Merit Celebrates 25 Years

January 03, 2007 -- Knoxville, TN

Merit Construction, Inc., headquartered in Knoxville, celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2007 as one of East Tennessee’s most successful contractors, enjoying steady growth for well over two decades. 

“We are proud to be a part of the East Tennessee construction industry. Even in this highly-competitive field, we’ve seen great success in the last 25 years; thanks to our employees and their dedication and hard work,” said Bruce Bosse, president of Merit Construction. “Many of our clients are repeat customers and much of our business comes from referrals from those same satisfied clients. The success we’ve seen over the past 25 years is really just an accumulation of hundreds of satisfied customers and successful projects.”

Merit was founded by the late Charles A. (Charlie) Hays, who continued to be active in the business until his death in 2002.  It is now locally-owned by 10 principals, all of whom are active in the day-to-day operation of the business.  Officers are Marv House - C.E.O., Bruce Bosse - president, Steve Heatherly - senior vice president, Patrick O’Hara - vice president and Buddy Heins – vice president.  Other shareholders include Shannon Sapp, Joe Johnson, Wes Crow, Tyson Brewster and Pat Breeding.

Merit’s primary focus is on the construction of commercial, institutional and industrial building projects in East Tennessee.  Some notable projects include the Maryville Municipal Center, South College, Hardin Valley elementary and high schools, University of Tennessee Cancer Institute, One and Three Lakeside Centre, Renaissance|Farragut, Siemens Molecular Imaging headquarters and laboratory, Knoxville Zoo’s Kid’s Cove, administrative buildings, gift shop and new entrance, and renovation of the Bijou Theatre. 

Merit’s employs 110 people, including 22 on-site project superintendents and approximately 70 tradesmen, as well as a full-time safety director, 10 estimators/project managers, and 10 accounting and support staff members to provide complete construction services. 

Merit’s business has grown significantly over the last two decades to have a volume of $84 million in 2006.