A storied legacy

Still, throughout these periods of turmoil, the construction company grew. From the Police Municipal Courts building in downtown Kansas City to the Quartermaster Depot that served as a wartime supply depot for the country’s World War Two efforts, it was landmark projects such as these that put the company on the map. Ernie’s insistence on payment only to cover the company’s cost for the Depot earned him praise from President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who personally thanked him for his wartime sacrifice.

As business grew, so did Mr. Dunn's reputation for giving back. An honest, transparent businessman and leader in the community, his name is synonymous with generosity. Bill Dunn is often referred to as the heart and soul of JE Dunn, spending more than 70 years working to make it the great company it is today. His leadership, faith, and drive to succeed while also honoring the employees and clients of JE Dunn and always putting them first, has set the standard of operations for the company for decades and into the future.

In 2010, JE Dunn ushered in its Employee Stock Ownership Plan, going from a family-owned company to family and employee-owned. Employee-ownership fits the Dunn family’s long-term philosophy of sharing rewards with the company’s most valued asset: its people. In 2014, Gordon Lansford was named the first non-Dunn family member to lead the company as President and CEO. Prior to this role, he served as Chief Financial Officer for 15 years at JE Dunn and was instrumental in implementing the ESOP. Under Gordon’s leadership, the company continues to experience growth and success, while staying true to its guiding principles. As we approach our centennial, we celebrate our past and founder's vision while evolving as a leading provider of construction management services, design-build, and client-centered project delivery.