodology to industrial and commercial projects in Marion.
Industrial projects demand precise budget control. We verify that pay applications reflect work actually completed, analyze change orders to separate legitimate costs from contractor overreach, and model the financial impact of decisions before they're made.
We never build; we only manage. This means our advice is never influenced by a desire to self-perform work or protect a margin. When we flag a problem with a contractor's approach, it's because it affects your outcome.
Projects in the $500K to $50M range are our specialty. These are often too complex for business owners to oversee part-time but may not attract attention from national firms focused on larger developments.
We support the project types driving Marion County's manufacturing-focused economy:
Facility expansions, equipment installations, and production line modifications for manufacturers that must proceed without disrupting ongoing operations.
Distribution facilities capitalizing on Marion's rail and highway access, requiring precise coordination and often aggressive timelines.
Providing budget protection for new construction and renovation projects serving the workforce and regional economy.
Supporting workforce development infrastructure that requires public accountability and transparent project management.
We serve the I-71 corridor including Delaware, Mansfield, and Mount Gilead.
The greatest value we provide comes from early engagement, before you've committed to a property or finalized designs. Our Fatal Flaw Analysis investigates infrastructure capacity, rail access requirements, and site conditions while there's still time to negotiate or walk away.
If your Marion project is already underway and facing challenges, we can help stabilize the situation through rigorous change order review and contractor accountability. But prevention is always more cost-effective than cure.
Schedule a consultation to ensure your Marion project starts on solid footing.
We provide comprehensive project oversight for business owners and developers who need expert guidance through the construction process. With 20+ years overseeing the design and construction of residential and commercial, we know where problems hide and how to prevent them.
These FAQs are a starting point, but your project has specific goals, risks, and financial stakes. My role is to be your trusted guide.I protect your time and money by simplifying the process, providing experienced oversight, and preventing costly mistakes before they happen.
Manufacturing facility expansions in Marion often require careful phasing to maintain production while construction proceeds. Projects may involve working around operating equipment, maintaining environmental controls, and coordinating with production schedules. We develop phasing plans with contractors that protect ongoing operations, establish clear protocols for production area access, and ensure construction activities don't disrupt manufacturing output.
Marion has earned recognition as America's Workforce Capital through Ohio State Marion, Marion Tech, TriRivers Career Center, and RAMTEC. This workforce infrastructure creates a pipeline of skilled manufacturing and construction talent. For construction projects, this depth means access to trained workers, though competition from major manufacturing employers remains a factor. We help you plan projects to align with available workforce capacity.
The Marion Industrial Center offers rail access and highway connectivity placing two-thirds of the US and Canadian markets within a day's drive. These logistics advantages attract warehouse, distribution, and transload operations. Construction for these facilities requires coordination with rail infrastructure and often operates on aggressive timelines to meet customer commitments. We ensure projects proceed on schedule while managing the complexity of multi-modal site development.
With a quarter of Marion's workforce in manufacturing, the construction market is heavily influenced by industrial project demands. Major employers like Whirlpool, Nucor, and Yachiyo maintain ongoing facility needs that occupy contractor capacity. Industrial projects often require specialized trades and precise scheduling to avoid production disruption. We help commercial and industrial projects navigate this specialized market effectively.
Yes. Our service doesn't end when the contractor hands over the keys. Our "Phase 4: Closeout" process includes comprehensive warranty management and post-occupancy support to ensure your building functions as intended. We ensure all final documentation and manuals are collected, which is the foundation for your long-term facility management.
Depending on scope, fees typically range from 0.5% to 1% of the total construction cost, depending on the project's complexity, timeline, and the specific scope of services you need . Studies have shown this investment typically saves clients 3-5% on total construction costs through rigorous contractor management, change order review, and problem prevention, meaning the service more than pays for itself.
Absolutely. While we add the most value by being involved from pre-construction through closeout , we can tailor our services to your specific needs. We are often brought in just for pre-construction planning, to help with contractor selection, or to get a troubled project that's already underway back on track.
Yes. While some firms only focus on large institutional projects, we specialize in guiding small business owners and first-time developers. The need for an owner's rep depends more on your project's complexity than its size. A complex $2M restaurant renovation often has more risk than a simple $5M warehouse. We can help you assess if professional oversight makes financial sense for your specific project .
Yes. An owner's rep with a strong financial background is invaluable here. With an MBA in Real Estate Finance, we help you prepare the realistic, bank-ready documents lenders need to see. We create defensible pro formas, validate construction budgets, and manage the loan draw process, which builds essential trust and credibility with your lender.
Of course. We'll provide you with all the free advice you can handle. But to get started formally, we'll have to make sure our services align with you needs. We'll get to know your project aspirations and put together a proposal. Until we have an agreement no payment is expected.
This information goes to a real human being. Its a great way to learn more and start the conversation without any obligation. We will never provide your personal or contact information to a 3rd party.
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