Millersburg serves as the county seat and business hub of Holmes County, the heart of Ohio Amish Country. About half of the county's population is Amish, and the large majority are small business owners or work for manufacturing companies. The Hardwood Furniture Guild of Holmes County has 177 members, many of whom are Amish craftspeople contributing to a thriving furniture manufacturing sector.
Unlike typical rural counties, Holmes County's economic development grows from within. Amish businesses often start small, sometimes in a shed or chicken coop behind the family home, then expand over time with facility and workforce growth. In Millersburg, shops, artisans, and restaurants line Jackson Street in Historic Downtown. The larger village provides banks, grocery stores, fuel, pharmacies, emergency medical services, and county government offices.
Whether you're expanding a manufacturing operation that started on the family farm, developing commercial property to serve the tourism economy, or constructing facilities for the artisan and furniture sector, Millersburg projects benefit from experienced oversight. Business owners here deserve the same professional oversight as those in major metros, with respect for the community's unique character and collaborative business culture.
Every construction project has three parties, but only one works exclusively for you. Architects focus on design intent and code compliance. General Contractors focus on means, methods, and their own profitability. This leaves what we call the Leadership Vacuum where the owner's budget and schedule go unprotected.
DeVore Consulting fills this void. We work exclusively for you, never holding trade contracts or self-performing work. We translate construction complexity into clear business terms so you can make informed decisions while focusing on your operations.
We bring the same rigorous methodology to a Millersburg project that we would apply to a multimillion-dollar development in downtown Columbus.
We specialize in projects from $500K to $50M. Many Holmes County businesses have grown from small operations to substantial manufacturing facilities. Your expansion project receives dedicated attention.
We have no financial stake in your project beyond our fee. When we identify a problem, it's because it affects your bottom line, not because it impacts our margin.
Every dollar matters. We verify that pay applications reflect work actually completed, analyze change orders, and model the financial impact of decisions before they're made.
We support the project types serving Holmes County's distinctive economy:
Facility expansions for businesses that have outgrown their original locations and need professional-scale facilities.
New construction and renovation serving the downtown business district and tourism economy.
Facilities supporting the agricultural sector and related industries.
Hotels, restaurants, and visitor-serving facilities meeting tourism demand.
We serve communities throughout Northeast Ohio including Wooster, Coshocton, and New Philadelphia.
The best time to bring us in is before you've committed, while you're still evaluating sites, considering designs, or reviewing contractor proposals. Early engagement allows us to conduct Fatal Flaw Analysis that identifies site constraints and infrastructure requirements before they become costly surprises.
If your Millersburg project is already underway and experiencing problems, we can help stabilize the situation through rigorous contractor accountability. But prevention is always less expensive than repair.
Let's discuss how independent oversight can benefit your Millersburg or Holmes County project.
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.
Millersburg serves as the county seat and business hub of Holmes County. Shops, artisans, and restaurants line Jackson Street in Historic Downtown. The village provides banks, grocery stores, fuel, pharmacies, emergency medical services, and county government offices. The furniture manufacturing sector includes many sub shops that make small components for finished furniture pieces. This collaborative business culture supports ongoing commercial development.
About half of Holmes County's population is Amish, with the large majority being small business owners or manufacturing employees. The Hardwood Furniture Guild has 177 members, many of whom are Amish craftspeople. Unlike typical rural counties, Holmes County's economic development grows from within, with businesses starting small on family farms and expanding over time. This creates ongoing facility development needs.
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 .
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.
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.
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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