When I joined McGough’s Texas team in 2023 as the Business Development Director, I’ll admit, I hadn’t heard of McGough before my interview. The company had an incredible reputation in the Midwest, but in Texas, the name was still finding its footing. That challenge is exactly what drew me in; the chance to bring new energy to an already talented team and help grow awareness in a market full of opportunity.
Since then, our Texas footprint has grown significantly, with revenue increasing by more than 140 percent and our work expanding into new regions and sectors. That local success has contributed to McGough crossing the $1 billion mark nationally in 2024 and being on track to double that in 2025, with momentum carrying into 2026. But numbers only tell part of the story. The real story is about how we have grown by saying yes to challenges, showing up authentically, and staying true to our culture.
Here are five lessons I have learned about scaling in construction that apply across industries:
1. Say Yes When Others Say No
Some of McGough’s biggest growth moments came from projects that others walked away from.
Nationally, we took on a billion-dollar AI data center in rural North Dakota, a project that required technical expertise, logistical grit, and teamwork. Saying yes to that opportunity positioned McGough as a trusted leader in mission-critical construction and opened doors to a new scale of projects.
In Texas, that same “say yes” mindset created momentum in unexpected ways. A sprinkler upgrade at the University of North Texas Coliseum during basketball season (yes, during the season) turned into a long-term campus partnership. A small but meaningful memorial installation at UT Permian Basin reminded us that construction is about people and purpose. And an ADA project for Texas Health and Human Services grew into hundreds of millions in behavioral health work.
Every yes built trust, and I have learned that trust, more than any contract or number, is the real currency of growth.
2. Build a Brand People Recognize and Remember
McGough already had a respected name in Texas, but growing that presence meant showing up consistently, creatively, authentically, and with tenacity.
We got back to the basics by attending industry events, joining panels, and building genuine connections with clients and partners. We also made sure people remembered us for more than our projects. From Goat Yoga with a local engineering partner to our now-annual Silent Disco to a PPE fashion show fueled by glitter and glue guns, we created experiences that reflected who we are as a team: serious about our work but not ourselves.
Those moments were not about flash. They were about connection. Every handshake and laugh built recognition that comes from trust and shared experience. That is how you build a brand people remember, not through noise but through genuine relationships.
3. Leverage the Power of One Company, Many Markets
Our success in Texas has never been about operating in isolation. McGough’s strength comes from the collective expertise and collaboration across our offices and markets.
We leaned into national partnerships and leveraged deep experience in healthcare, higher education, and mission-critical sectors to bring new insight and depth to our local pursuits. Wins in one region created a ripple effect that fueled pursuits elsewhere, creating what I like to call a flywheel of opportunity.
Cross-market collaboration allowed us to scale faster and smarter, combining national resources with local insight. That is the advantage of being one company that operates like one team.
4. Recruit for the Future, Not Just the Present
Projects do not build themselves. People do. And when your backlog grows by billions, talent becomes the real bottleneck.
Our recruiting strategy has always been proactive. We know that the best candidates do not just apply; you meet them where they already are. That is why we send business development and field leaders to industry conferences and trade shows. Those are the places where the best people gather, and recruiting there has been one of the most effective ways to attract top talent.
We also hire for where we are headed, not just for the projects in front of us. That intentionality, combined with a culture people are proud to share, has become our best recruiting and retention tool. Culture drives growth, and growth sustains culture.
5. Partner Without Conflict
McGough’s nearly 70-year reputation for integrity and zero litigation has been one of our strongest differentiators, and honestly, it was the deciding factor for me. When I learned that a company could grow to this size without ever losing sight of doing the right thing, I was all in. Trust is a form of currency in construction. It takes years to earn and seconds to lose.
We lead with integrity in every partnership, whether through joint ventures, mentor-protégé programs, or design-build collaborations. Other contractors seek us out because they know we will do what we say we will. Minority-owned firms partner with us because we invest in their growth. Design partners return again and again because they know we bring collaboration, not conflict.
Doing the right thing, even when it is not the easy thing, continues to open doors that skill alone never could.
Building Beyond Billions
Today, with billions already contracted and new offices and partnerships on the horizon, McGough’s story is still unfolding. The numbers are impressive, but the real story is about people who choose to say yes to challenge, who lead with authenticity, and who build trust every day.
For me, the greatest lesson has been this: sustainable growth does not come from chasing numbers. It comes from staying grounded in who you are while reaching for what is next. That is how you build beyond billions, through one decision, one relationship, and one act of trust at a time.
