On this episode of The Brand Herald, Landon sits down with Kara Klunk, Director of Marketing at C. Herman Construction, to talk about what it looks like when a company grows extremely fast but keeps the small company culture. Kara joined the Charleston office in March 2020, her first role in construction, and has watched the firm grow to a nationally ranked, employee-owned business with more than 100 employees.

Kara walks us through her career jump that started with a layoff in vacation rentals, an open marketing coordinator position, and three months of learning construction virtually during COVID. Landon and Kara then discuss what C. Herman actually builds; multifamily, with a focus on affordable housing, garden, and podium projects, and why a two-state industry can still feel small when the same subcontractors and developers show up in every market.

The practical half of the episode is about branded clothing as culture. After two years splitting time as director of HR and Marketing, Kara wanted an employee shop built around items people are proud to wear on the job site and on the weekend. She talks through onboarding kits, seasonal gear, a rewards program tied to safety awards and work anniversaries, and why the company carefully selects which pieces they want on their shop. Landon presses on the difference between a vendor and a partner when 100 employees start ordering.

Kara closes on the idea that relationships are how C. Herman grows, and that hard conversations get easier when those relationships have been invested in first. Looking ahead, she is planning a clay shoot for The Releaf Foundation, a mid-year 10-year celebration, and a Florida expansion. 

Chapters:
00:57: How Kara found Goodson through a peer company
03:00: From Pennsylvania marketing to a layoff, then a leap into construction.
05:11: Opening the Charleston office in March 2020
06:43: What C. Herman builds: multifamily, affordable housing, garden, and podium.
09:35: Becoming an ESOP in fall 2024, and why Chris Herman did it early.
11:12: Chris Herman’s path from architecture to founding the company in 2017.
12:27: Still feeling like a small company at 100 employees and a projected $45 million.
14:43: Why the HR seat changed how Kara thinks about branded apparel.
16:47: Building an intentional shop, rewards, and gear people wear off the clock.
24:04: Relationships as the growth engine, including the hard conversations.

Resources:
Kara Klunk LinkedIn  
C. Herman Construction LinkedIn  
C. Herman Construction