The Birth of Icon Building Group
During the tumultuous backdrop of the 2008 recession, the journey of Icon Building Group had begun. But before delving into its inception, let’s rewind to the very start to set the stage.
Icon’s roots started from the ground up…Literally. Its founders, Charlie and Jenny, had VERY limited construction background; they were essentially starting from scratch. In this unique narrative, you will learn about the challenging conventional industry beginnings where Jenny came to the marriage with more tools than Charlie (according to Jenny).
Charlie’s prior venture in the restaurant and service sector, launched with college friends, led to a successful sale. As he grappled with his post-sale identity, juggling newfound time with raising three young children and dabbling in real estate investing, serendipity intervened. Coaching his son’s football team, he crossed paths with a luminary from the luxury homes domain. This encounter prompted Charlie to transition from investor to full-fledged partner. The year was 2008, a time not marked by grandeur.
Acquiring land in the northern Chicago suburbs, the duo paid a hefty price, shortly followed by the economic nosedive. Despite divergent visions for the new venture, Charlie and his partner navigated the storm the best they could, until they realized the differences in their visions created a bridge they could not cross, so they amicably parted ways. Stripping away his developer lens, Charlie embraced the outlook of a consumer, since most individuals find constructing a home is not the most enjoyable thing. He redirected his attention to simplifying the process while upholding his position as a bespoke home builder. Emphasizing values that prioritize customer needs, he concentrated on a service-oriented approach rather than a sales-oriented one. To this day, our purpose is to assist and serve with a perspective of more simplicity, integrity, and a customer-centric focus in the construction process. Recognizing the need for coordinated project management and client interaction, Jenny, his wife, joined the team – a decision that proved both challenging and rewarding.
Embellished by the turbulence of 2008, the journey was far from smooth. Building their way out of the challenging property – a collection of 11 homesites – Icon found its footing. Amidst the wake of the recession, the team capitalized on the downturn’s shattered subdivisions, by acquiring quite a bit of underperforming real estate and turning it around. Eventually, this success allowed the company to start developing their own communities. Each step of Icon’s growth provided opportunity and the chance to learn invaluable lessons from each home they brought to life.
Icon’s origins defy convention, akin to a bootstrap tale. The company’s growth, accompanied by personal evolution, has been a continuous learning process. Now, with an expansive team of approximately 30 skilled professionals, a comprehensive custom homes division, and a dedicated renovations arm, Icon Building Group stands resolute, a testament to resilience and innovation.
We Are Icon Building Group
Our Mission
To build high quality custom homes and remodels, within a dynamic, collaborative and customer focused process.
Our Vision
Our values, customer experience, technology and exceptional operational systems, make us the builder/remodeler of choice in the markets we serve.
Passion
We surround ourselves with passionate people that not only inspire themselves but others to bring positivity and excitement to Icon every single day. It is quite contagious! Our employees understand the importance of their role in relation to the direction and purpose of the organization. Passion is a hot commodity in the working world!
Integrity
Here at Icon, integrity comes in many forms. With upstanding characteristics in each employee, we show that honesty and dependability come together to form respect and trust amongst our clients!
Empathy
Empathy and compassion are incredibly important to us! We take the time to listen and take all concerns into consideration. Empathy paves the way for us to retain productive working relationships amongst ourselves, our trades and customers. We understand the importance of stepping into someone else’s shoes!
Respect
Anyone who crosses our path is treated with politeness, kindness, courtesy and respect. Expressing our opinions and ideas are encouraged with appreciation and dignity. The mutual respect helps productivity, knowledge and understanding across all boards. Our open-door policy is 24/7!
Fun
One value that sets us apart from 99.9999% of other companies is that we have FUN. It is plain as day that it has helped improve teamwork, built everlasting relationships amongst all, has increased employee retention and collaboration. Having fun leads to creativity! Happy = healthier.
Service
The culture of our company revolves heavily around service. We strive to do whatever we can to make our customers completely satisfied throughout the building and remodeling process. Any decision we make, we have our client’s experience in mind!
Accountability
Accountability is our number one expectation. It has led to employee moral and higher performances. We believe that employees are responsible for their decisions, actions and behaviors. But, same goes for our clients as well. We are all accountable for the outcome of each and every project. Teamwork!
Balance
Work-life balance is INCREDIBLY important. We recognize this makes our employees feel valued and happier both at work and at home. Each year we set personal goals to meet priorities that help us remain in control of our balance and accomplishments. Efficiency, efficiency, efficiency!
Responsibility
We believe that all employees hold themselves responsible and hold themselves accountable to deliver the best results possible. It allows Icon to have a compliant work environment and shows the commitment we make to achieving our visions company wide!
Innovation
At Icon, we surround ourselves with inspiration, creativity, and experience to the fullest possible extent. We simultaneously enhance our business performance and engagement on a daily basis keeping up with the latest and greatest technologies. We are committed to challenging each other to be the leading homebuilder in the Midwest!
Lets Work Together
The luxury residence you envision starts with a conversation.
Connect with the team that crafts custom legacies.
