2. 24
COVER
STORY
T
he Salvation Army is used
to coming to the rescue of
others, but it needed help
itself after a fire destroyed
the dining hall at its Camp
Keystone in July 2013.
Scherer Construction of North Florida
responded, building a superior
modern dining hall at the camp, which
is located in Bradford County, within
four and a half months of the blaze.
“They did the impossible in moving
through design, permitting and
construction,” said Captain Preston
Lewis of the Salvation Army in
Gainesville. “They were patient with
the long and tedious approval process
that the Salvation Army uses to make
sure it gets what it pays for.”
Leading the process was Scherer
Construction President Doug Wilcox.
“I always push the schedule,” he said. “I
have a sense of urgency.”
Scherer has a long history of working
for the Salvation Army, including
building 13 camp cabins, a holiness
center, and multipurpose facility at
Camp Keystone and remodeling over
15 Family Thrift Stores.
SCHERER
CONSTRUCTION:
INTEGRITY. ABILITY. EXPERIENCE.
BY CHRIS EVERSOLE
The long-term
relationship that
Scherer has with
the Salvation Army
is typical of the
relationships the
company has built.
Row 1: Doug Wilcox, Bob Taylor,
Keith Journey, Erik Otte, Robert
Weinstein, Ryan Amerson,
Wesley Emmanuel
Row 2: Jeff Godman, Oliver
Kirkpatrick
3. www.businessmagazinegainesville.com 25
“Scherer was
very responsive
in addressing
difficult concerns,
and they
maintained clear
communications.
They are top-notch.”
—Adam Boukari
Alachua Assistant
City Manager
SPECIAL SECTIONCOVER STORY
Another satisfied customer is the
City of Alachua. Scherer recently
completed a $2 million project for
the city that illustrated its capacity
to self-perform site work — including
excavating, constructing stormwater
drainage, utilities, and paving — as well
as building structures.
Below ground, the project includes
an elaborate network of underground
utility lines and concrete storm water
holding tanks.
Above ground, the work features a
baseball/softball field, two basketball
courts, two tennis courts, parking and
new roadways.
The project was challenging because
of surprises along the way, including
the nature of old buried utility lines.
“Scherer was very responsive in
addressing difficult concerns, and they
maintained clear communications,”
said Alachua Assistant City Manager
Adam Boukari. “They are top-notch.”
The company was also exemplary
in minimizing the disruption to
downtown merchants, Boukari added.
“We have a beautiful park, and we’ve
dramatically reduced downtown
flooding with the help of Scherer,” he
said.
Jerry Benton, the President and CEO
of CAMPUS USA Credit Union, has
worked with Scherer on 12 projects
over the 15 years that he has been with
the credit union.
“Scherer Construction’s wide range
of expertise is very beneficial and
efficient,” Benton said. “Doug Wilcox
and his team seek to build a long-term
relationship with their customers —
ensuring that they are always looking
out for our best interest.”
Scherer completed a $2 Million project including
roadways and recreation facilities for the City of Alachua.
4. 26
By meeting deadlines, Scherer has
kept the credit union’s projects
under budget.
“Their superintendents and project
managers stay on top of the jobs,
which allow them to avoid or foresee
problems early,” Benton said.
Clark Scherer founded the company
in 1984. Today, Scherer has branches
located in Jacksonville, Orlando and St.
Petersburg as well as in Gainesville.
Wilcox joined the company in 1986.
He assembled the current team of 49
employees at the Gainesville branch
— many have now been with the
company for several decades.
Long time staff members include
Senior Project Manager Keith
Journey and Project Managers
Wesley Emmanuel, Jeff Godman,
Superintendent Monte Lewis, and
Equipment Operator Duane Thomas.
Wilcox fostered a corporate culture that
not only emphasizes integrity, ability
and experience but also sponsors a
strong working environment.
“I’ve never worked anywhere before
where everybody likes each other,”
Journey said.
MAKING LAS
MARGARITAS
SPECIAL
Scherer did both the site work and the
construction for the Las Margaritas
restaurant building, located in
Gainesville at 4405 NW 39th Ave.
Owner Alberto Roman presented
Scherer Construction the challenge
of completing the job within six
months so that he could open in the
new location before the lease at his
previous location expired.
Another challenge was integrating
imported tile, woodwork, artwork and
fountains (most of it from Guadalajara,
Mexico) into the project.
Scherer completed the project a week
ahead of the August 2011 deadline.
“It was a great experience,” Roman
said. “Everything arrived when it was
scheduled, and Scherer made all the
changes that needed to be made as
the work was being done.”
Campus USA Headquarters in Jonesville.
Las Margaritas Mexican Restaurant on 39th Avenue.
COVER STORY
5. www.businessmagazinegainesville.com 27
SERVING THE COMMUNITY
Scherer Construction is a major
contributor to the North Central
Florida YMCA.
The contribution includes advice
from President Doug Wilcox,
who served on the YMCA’s
board for more than a decade,
and Marketing Director Sara
Emmanuel, who replaced Wilcox
on the board.
“They both have provided a
lot of expertise,” said CEO
John Bonacci. “Sara’s help with
marketing has done wonders,
which has a value well beyond
the money the company has
donated.”
Scherer also built an expansion
in 2007 that doubled the size of
YMCA’s building.
Scherer employees are active
as board members and
volunteers with many other local
organizations, including the
Salvation Army, Boy Scouts of
America, the Boys & Girls Club
of Alachua County, Rebuilding
Together North Central Florida,
March of Dimes and Relay for
Life (sponsored by the American
Cancer Society).
President Doug Wilcox has a
strong connection to the Boy
Scouts. He is an Eagle Scout along
with his twin sons, Brad and Zach.
“We all have a duty to give back
and get involved, whether it be
volunteering time, mentoring,
serving on a board or committee,
donating to or sponsoring an
event for a good cause,” Doug
Wilcox said.
“One of the reasons Gainesville is
such a unique and great place to
live and work is because so many
people get involved on multiple
levels.”
“Scherer Construction’s wide range of expertise is very
beneficial and efficient. Doug Wilcox and his team seek to
build a long-term relationship with their customers – ensuring
that they are always looking out for our best interest.”
— Jerry Benton, President and CEO
of Campus USA Credit Union
COVER STORY
