Mike Croxall started framing houses while he was still in high school and worked in electrical, plumbing and site preparation work while in college at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
But the 2017 president of the Home Builders Association of Greater Chattanooga pursued a number of other business ventures after getting his business management degree from UTC before ultimately coming back to home building in 2005. And even now, Croxall builds both commercial and residential projects.
"It's a great experience to help give people their dream home and fortunately with the economy continuing to improve in Chattanooga, it should be another good year for home building in 2017," the 53-year-old contractor says. "But the commercial market is also strong, and I love being able to take an old structure, rehabilitate and upgrade it, and give it new life."
The Croxall Construction Company is a commercial and residential general contractor that specializes in retail, medical and restaurant developments as well as building custom homes through Dwell Construction. Croxall helped revamp a shuttered grocery store in North Chattanooga into a complex of upscale boutiques and an Italian restaurant last year. Across the street, he is putting a new face and look to the Riverview shopping center that has long housed the CVS drug store.
By being both a residential and commercial builder and not a debt-burdened developer, Croxall said he was able to adapt and survive the Great Recession even though many home builders were flushed out of the market after the 2009-2010 downturn. But after five years of rising home sales in the Chattanooga area and a shrinking inventory of houses for sale on the market, home builders are faring much better across nearly all local markets.
The Home Builders Association of f Greater Chattanooga has grown to include about 475 members. Founded in 1945, the trade group provides training, networking and public policy advocacy for local home builders.
"I love Chattanooga and this business and serving as (home builders association) president is a great chance to help promote our industry and community," Croxall says.