Oliver Perdomo, executive vice president for the Hutton Co., Karen J. Hutton, CEO of the Hutton Co. and Geoffrey W. Smith, president of the Hutton Co., from left, speak about their company’s growth.Karen Hutton says she’s thankful her Chattanooga-based development company has picked the right clients.
Amid the worst downturn since the Great Depression and its aftermath, her firm has built scores of stores for such growing businesses as Family Dollar, O’Reilly Auto Parts, AutoZone and Tractor Supply Co.
“Thank goodness we didn’t get Movie Gallery,” said the chief executive of Hutton Co. about the operator of the Hollywood Video rental chain that sought bankruptcy protection and is closing hundreds of stores.
HUTTON CO.Founded: 1998Location: 736 Cherry St.Key executives: Karen Hutton, CEO; Geoffrey Smith, president; Oliver Perdomo, executive vice presidentStaff: 53 employees, including about 40 in ChattanoogaSource: Hutton Co.
Hutton Co. and its Hutton Construction Co. sibling, are benefiting from working for what one executive termed “recession-proof” clients.