Celina and Mercer County combine manufacturing strength with tourism amenities along Grand Lake St. Marys, Ohio's largest inland lake. Crown Equipment, the fifth-largest forklift manufacturer in the world, employs over 3,000 people in the New Bremen-Celina area. Reynolds and Reynolds, TIFCO Industries, and Dannon Yogurt (a major Danone production facility) round out major employers. Mercer County consistently ranks among Ohio's top manufacturing counties per capita.
The Mercer County Community Improvement Corporation actively promotes business development while the Grand Lake Region Visitors Center supports tourism. The county's location along the US-33 and US-127 corridors provides transportation access to Columbus, Dayton, and Fort Wayne markets. Strong workforce development partnerships between employers and educational institutions support continued industrial growth.
Whether you're expanding manufacturing facilities for global companies, developing industrial property, or constructing commercial or hospitality space along the lake, Celina projects benefit from experienced oversight. An independent Owner's Representative ensures that development complexity doesn't compromise your budget and timeline.
Every construction project involves three core parties: the Architect, focused on design and code compliance; the General Contractor, focused on means, methods, and their own profitability; and the Owner, who funds everything but often lacks the technical expertise to protect their investment. This creates what we call the Leadership Vacuum, where no one is truly accountable for the owner's budget and schedule.
DeVore Consulting fills this vacuum. We work exclusively for you, never holding trade contracts or self-performing work. Our role is to translate your business objectives into construction outcomes, providing a single point of accountability from pre-design through project closeout.
We bring disciplined methodology to manufacturing and commercial projects in Mercer County.
Manufacturing facilities for global companies demand precise budget control. We verify that pay applications reflect work actually completed, analyze change orders, and model the financial impact of decisions before they're made.
Projects in the $500K to $50M range are our specialty. These projects need professional oversight but may not attract attention from larger metropolitan firms.
We never build; we only manage. This means our advice is never influenced by a desire to self-perform work or protect a margin.
We support the project types driving Mercer County's diverse economy:
Forklift production, food processing, and related manufacturing for global companies.
Hotels, restaurants, and recreational facilities serving Grand Lake St. Marys visitors.
New construction serving the regional economy and workforce.
Facilities supporting Mercer County's significant agricultural sector.
We serve communities throughout West Central Ohio including Sidney, Van Wert, and Wapakoneta.
The greatest value we provide comes from early engagement, before you've committed to a property or finalized designs. Our Fatal Flaw Analysis investigates infrastructure capacity, lake-area environmental considerations, and site conditions while there's still time to negotiate or walk away.
If your Celina project is already underway and facing challenges, we can help stabilize the situation through rigorous change order review and contractor accountability. But prevention is always more cost-effective than cure.
Reach out to explore how independent oversight can protect your Celina investment.
We provide comprehensive project oversight for business owners and developers who need expert guidance through the construction process. With 20+ years overseeing the design and construction of residential and commercial, we know where problems hide and how to prevent them.
These FAQs are a starting point, but your project has specific goals, risks, and financial stakes. My role is to be your trusted guide.I protect your time and money by simplifying the process, providing experienced oversight, and preventing costly mistakes before they happen.
Growing Acres Industrial Park is SiteOhio Authenticated, placing it among Ohio's top sites for commercial development. Agracel completed a 50,000-square-foot spec building expandable to 300,000 square feet, the first large speculative industrial facility in Mercer County in decades. The park offers access to over 200,000 workers within 45 miles.
Celina Aluminum Precision Technology is investing $59.1 million in new equipment including three casting machines using Honda's patented HFEMDC technology. This major automotive manufacturing investment absorbs contractor capacity in Mercer County. Mid-market projects need professional organization to compete for contractor attention during this expansion.
Absolutely. While we add the most value by being involved from pre-construction through closeout , we can tailor our services to your specific needs. We are often brought in just for pre-construction planning, to help with contractor selection, or to get a troubled project that's already underway back on track.
Yes. An owner's rep with a strong financial background is invaluable here. With an MBA in Real Estate Finance, we help you prepare the realistic, bank-ready documents lenders need to see. We create defensible pro formas, validate construction budgets, and manage the loan draw process, which builds essential trust and credibility with your lender.
Depending on scope, fees typically range from 0.5% to 1% of the total construction cost, depending on the project's complexity, timeline, and the specific scope of services you need . Studies have shown this investment typically saves clients 3-5% on total construction costs through rigorous contractor management, change order review, and problem prevention, meaning the service more than pays for itself.
Yes. Our service doesn't end when the contractor hands over the keys. Our "Phase 4: Closeout" process includes comprehensive warranty management and post-occupancy support to ensure your building functions as intended. We ensure all final documentation and manuals are collected, which is the foundation for your long-term facility management.
Yes. While some firms only focus on large institutional projects, we specialize in guiding small business owners and first-time developers. The need for an owner's rep depends more on your project's complexity than its size. A complex $2M restaurant renovation often has more risk than a simple $5M warehouse. We can help you assess if professional oversight makes financial sense for your specific project .
Of course. We'll provide you with all the free advice you can handle. But to get started formally, we'll have to make sure our services align with you needs. We'll get to know your project aspirations and put together a proposal. Until we have an agreement no payment is expected.
This information goes to a real human being. Its a great way to learn more and start the conversation without any obligation. We will never provide your personal or contact information to a 3rd party.
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