About Us
Biography:
For 15 years we existed and expanded on word of mouth and personal networks alone. Our word is our bond, and people know that. Enough said.
We are a local salt-of-the-earth residential and commercial construction company that prioritizes families, homeowners and small business owners. But if you don’t fall into those categories, we
still want your business.
Licensed, bonded and insured, our niche is that we don’t have one. Big or small, we are ready to do it all. And we keep it all in house, so you only have to deal with one contact.
We have a relational model and exist to support the greater community of Nashville as a whole, though we are especially invested in what is local and authentic.
That’s why we look so salty and only wear our work shirts on occasion.
If you need a beautiful, quality job done by someone you could share a beer or some barbeque with afterwards, call us.
Mission:
We are in the business of building homes not houses; communities not corporations. We believe in people, purpose and place over profit.
Sometimes that means driving an hour to fix a toilet, and sometimes that means building a new foundation system under a hundred-year-old house so that it doesn’t get bulldozed.
Though profit is nice, that’s only part of construction. At its core, construction is about providing people two basic necessities and human rights: work and a home.
We are a for profit business with a philanthropic arm. We believe that helping people live safe, fulfilling lives is the purpose of both power and business.
A Word From Our Owner:
As a world traveler, MDiv, father and bilingual person, I can’t unsee the disparity between the 1st world and the 3rd world. Wealth is often related to someone else’s poverty. Systemic forces contribute to extreme inequality in our own nation. And yet, everyone deserves somewhere safe to live and raise children. Operating solely for profit is not just or sustainable without giving back. We strive to honor this ethos on every level of our business model, starting with fair pay for our employees and subcontractors, fair prices for our clients, and fair dispersal of our proceeds to a few select non-profit causes.
Why put all this out there? Because I want to inspire others to do likewise. Because business and building is better when it’s about people. Because the myth of the righteous corporation has fallen. Because local, small businesses, mixed income neighborhoods, affordable housing and a narrower pay gap create better communities and happier people. Because we still have to make a living and support our families, too.
We have supported well over 2,000 families, small businesses, artists, restaurant owners, musicians, landlords and first-time home owners over the years on a word-of-mouth basis only. No advertising. No marketing. Just our word and a job well done. 90% of our business is from direct referrals.
Though I didn’t know it, JCCM started 20 years ago when I spent a college summer in Mexico working with a development group to build affordable housing in a border town. Working every day in 110-degree heat with talented Mexican tradesmen gave me a love for both manual labor and Spanish. Those men taught me unforgettable lessons. Work is a good thing in itself. Working with our hands is an end in itself. Work is not simply a means to an end. I have tried to bring these values with me every step of the way as this business has grown.
We do the jobs that need doing for people that need them done. We will never try to sell you something you don’t need.
We have worked in every zip code within 30 miles of Nashville and know almost every street in Davidson County. I’ve personally worked on over 1,000 different homes. I know the first names of all my clients and still receive referrals from many I met over 10 years ago.
That is what we are proud of, and what we aim for. And we still want your business even if you don’t agree with us.
- Michael Johnston, General Contractor, CEO