by Amy Self | Apr 19, 2023 | Ancon News
Cultivating Leaders: Doug Bender’s 37-Year Journey with Ancon Construction.
Meet Doug Bender, a 37-year employee-owner of Ancon Construction. “I always knew I wanted to be in construction. My grandma called me “Noah” – Because I always messed with my grandpa’s stuff – taking things apart and putting them back together. She said I was going to build things – she was right.”
In April of 1986, Doug started his journey with Ancon Construction when he received an offer to work in the company’s carpentry division. He swiftly climbed up the ranks and took on a foreman position, eventually becoming a superintendent. The most significant project for Doug was the Sturgis Wesleyan Church, where he first worked as a foreman. He played an active role in all aspects of the project, from the foundation to the highest point of the roof. He described the project as a “nice building – but grueling work,” due to the temperatures reaching 110 degrees Fahrenheit in the hot summer of 1988.
Doug finds motivation in the challenges each new project brings. “You’re not always doing the same thing,” he said, adding that the challenges keep him sharp and engaged.
“Doug understands that different personalities exist and is very good at reading and dealing with the different types. That helps in having a cohesive crew which leads to a cohesive job with subcontractors,” shares, Lloyd, a leader Doug has admired over his years at Ancon Construction.
What Doug enjoys most, however, is growing aspiring craftsmen and leaders. “I’m not a teacher – I’m a farmer. Teaching isn’t what I do. I grow individuals,” he said. According to Doug, cultivating future craftsmen and leaders requires planting a seed, feeding, fertilizing, and nurturing until they understand. “Anyone can grow a weed. If you don’t take care of your crop, you’re not going to have one,” he added.
Doug’s experience at Ancon highlights the importance of mentorship in the workplace. His commitment to “cultivating” has helped Ancon Construction build a culture of excellence that attracts and retains talented individuals. It’s no wonder Doug has been with Ancon for 37 years and counting!
Doug’s story shows that it’s possible to find fulfillment and longevity in a career by constantly challenging oneself and passing on knowledge to the next generation. His journey with Ancon is a testament to the importance of mentorship in building a company’s culture and success. We wish Doug all the best in his future endeavors and look forward to seeing the fruits of his labor in the years to come.
by Amy Self | Jan 17, 2023 | Ancon News
Elkhart County Courthouse Project
The Elkhart County Courthouse project was a construction feature in the Building Indiana Business magazine.
Click the link below and head to page 38 to read the article. Ancon is mentioned on page 40 as the General Trades Coordinator, Site Superintendent.
Click here to read the article.
by Ryan Kring | Jun 22, 2019 | Ancon News
June 21, 2019
South Bend, IN- Wing Lovers Rejoice! Buffalo Wild Wings, located on Ireland Road on the south side of South Bend is getting a new look. As part of the brand’s constant improvement to be the leader in design and customer experience, BW3’s will be updating both the exterior and interior of their south side location. Ancon Construction, premiere Design-Build construction firm, is the proud builder of our regional BW3’s and the work will begin at the Ireland Road location in late June.
What can B-Dubs fans expect with the re-model? A new exterior and interior look to match the franchise’s latest “Stadia” brand which will include all new interior seating arrangements, modifications to the bar and more TV’s designed to allow anyone seated to have a great view of the game. Other updates include wall decor and other front of house updates. Ancon recently completed a “Stadia” update for the Grape Road location and south side fans can expect to see a similar transformation starting soon.
Matthew VanSoest, Ancon Designer for the Project, commented, “The Ancon team is excited to be part of this image refresher for the south side Buffalo Wild Wings. The updated imaging program will refresh both the interior and exterior branding – creating a positive and exciting experience for patrons.”
When asked about the re-brand concept Ryan Kring, Vice President of Business Development for Ancon Construction stated, “Most of the top brands in US re-brand every 7-8 years and Buffalo Wild Wings understands the value of giving their customers a fresh, yet familiar look at their locations. It shows they know their customers and understand that their brand is constantly evolving. The south side location in South Bend is a popular location and this refresh also shows Buffalo Wild Wings commitment to our community and to the south side. We are the proud builders for Buffalo Wild Wings and look forward to being a part of keeping their brand fresh and exciting.”
Ready to updated your restaurant, office or business? Contact us HERE and let’s get your project started…together.
by Ryan Kring | Feb 17, 2018 | Ancon News
February 15, 2018
South Bend, IN- Ancon Construction, premier design build construction firm, held a ribbon cutting ceremony to officially open their new downtown South Bend office. Located inside the newly renovated mixed use building The LaSalle the office has premiere corner street level visibility set inside the historic LaSalle building. Although the office is inside a historic building the design is ultra modern and minimalistic. Matt VanSoest, Designer, researched office spaces like Tesla and Google and used that for design inspiration. Local artists have donated some sculptures and historic photos of downtown South Bend have placed them throughout the office.
Why downtown South Bend? For over 40 years Ancon Construction has served South Bend, Mishawaka and the entire St. Joseph County region. Nearly everyday there is an Ancon Construction employee in the region working on projects. “We have a known presence and excellent reputation in this region….now we have the physical location to match. The revitalization of the downtown corridor is exciting. Many of the projects that started the downtown revitalization Ancon Construction were a part of, so South Bend seemed like the natural choice when we looked at potential locations.” noted Ryan Kring, Vice President of Business Development. 
Kring went on to say, “This space is a communal area which our employees can use to give our clients a comfortable place to meet and have a great experience. Having this space allows our customers a closer place to meet and plan out our projects together. We use a team approach to project design and delivery in which our clients are involved heavily throughout the entire process. The office is designed to be a living showroom of various types of materials so our clients can see them in actual space. Periodically we will change out the furniture and flooring to highlight the latest available designs and materials.”
Ancon Construction is not the only tenant in the building, recently The Hideaway opened. The Hideaway is a 1920’s speakeasy steampunk whiskey bar that was designed and built by Ancon Construction. South Blend, a new coffee house, is also under construction and will be opening its doors in the next few months.
We have been building this region for over 40 years and we look forward to the next 40.
Are you ready to start your project? Click HERE and let’s get your project started….together.
by Ryan Kring | Jan 29, 2018 | Ancon News
Goshen, IN-Don Carrico serves as the Operations Manager and Safety Director at Ancon Construction. Don spends countless hours making sure that all of Ancon’s jobs are adequately staffed and running smoothly – ensuring the best overall product for our customers in the shortest time possible. He also helps ensure the safety of Ancon’s field employees by monitoring job sites and conducting safety training when necessary. Don holds OSHA 10-hour certification relating to scaffolding, forklifts, scissor lifts, trenching & shoring, confined spaces, and many other areas of construction. During Don’s 20 years with Ancon Construction he moved from sweeping floors to working as a journeyman steel worker and foreman, eventually taking on his current role of Operations Manager and Safety Director. Don takes great pride in completing a job on time and under budget, knowing that the finished product is second to none.
Don Preparing a Safety Program for an Upcoming Project
Even outside of his work at Ancon, Don is active in our community. He works part time as an on-call fire fighter for Southwest Central Territory in South Bend, filling in when full-time employees take time for vacation and when the department is short on manpower. When he isn’t working, Don also enjoys riding ATVs and his Harley touring bike, camping, and spending time working around the yard and house.
Don has two children. His son, Don Jr., is a junior at Mishawaka High School and his daughter, Taylor, is a Purdue grad who lives and works in Chicago. Don and his wife, Shauna, have been together for 12 years and married for 5. They live in South Bend. Don looks forward to the next 20 years and retiring to a warm climate!
Don is a huge asset to Ancon, its customers, and the community and we are glad to have him as part of our team.
