Well, here we are. The industry almost came to a near standstill in North America and contractors have done their best to combat an oppressive front from the face of the Coronavirus pandemic. And in that mix still stands Green Country Drywall of Bixby, Okla. The drywall contractor has successfully not only weathered the national crisis but has hung in there strong, bright and early on jobsites despite a scare that has most people locked up in home. But the show must go on and the subcontractor knows how to weather the adversity. 

Green Country Drywall began in 1999 by Robert and Tammy Cruise, and specializes in many different aspects of commercial construction including metal stud framing, drywall, acoustical ceilings, EIFS, stucco and stone work. The contractor primarily works on large commercial, industrial, and high-end residential projects. It is especially sought after for churches, schools, hotels and casinos, and retail construction. Between office administration, project managers, foremen and field workers, Green Country Drywall staffs more than 40 team members.

How has the company’s growth been since it opened its doors more than 20 years ago? “The industry trends in this area of course have a tendency to fluctuate, and business can be up and down; but we strive to cultivate good relationships with our clients and community and consistently deliver on our projects—and because of that we have been able to grow steadily throughout,” says Cooper Cruise, son of founder Robert and Tammy.  

Success in Okie

“The industry in this region has been seeing a lot of growth in commercial construction in recent years, especially with casinos and hotels; and because we’ve been in the industry for so long—we have developed strong relationships with our clients and established a reputation for consistency and performance,” Cooper says. “We have been fortunate to be able to grow at the rate we have, because now our projects are more fine-tuned.”

The senior Cruise reports that the construction climate in Tulsa (and Oklahoma) has been on a steady increase the past few years. Because of this, the company has been thriving.

“The most interesting aspect of my job is to see such highly complex projects with many specialty items become a success,” says Cooper. “The more complex projects are always so rewarding to see the GCD team pull together to provide the resources, details and leadership needed to face the challenges.”

Yet, Cooper and Robert agree that the hardest part of the job is finding qualified labor. 

“We’ve been excited to take the company to the next level,” says Cooper. “We’ve been implementing some new things in the company and gearing up to expand and take on more projects. With what is going on in the world today, it’s more important than ever for us as a company to have an open-ended dialogue with our team and plan for what’s next. This is a unique circumstance with the recent COVID-19 outbreak, the rules are changing daily; but we are prepared to weather the storm as it comes.”

Cooper says the long-term goals for the company are to continue its familial lineage with the next generation. 

“They are so eager to grow the company and they have already done some interesting things by incorporating more tech into our business; especially regarding our online presence and the way they utilize social media,” says Cooper. “I am excited to see them take the company to the next level of construction technology, which include ever changing estimating and project management software. We want them to continue to train and grow allowing them to bring new ideas and opinions into the workforce.”

Big to Small

Whether the company is performing work on a large-scale project or a small one-time job, Green Country Drywall strives to make every project personal and fun. However, the company still takes great pride in the quality of the work.

In regards to what the company’s greatest achievement is as a company?

It is incredibly difficult to pick just one achievement, says Cooper. “A time that stands out the most to me is working with Extreme Home Makeover. I was really impressed with seeing that example of teamwork at its finest. It’s amazing how a team of contractors and creators can come together and in a short period of time build this amazing project- and the heart and soul of that project shows throughout the process and lives on in the quality of the finished product.

“Our company is one that is founded on the belief of doing business with honesty and integrity,” says Robert. “With over three generations in the business and the desire to instill that knowledge in our team while always learning and adapting to industry changes keeps us on the forefront in our field.”