projects, the team develops the technical expertise and collaborative approach that ultimately shape Kitsap Construction. George Baxter, Managing Member of Kitsap Construction, explains that the company’s launch is driven by timing and opportunity. “I got my contractor’s license in 2015 while Deja, Darin, and I were working for a large general contracting company here in Hawai’i,” Baxter explains. “The owner is nearing retirement and planning to pass the business to his kids, and I decided it makes sense to start my own company rather than stay on.” Rather than making an abrupt transition, Baxter begins building Kitsap Construction while still employed, taking on subcontracting work and gradually establishing the business. “Between 2015 and 2018, I was doing subcontracting work like painting and drywall while slowly building the company,” Baxter recalls. By 2018, Kitsap Construction fully transitions into prime contracting, applying the same structure and expertise the team has relied on for years.“We really just morph into what we were already doing,” Baxter notes.“I handle estimating and project management, Deja manages projects, and Darin runs the field. We bring that same experience with us.” STRENGTH IN CONTINUITY When the former general contracting firm eventually closes its doors, many long-serving employees follow Baxter to his new company.That continuity becomes one of Kitsap Construction’s defining strengths. Today, the company employs approximately 20 to 25 people, supported by flexible labor as needed, but the core team has worked together for decades. “A lot of the employees who work with me now, I’ve worked with for 20 or 25 years,” Baxter reflects.“We all started in the same place, and now we’re here together.” That shared history fosters a culture rooted in trust, collaboration, and mutual respect. Kitsap Construction experiences very low turnover, and the company’s workforce often spans multiple generations. Sons of longtime employees now work alongside their parents, and siblings frequently share job sites. “We’re a very tight-knit group,” Baxter adds. “Some of my employees have their sons working here now. Deja’s brother is with us as a superintendent, and I’m training him to move into estimating. There’s a lot of mentoring and teaching going on all the time.” The team’s versatility is another distinguishing factor. Many employees can perform a wide range of tasks, 35 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 13, ISSUE 01 KITSAP CONSTRUCTION
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