Compass
Compass
THE COMPASS DIFFERENCE

A SMALL TEAM WITH A BIG COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE AND INTEGRITY

NOT YOUR AVERAGE GENERAL CONTRACTORS

Based in Indianapolis, Compass is a boutique firm of been-there, done-that professionals driven to delight our clients from start to finish.

We believe the best projects are built on solid relationships. We put people at the heart of everything we do. And that's why going the extra mile is nothing new for us. We consistently look for ways to do our work better than you expect or imagine—because we can and we care.

Compass Core Values

CARES represents the guiding principles of our company and the commitment we make to clients and partners every day.

CORE PURPOSE

Building exceptional leaders and enduring relationships worth celebrating

23

Million S.F. of Construction

Since 2017

221

delighted smiles

from clients this year

20

Years average experience

of Compass leadership

8th

Fastest-growing company

IBJ Fast25 2021

Collaboration

Machines may help construct buildings, but people bring visions and dreams to life. We’re a people-focused company where employees, partners and clients are heard, valued and empowered. We may be general contractors, but people are at the heart of what we do. Because great teamwork leads to great projects.

Accountability

A building is only as strong as its foundation. That’s why we’ve built our business from the ground up on integrity. We follow through on commitments and do what we say — period. No dropped deadlines or false promises. Just honest to goodness dependability earning trust and confidence.

Results

At Compass, we believe in setting tangible goals that deliver real results for our clients and ourselves. But that’s not enough. We take the extra effort and set the bar high to go above and beyond expectations, then work tirelessly to reach those milestones each and every time.

Enthusiasm

We believe that approaching our projects and daily tasks with enthusiasm is critical to our success. This passion fosters our success and supports our attitude to enjoy the building process.

Stewardship

Compass is honored to be trusted by our clients, and we don’t take it lightly. Our team puts ourselves in your shoes, then carefully handles every project like it’s our own. We work hard to steward your budget, craft the best projects, and celebrate great outcomes we can all be proud of.

  • Taking A Job Well Done to the Next Level

    Sure, in our day-to-day we construct buildings, but really, we’re in the people business. Cultivating strong relationships with our clients, partners, staff, subs, and vendors is at the core of who we are. Because without people, our work would be hollow.

    This people-first mentality fuels us to go above and beyond and to delight clients at every turn. Whether that’s achieving project milestones early, anticipating and avoiding problems, doing our 11-month warranty walkthroughs, or simply warm, ongoing communication, our goal is to pleasantly surprise you again and again.

Collaborative Construction

01

Right Fit

We believe great projects happen when everyone's aiming at the same target. Alignment of project goals including feasibility of program, budget, schedule, values, delivery method, right team and timing are all top priorities. We won’t say 'Yes!' to a project unless we know it's a great fit for both of us and we can knock it out of the park.

02

Planning

Our first step is to sit down and talk about what’s important to you and ask the right questions. Getting all the info up front allows us to create knockout plans ahead and ensure better outcomes. No secrets. No shots in the dark. Just expertise shared with clear and honest communication. We will work closely with the design professionals to get their input and provide actionable advice, guidance, and systems analysis.

03

Validation

Our goal here is to establish a clear plan for the project (budget, schedule, logistics). We steward your checkbook like it's our own and act with full transparency. We fill in all the blanks to get you accurate pricing from the start, and we're always ready to show every nickel we’ve spent. Also, we're crystal clear with partners and subs to avoid unwanted budget or schedule surprises.

04

Build

We’ve developed a game plan, now it’s time to make the magic happen. We check in regularly with our teams and you, making sure any concerns or questions are addressed immediately. Each week our Superintendent sends a status report with photos, stats, and updates so you know exactly what’s going on now and what’s ahead. Plus our Client Advocacy Program ensures periodic site visits from senior leaders so you feel well taken care of and everything’s on track with budget and schedule. Our goal is to make the whole process feel easy and enjoyable, so you can rest assured knowing your goals are being met and best interests are kept top of mind.

05

Project Turnover

We take it seriously that the last impression of a project is the lasting impression. We pride ourselves on doing a great job start to finish. That means fulfilling every and all obligations and leaving sites in pristine condition. We tie up any and all loose ends and won't stop until our clients are delighted with the work we've done. Our Commissioning Process means we go through your building with a fine-toothed comb at the end, making sure everything meets specs and does what it’s supposed to do and that you feel confident and capable maximizing the use of your new space.

06

Ongoing Services

Because we care deeply about the work we do and the folks we do it for, we stay in touch with clients long after projects wrap up. Clients and partners regularly become friends and we're here for people when they need us. Just as one example, our team does 11-month walkthroughs to catch any trouble spots before warranties expire. Our clients know they can count on us for the long haul.

07

Repeat Business

There's a reason customers come back to us again and again. They know we're a small team with big ideas that always has their back. We openly share lessons learned, expertise, and insights after projects are complete. And we're happy to hop in the truck and inspect a potential site with you down the road. Because at the end of the day, a win for you is a win for us. We're in this together. And that togetherness extends into our community, too. Our team can often be found partnering up with clients and friends on community service projects like Habitat for Humanity or lending a hand in other ways.

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  • Leadership

Meet Our Team


Bill McCarthy

Executive Chairman

With over 35 years of experience, Bill is more than familiar with the Indianapolis construction and business market. Armed with a passion for a safety and service-oriented culture, he’s quick to ensure all operations are handled with the utmost integrity. Bill also believes every project is an opportunity to create customer-centric relationships where he leads by example every step of the way.

Prior to joining Compass, Bill was President and CEO of Pepper Construction Group, a large Chicago-based contractor. He earned his B.S. in architecture at the University of Illinois and his master's degree in management from the Northwestern University Kellogg Graduate School of Management.

When he’s not at work, Bill enjoys giving back to the community. He is the founding president of Rebuilding Together Indianapolis, past vice president of Crossroads Council Boy Scouts of America, and a past chair of Indiana Construction Roundtable Diversity Initiative. He also currently sits on the boards of the Eskenazi Health Foundation and Fifth Third Bank. Bill lives on the northeast side of Indy with his wife, Moriag. Together, they enjoy spending time with their four adult sons and skiing out west in the winter.

Bill McCarthy

Executive Chairman
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James Belange

CEO

With over 22 years of experience in the construction industry, James is an expert specializing in Design-Build services. He also brings extensive pre-construction know-how to the table from several markets including healthcare, education, religious, retail, commercial, and industrial. His analytical thinking and penchant for problem-solving produce innovative solutions, bringing success to both Compass and clients alike.

James earned a B.S. in building construction management from Purdue University. Born and raised in Lafayette, he currently lives in Westfield with his wife and two kids. He’s an avid outdoorsman and also enjoys completing projects around the house.

James Belange

CEO
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Mark Wolf

CFO

Jared Laub

Partner, COO

Jared oversees Compass’s project management teams and accounting system where he manages owner contracts, sub contracts, and schedules. With over 15 years of industry experience, he gained valuable insight as a project engineer and manager at Pepper Construction before joining Compass. Jared enjoys rallying teams, training project managers, and creatively solving problems in our culture where everyone is willing to forget titles, roll up their sleeves, and get their hands dirty to get the job done right.

Jared earned his bachelor’s in building construction management and organizational leadership from Purdue University. He enjoys traveling with his wife and four kids, playing sports, gardening, and home improvement projects. Jared coaches his son's soccer team and also volunteers at his kids’ elementary school in Westfield.

Jared Laub

Partner, COO
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Craig Steele

Partner, Vice President of Operations

Craig is both a construction veteran with over 29 years of experience and a US Navy veteran where he served with the Civil Engineering Corps. Before coming to Compass, he worked with a large construction company in Atlanta and then Pepper Construction. As Vice President of Operations, he oversees and directly manages field operations while ensuring client satisfaction and quality are ensured on all projects. He enjoys seeing construction in action at the job sites, coaching project teams, and mentoring younger project managers.

Craig earned his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Purdue University. He lives in Cicero with his wife and has two young adult daughters. He enjoys boating and fishing on Morse Reservoir and is an avid DIY-er renovating his home. He also volunteers with Habitat for Humanity and Rebuilding Together Indianapolis.

Craig Steele

Partner, Vice President of Operations
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Rich Prestholt

Preconstruction Executive

Drew Poston

VP, Business Development

As Compass’s first hire, Drew has been a part of our amazing growth and accomplishments since 2010. Utilizing his longstanding relationships within the real estate brokerage and ownership community, Drew helps Compass operate with an owner mindset, addressing the true needs of the client, and looking for areas in which to add value to every project. He also facilitates client satisfaction by ensuring every member of the team is upholding our core values of CARES and delighting our clients on every project.

Drew earned his B.S. in organizational leadership from Purdue University in his hometown, Fort Wayne. He currently lives near Broad Ripple where he enjoys spending time with his son, Ryder, playing golf, and working out at the gym. As an active member of the community, Drew has also served as a board member of BarnRaisers of Indiana and the Indianapolis Zoo Associate Council.

Drew Poston

VP, Business Development
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Jade Dugger

Director of Talent and Culture

Johnny Popp

Project Executive

Travis Ballman

Project Executive

Brian Zeronik

Senior Superintendent

David Green

Senior Superintendent
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