More Than a Job
By Nancy Erickson
orking with family can be a challenge. But Friend Contractors, a family-owned contracting business operating in the Gulf of Alaska now heading into its fourth generation of operations, has perfected the process.
Friend Contractors was established in the ‘70s on Kodiak Island by Lloyd Devoe Friend. His son, Jerrol Friend, took primary ownership of the company in 1991. Brenda Friend, an Alaska Native and Jerrol Friend’s wife, became managing member thirteen years later. The company has since expanded operations across Alaska, Washington, and Arizona. The couple’s son Jeremy runs the Arizona operation, and their grandson James is currently taking construction management courses in college, preparing to lead Friend Contractors down the road.
“We’re currently teaching our daughter every aspect of construction and hope to have some granddaughters in the field in the future,” says Brenda Friend.
“We live, breathe, and eat construction in all its forms,” says Friend. “We always have multiple projects going at any given time, and when we have a day off or holiday, you will likely find Jerrol and me in the shop, milling our own wood siding or finding a fun little project to build together.”
“We love to teach construction, so with our kids or thirteen grandchildren, we have planned projects like making an outdoor fire pit on the lakeside or teaching them how to frame up a cabin or read a tape measure,” she adds. “We taught our grandson how to demo buildings, so when he was sixteen years old he started his own construction demolition business, using many of his friends from the high school football team.”
Majority Owner, Friend Contractors
Friend came prepared to manage a certified Woman Owned/Alaska Native Owned business.
“So much of the construction industry today is about estimating, bidding, and financing, all of which I have experience,” she adds. “In my previous careers I have built budgets, had many employees, written federal grants and, by trade, I am a paralegal.”
But Friend is a firm believer in hands-on experience.
“Roofing, drywall, insulation, framing, building forms, and pouring concrete—there’s not much I haven’t actually done myself,” she says. “I have a saying I live by: ‘Never ask someone to do something unless you are willing to do it yourself.’”
Friend admits it’s not easy being a woman in a predominantly male construction working world.
“Many times, I have sat in construction meetings being ignored or talked over until I present the specific questions or answers to the questions and they realize I do know construction,” she says. “I wish there were more women in construction, as many women are meticulous and detail oriented.”
“We specialize in knowing what products work on our island in the Gulf of Alaska, where maritime climate and 120-mile winds are pretty standard,” says Friend. “One missed detail costs thousands of dollars from marine-driven rain and high winds.”
That’s one of the many reasons First National Bank Alaska has developed a strong partnership with Friend over the past nine years and anticipates many more years of working together.
“Integrity is everything when it comes to Friend Contractors,” says Mark Lonheim, First National Bank Alaska vice president and Kodiak branch manager. “Brenda and Jerrol are known in Kodiak for their high-quality construction. They are one of the largest local contractors for both residential and commercial projects—and for good reason. They truly are invested in our community both personally and professionally.”
“When Brenda and Jerrol have a vision, they work tirelessly to make that vision a reality,” says Tim Redder, First National Bank Alaska vice president and deputy branch administration director.
“We prioritize our impact on our twenty-eight employees’ ability to remain local [and] provide for their families while working year-round and earning a livable wage,” says Rhinehart.
“Things never get monotonous here,” he adds. “We take on the local jobs that other contractors won’t and have the means to compete with large, off-island contractors on big projects. Many of these projects will impact the community for a long time in a positive way, and I enjoy seeing the community benefit from my work.”
“AGC has an incredible, responsive staff that I call often,” says Friend. “We love the internet trainings because it is so expensive to fly back and forth. I’ve put myself and two others through the Project Management training, and it was the best training we’ve had.”