Greystone Construction Co. Grows With Behlen Systems
by Steve Becker

There are several reasons why Kevin O'Brien, owner of Greystone Construction Co. of Shakopee, MN, has come to depend on Behlen in his business, but the primary factor is the people. "They'll tell us the truth instead of what we want to hear. Too many others will tell you what you want to hear - just to make a sale," O'Brien said. "Behlen will say 'here's what we're going to do' and they do it. That's the main reason we went back to Behlen exclusively. I know I can count on that."


Kevin O'Brien, Greystone Construction Co.
O'Brien has worked with Behlen products for 20 years, including time spent as an estimator and salesman for a Behlen dealer before the founding of Greystone in 1989. In the mid-80's, O'Brien tried some of Behlen's competitors' merchandise and was not happy with what he got in return for his investment. Now Behlen buildings are the only ones he sells. 

Dealing mostly in industrial, commercial and institutional projects, Greystone's latest major undertaking was a 300' x 210' aircraft hanger near Cincinnati, Ohio for Mesaba Airlines. The clean, clear-span dimensions of the aircraft hanger is an example of why O'Brien chooses Behlen to fill the needs of not only the airline industry, but also ice arenas, as well as, food and garbage (waste to energy) processing sites. S-Span is a Behlen exclusive design. 

Through the years, O'Brien has come to know many of the long-term Behlen employees as well as other builders that he can count on. For example, FCC Inc. in Caledonia, MI is one of the builders O'Brien has worked with. FCC echoes the same values as Behlen, so O'Brien feels confident that when he places an order, he's going to get what he pays for.


Mesaba Airlines maintenance hanger: 300'x207'x44'

 O'Brien rates the Behlen values and products as excellent. Greystone has created a track record of satisfied customers. With revenues of approximately $17 million per year, the purchases of Behlen steel products has grown proportionately with Greystone. Last year, Greystone was Behlen's number one volume builder. 

Besides doing building construction, Greystone can also serve as a general contractor, construction manager, or a design/builder. They self perform concrete and carpentry work, as well as design projects for manufacturing, food processing, office, recreational, warehousing, aircraft and municipal building uses. 

For the past four years, Greystone has focused on the education of its employees by investing 15 cents for every hour worked into an educational trust fund. This money is then used to develop curriculums to provide training for all levels of employees. 

Greystone serves markets in Minnesota, western Wisconsin and eastern South Dakota. They have also worked on jobs in Colorado, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Montana. 

As the range and scope of jobs Greystone takes part in has grown, so has its trust in Behlen products and people. There's at least one more reason the multi-million-dollar construction firm uses Behlen as a supplier of metal buildings and that is Behlen's history of top-notch service before and after the sale. "We can pretty much depend on what Behlen says about schedules and delivery. They always follow through for us," O'Brien said.