George Green was one of 16 million men and women who, at the peak of World War II, served our nation.  Today, at age 90, he is one of the 2 million surviving World War II veterans.  As president emeritus of ISC Contracting, he is one of a much smaller number who still goes to the office several mornings a week.

George was 60 years of age and a seasoned construction industry executive when he convinced his son, Dan, to open a contracting firm with him in 1982.  Now celebrating its 30th year in business,  ISC Contracting is today a $25 million company, one of the Midwest's leading tenant finish contractors and a nationally known retail contractor.  

“From Day One, our philosophy was simple.  We put our customers’ needs first, and do the best job we can with the best possible people,” says Dan Green, who has led the company's day-to-day operations for the past 25 years.   

It's a philosophy that has served the company well.  People who come to work at ISC tend to stay for the long haul.  Scott Seymour joined the company in 1988 as superintendent of labor before being promoted to into project management, and eventually, offered an ownership stake in the firm.   

Chris Gaylord hired on as the warehouse manager 22 years ago is one of the firm's top senior project managers.   John Perkowski, superintendent of labor and the company's safety manager, has been around since 1994.   Senior Project Manager Brian Stotts joined two years after John in 1996.

"It's always been our goal to find people with an old-fashioned work ethic, and who are loyal and dedicated to the company's success," says Dan. "Then we give  them the opportunity to grow."

Expanding into greener horizons

All that experience has been put to good use over the past three decades as ISC helped create many high-profile workspaces and retail locations in St. Louis and around the country.  That includes everything from the flagship Levis store in New York City’s Times Square, to law offices for Bryan Cave, banks, restaurants and corporate offices throughout the St. Louis region.  

Over the years, ISC has expanded not only the kind of projects it takes on, but also the way it approaches the work.  Dan's son, Matt, an assistant project manager, is LEED-certified, a designation awarded to individuals who demonstrate a thorough understanding of green building practices and principles. He is leading the company's efforts to incorporate construction practices that result in environmentally responsible, economically efficient and healthy places to live and work.

That includes ISC's own corporate headquarters, where the company now has both a garden and composting system that were built and are maintained by employees. "We have also made recycling a priority at our office, and have improved our energy efficiency in ways that are reducing our electric bill by $600 to $800 a year," explains Dan.  

"We believe in practicing what we preach," says Dan. "That's important, because we plan to be around another 30 years."