A couple of decades ago, Mike Brown was working full time for Family Pancake House owner Bob Mathwig, doing building projects for Mathwig and some acquaintances. Next thing they knew, the idea of starting a construction company together became appealing — and FPH Construction was born.

The two partners set out to carve a niche, offer quality work — and go from there.

Eighteen years later, FPH Construction employs 20 full time people, a variety of subcontractors, and its diverse projects are everywhere you drive around the Kitsap area: the colorful Victorian-style Springhouse Dolls & Gifts in Port Orchard, Total Video in Bremerton, Kitsap Gym and Physical Therapy and the Brewton-Hight Insurance buildings in Silverdale, Petersen Chiropractic in Belfair, and many more.

“We’ve been really fortunate and able to stay busy,” Brown says. “Kitsap County has been really good to us.”

Brown went from spending all his time in the field to about a quarter of it, and even when he is in the field he’s not wearing a tool belt anymore. Calling himself “a glorified cheerleader,” he visits the job sites regularly even though he stopped physically working there.

“I like working with the clients and getting the approvals, but there is something about the job sites I really enjoy,” he says.

The enthusiasm can be heard in his voice as he takes a visitor through the Medical Dental Building in downtown Bremerton. The 84-year-old building, which had the fourth floor added 20-some years after being built, is getting a complete makeover and modernization, estimated to cost about $2 million. The entire inside of the 27,000-square-foot has been gutted down to concrete.

By the time its two phases are finished, it will be seismically retrofitted, have an additional stairway, new plumbing and electrical, a remodeled exterior to give the sidewalk area a more urban look, and retail space on the first floor. Dimension 4 Software, which will occupy the building, will move in after phase one and by June 2005 will have transferred 120 employees there.

Being part of the redevelopment of Bremerton is just another “perk” that comes with the job. “I’ve been a big-time believer in Bremerton. It’s exciting to be part of the change.” FPH also constructed the recently completed Windermere Real Estate building in downtown Bremerton — except for the old Penny’s store which was built in the mid-1970s, the first new building there in almost half a century.

Other changes are perhaps less exciting — like the increased amount of regulatory red tape builders have to wade through coupled with the liability insurance crisis builders are facing, make it extremely difficult for someone to start a new contracting business, Brown says. And the biggest challenge for the industry perhaps is to advocate for the balance between growth and quality of life.

Despite an established reputation, the company still works hard to attract new clients, most of whom come from referrals and word of mouth. “If we’re not doing a good job, that news travels faster than good news,” he says. “The best measure is what (the clients) say to me two years after they’ve been in the building. When they have a good feeling on whether it worked, then I know we did a good job.”

Brown stresses that one key to keeping the customers happy is having good employees. The company offers good benefits, keeps the payroll on time, and stays flexible with regards to personal situations.

“We have great people who make it easy for me. The credit goes to them.”.