Celebrating 50 Years: Reflections from Mike Hemme

As Coil Construction celebrates its 50th anniversary, we’re excited to continue honoring the people, projects and progress that have shaped our journey.

Senior Vice President Mike Hemme joined Coil in 1993. Mike studied architecture in St. Louis and spent some time working in that field. He later attended K-State in Manhattan, Kansas, where he received his degree in engineering.

His father was also an architect, and he actually prepared the blueprints for Coil’s initial office expansion. The blueprints hang in Mike’s office today, and are a daily reminder of how family, legacy and craftsmanship are all stitched into Coil’s strong foundation. “Dad would travel to Columbia and work on our office design and visit with the grandkids,” Mike recalls. “Randy had the prints framed and displayed at his funeral in 2018; it really meant a lot.”

Mike’s Start at Coil

Columbia was in Mike’s driving path from school in Manhattan to his home in St. Louis. Mike liked Columbia’s small-town feel and had friends in the area, so he decided to move here after completing his degree. He began his job hunt in 1993, relying on the Yellow Pages as a guide and walking into offices asking for an interview. Mike interviewed with what felt like every contractor from Columbia to Jefferson City. “Given I had a little grey hair and some experience, I really wanted to know what they were made of. I wanted to work for someone who was honest and had values. I asked them all, ‘What are your short and long-term goals? What’s your position on integrity?’ Most firms Mike spoke with didn’t have an answer. Randy did. When I walked into Randy’s office, I could tell immediately this guy had set the bar high on professionalism and quality.”

Although Randy wasn’t hiring at the time, Mike saw a chance to prove himself to Randy, making a bold offer: “Give me 60 days. If I don’t land a job, you can cut me loose.” Within just two weeks, an opportunity arose with the owners of what is now Flat Branch Pub and Brewing. They wanted to turn an old car repair shop into a brewpub, which was a new concept back in 1993. When Coil interviewed to bid for the project, Mike knew he could make it happen. “The owners were looking to do something similar to a brewpub they had been to in Wichita,” Mike said. “I drove to Kansas on a whim one Saturday and met the brewmaster and learned everything I could.” Impressed by Coil’s effort, the Flat Branch team ultimately awarded the project to Coil, saying, “You’re the only contractor who took the risk and made the effort to understand our process.” Flat Branch Pub and Brewing became Mike’s first project for Coil, securing his place on the Coil team for the next three-plus decades.

The Way Things Were

Mike has witnessed first-hand both Coil and the construction industry as a whole evolve over the years. Mike says, “Back in ‘93, I knew our subcontractors’ phone numbers by heart from the company phone directory. We had to take an office vote on whether or not to purchase a fax machine (they did), and now we check on job sites from a live camera!” Mike laughed.

In today’s bidding process, bids are submitted through our website or via email, but Mike recalls how different bid days used to be. He has memories of riding in the truck with Kevin Buckler to get their bid submitted by the deadline. “There were many times I jumped out of Kevin’s truck at a busy intersection and ran across the street in efforts to deliver a bid proposal on time…It’s much less exciting to click ‘submit’ online, but significantly more efficient,” he laughs.

Moments to Remember

When asked what Mike’s fondest memory at Coil was, he had a lot to reflect on after 32 years. A recent and momentous occasion was Mike’s role in the company’s leadership transition—passing the gavel from founder Randy Coil to his son, now-President David Coil.

He notes that one of his most memorable projects with Coil was the Anheuser-Busch Clydesdale Breeding Facility. “The Clydesdale project was a one-of-a-kind resume builder.”

Hopes for the Next 50 Years

As we celebrate 50 years, stories like Mike’s remind us of the values, integrity and care that have shaped Coil over the years. Mike is optimistic about Coil’s future and feels confident in its leadership and reputation. “David has the vision, the energy and the intelligence to lead us forward.  We maintain a professional staff that has the skillset to advance our goals and vision. Our reputation is everything. We’ve earned it through blood, sweat and tears. My philosophy is that, regardless of the cost, we want our clients to be proud of their building when we are complete. The client’s approval is worth more than whatever the job cost report shows. And I’m confident this company will reach new levels in the near future.”

Here’s to the next 50.