Manufacturing and industrial development along US-30 corridor in Van Wert, Ohio

Strategic Oversight in Ohio's Northwest Industrial Corridor

Why Van Wert Projects Need Independent Oversight

Van Wert and Van Wert County anchor Ohio's northwest industrial corridor with significant manufacturing presence. Eaton Corporation, State of the Art (the world's largest manufacturer of automotive dash mats), and Central Insurance Company represent major employers. The Van Wert Area Economic Development Corporation actively promotes business investment, offering competitive incentives and available industrial sites.

The county's location along US-30 provides excellent east-west transportation access, while proximity to Lima, Fort Wayne, and Toledo offers workforce and supply chain advantages. The Vantage Career Center and Wright State University Lake Campus support workforce development. Traditional agricultural strength combines with manufacturing and healthcare to create a balanced economy.

Whether you're expanding manufacturing facilities, developing industrial property along the US-30 corridor, or constructing commercial space for the regional economy, Van Wert projects benefit from experienced oversight. An independent Owner's Representative ensures that industrial project complexity doesn't compromise your budget and timeline.

What an Owner's Representative Does

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.

Our Approach to Protecting Your Investment

We bring disciplined methodology to manufacturing and commercial projects in Van Wert County.

Financial Rigor

Manufacturing and industrial facilities 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.

Mid-Market Focus

Projects in the $500K to $50M range are our specialty. These projects need professional oversight but may not attract attention from larger metropolitan firms.

Conflict-Free Advocacy

We never build; we only manage. This means our advice is never influenced by a desire to self-perform work or protect a margin.

Projects We Support in Van Wert

We support the project types driving Van Wert County's manufacturing and agricultural economy:

Industrial & Manufacturing

Automotive components, electrical equipment, and specialty manufacturing serving regional and national markets.

Agricultural Commercial

Facilities supporting Van Wert County's significant agricultural sector.

Commercial & Retail Development

New construction serving the regional economy and workforce.

Healthcare Facilities

Supporting Van Wert Health and healthcare providers with specialized construction.

We serve communities throughout Northwest Ohio including Lima, Celina, and Napoleon.

The Right Time to Engage an Owner's Rep

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, utility requirements, and site conditions while there's still time to negotiate or walk away.

If your Van Wert 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.

Schedule a consultation to ensure your Van Wert project starts on solid footing.

Services Overview

Services For Small Business Owners

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.

Black construction hard hat with scratches and a blue geometric elephant logo on the side.

FAQs

Is Your Project on Your Mind?

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.

What incentives support business expansion in Van Wert?

Van Wert offers job creation tax relief, tax abatement programs, jobs for land credit, and New Market Tax Credits. Cooper Farms Cooked Meats, Unverferth Manufacturing, and Melhorn Trucking have all expanded with incentive support. We help clients understand program eligibility and ensure projects meet documentation requirements.

What certified sites does Van Wert County offer for development?

Van Wert County offers a 1,550-acre Certified Mega Site, a 37-acre SiteOhio Authenticated site, city-owned industrial lots, and a new 100,000-square-foot spec building. Van Wert Vision Industrial Park has achieved food and beverage certification. These certified sites reduce development risk with completed due diligence. We help clients navigate site selection and development.

Can I hire an owner's representative for a single phase of my construction project?

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.

Can an owner's representative help secure financing for a construction 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.

Are there owner's representative services available for small business construction projects?

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 .

Are there owner's representative services that offer post-construction and facility management support?

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.

What are the typical fees for owner's representative services in construction?

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.

Can I get a free consultation with an owner's representative firm?

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.

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