Client Spotlight- Forge Construction

Building a business - and relationships that endure

For Eric Turner, construction has never been just about buildings.

The founder and president of Forge Construction believes great projects begin with strong relationships. This philosophy has guided the company since its launch in 2020 and helped fuel remarkable growth in just a few short years.

“We truly are a 100% relationship-driven company,” Turner said. “The people who encouraged me to start Forge were clients, architects, and trade partners. It was those relationships that gave me the confidence to Forge Ahead and those relationships continue to drive our growth today.”

Turner is no stranger to the Kansas City construction industry. A graduate of Kansas State University, he spent more than two decades building his career with other respected firms before launching Forge Construction in 2020. Since then, the company has grown from a startup built on trusted relationships into a diversified construction firm approaching 50 associates.

Today, Forge serves clients across a broad range of sectors, including healthcare, behavioral health, nonprofit and philanthropic organizations, corporate offices, education, and light manufacturing.

One area that has become especially meaningful for Turner is behavioral health and nonprofit work.

Forge has completed projects for organizations including Welcome House, Valley Hope, ReDiscover, Pro Deo Youth Center, and other community-focused organizations. While these projects represent a growing market sector, Turner says the motivation extends beyond business opportunity.

“We don’t focus on that market from just a revenue standpoint,” he said. “We focus on that market because of the people involved and, more importantly, the community support those organizations provide.”

The company has also become well known for corporate workplace projects throughout Kansas City, including multiple tenant improvement projects in the Lightwell Building downtown and the recently completed FAA Regional Headquarters. 

As Forge has grown, Turner has recognized that sustaining success requires more than simply winning projects. Turner believes in expert-facilitated strategic planning to help define its long-term direction. 

The process has led to a comprehensive ten-year plan, leadership development initiatives, and a renewed focus on the company's guiding principles, purpose, and vision.

“The company has outgrown me and any aspirations I originally had when I started it,” Turner said. “The most rewarding thing now is realizing we don’t need to change who we are to keep growing. We just need to bring more clarity and intention to it.”

To meet this growth goal and maintain their culture, every new associate engages in a six-month onboarding process that goes beyond job training. This process is designed to instill Forge’s guiding principles, to ensure they live out their purpose and achieve their vision while forging people, partnerships, and projects that are Built To Endure.

A Banking Relationship Built on Shared Values

That emphasis on partnerships also shaped Turner’s decision to partner with Country Club Bank.

The relationship began when Turner worked with longtime Country Club Bank regional president Joe James to finance the purchase and renovation of Forge's headquarters in Kansas City's Crossroads district. The project transformed a two-story building at 1710 Walnut into a collaborative workspace for the growing company and a venue for hosting clients, partners, and employees.

As Turner evaluated banking options, he spoke with multiple institutions. Ultimately, he says the decision came down to much more than rates or products.

“It was the relationship and the ongoing advocacy of the team at Country Club Bank,” Turner said. “They went out of their way to not only make our financing process easy, but also to help us develop relationships with new organizations and opportunities around the city. That's the type of company they are, and that's why we work with them.”

Today, Forge maintains a full banking relationship with Country Club Bank, including operating accounts, lending facilities, and ongoing advisory support. 

Turner credits the bank's attentive communication and relationship-focused approach for helping make the company's continued growth easier to navigate.

“There are so many similarities between how we operate and how Country Club Bank operates,” Turner said. “It has been a great relationship and partnership from day one, and we look forward to pursuing many more opportunities together.”

ProDeo: image courtesy of Collins | Webb Architecture
ReDiscover: image courtesy of GastingerWalker& Architecture