Learning To Adapt

Justin Bauer’s path proves success requires hard work—and flexibility, too.

Life’s path is rarely straight, no matter how much we prepare for what is ahead. As any coach will tell you, talent only gets you so far. Success depends on hard work. And in the construction industry, it also requires a willingness to adapt your vision to an ever-changing reality.

Just ask Justin Bauer, President of Epcon Communities and Clarity Construction. “Fifteen years ago, I was a golf pro. By the end of this year, I’ll have built more than 500 homes. That’s not something I would have anticipated back then.”

Bauer got his start in home building as a project manager for Kimberley Development and moved up to vice president within 18 months. Over the next several years, he followed that path, thriving on the challenges as he continued to learn the business.

“I learned so much working for Bill Kimberley,” Bauer says. “He saw potential in me and gave me the opportunity to develop. Eventually it got to the point where I knew I needed to go out on my own if I was going to keep pushing myself. It wasn’t an easy decision, but if I hadn’t done it then, I never would.”

Truer words were never said.

Bauer started Clarity Construction in the fall of 2008, exactly one week before the infamous housing crash. But with his bridges burned behind him, Bauer plunged into his new business determined to find a new path. “I was able to get my first project right away in the Briarwood development in Ankeny,” he says. “And I pursued other projects while that was underway.”

But with a dried-up housing market, projects were hard to come by. “I ended up getting a big remodel project for a church on the south side of Des Moines. I probably wouldn’t have pursued that job if the market had been different then, but it ended up being a great experience,” he says.

Within 18 months of venturing out on his own, Bauer’s company participated in the 2010 Greater Des Moines Home Builders Association’s HomeShowExpo—and won Best of Show.

Clarity Construction built homes in the 2011 and 2012 HomeShowExpos and completed 35 projects over the next five years before Bauer’s path took another turn.

In the best of markets, building custom homes is a delicate balancing act because of crucial factors such as juggling subcontractor schedules, supply chain issues, and homeowner satisfaction. Having a healthy bottom line can feel like an impossible task at times.

“I love building homes, and I still go back and talk to former custom clients. We still have happy homeowners. I’d considered partnerships before, but one thing or another just never made it feel like the right decision,” Bauer explains. “When Epcon approached me in 2015, I knew immediately this was the direction to go.”

Epcon Communities, based in Dublin, Ohio, began in 1986; the franchise division began in 1995. The company was founded on the vision of meeting the needs and lifestyles of maturing buyers (see “Epcon Communities”).

“Our communities aren’t age-restricted,” Bauer says. “But the covenants and the home designs are geared toward buyers at that stage of life where either the kids are grown or the homeowners are nearing retirement. They’re looking for a quality, single-family home without some of the outside care, but they still want to be part of a community.”

Since joining the Epcon Communities family in 2015, Bauer’s team has grown steadily as a result of his belief in an important principle for any industry: If you find good people, you can teach them the specifics of your business.

Bauer’s Chief of Operations, Jeremy Zinn, had been with him for a while when the company became an Epcon franchise owner. Some of his other key team members came on board at that time.

“I’d known Justin since he was a golf pro when I was running the clubhouse at Briarwood,” says Sales Manager Andy Fagervik. “He approached me about coming on here as sales manager” because he saw the parallels in the two roles.

Construction Manager Drew Lindaman, a longtime friend of Bauer’s nephew, had just gotten his start in the construction industry when Bauer reached out to him about joining the team. “He’s a smart guy,” Bauer says, “and I knew I could put him in charge and he’d hit the ground running.”

The entire company hit the ground running, quickly achieving top ten standing with Epcon and earning Bauer a place on the Summit Group with other franchisee leaders. “I learn a lot from the other members of the Summit Group, and we challenge each other. They set the bar pretty high,” Bauer says.

Not only does the Epcon relationship provide motivation, it offers support in numerous ways.

Fagervik says, “It’s a great balance of freedom and support. They give us the freedom to put our own stamp on our projects, but they’re backing us up every step of the way. If I have a question for their corporate marketing team, they’re available any time I call.”

“One of the advantages to being part of Epcon is learning from the other builders that are part of the group,” says Lindaman. “We got to tour a completed model of the new plan before we built ours for the Home Show. We could talk to that builder about how the construction process went, and we knew how we wanted to tweak the plan for our project.”

Bauer says the Epcon model is a perfect fit for central Iowa. Clarity’s growth demonstrates that. Seven years after making the transition, the company has six communities either complete or in-process and will have a total of 275 homes built by the end of 2022.

None of that would have been possible if Bauer had stayed on the path he was following in 2001.

“Partnering with Epcon and having this great team on board, I’m living a happier life, and I’m excited about where we’re headed,” Bauer says.