Joan Holmes

04/18/2019 |

Joan serves as the Office Manager and oversees the daily administrative functions of both the Scenic and Construction Divisions of the company. She works closely with the company Controller, to ensure all accounts payable, accounts receivable, vendor insurance, and lien release compliance is up to date. Joan has been an integral part of JK2 since its inception, having performed all office related and accounting duties. She is the mother of J-Julie, K-Karon, and K-Kelin (JK2) and without her, JK2 would not exist.

Michael Holmes

01/03/2019 | Comment
As General Superintendent, Michael is responsible for the oversight of multi-project field operations, quality control, and the company safety program. Michael provides guidance and supervision for all field superintendents and ensures that company standards and procedures are employed on all projects. He has built an impeccable relationship with City and County building inspectors and as company liaison, Michael is constantly working through field issues as they arise with Owners, Architects, and Subcontractors. Michael started his construction career in 1986, gaining on the job training as a carpenter on Orlando’s Sun Bank Center tower, and worked on various other large commercial projects gaining construction field experience. His close relationships with our clients, ensures honest communication and a strong bond, which consistently results in repeat business.

Why did you join the JK2 team?

In 1989, I had just finished working on the completion of the Orlando Sun Bank Center and the Ocala Hilton when new high rise construction began to slow down. JK2 Holmes Constructors was starting to grow and I was offered a position that would allow me to expand my skills. JK2 was expanding with new work at Universal Studios and I saw the need for my field skills to help with the company growth.

What has been your greatest accomplishment at JK2?

Each project completion is a memorable accomplishment! What stands out the most is landing the Westgate Resorts Account and completing the full demolition and build-out of Westgate Palace Tower 2. To date, this project has been JK2’s largest single completed project with a contract value of over $22 million.

What do you do you enjoy doing outside of work?

I enjoy spending time with family and friends. I love being outdoors, whether I’m off-shore fishing, boating, hunting, camping, or traveling around in the R.V.

Rick Amundson

01/02/2019 | Comment

Rick Amundson, VP of Operations

As the Vice President in charge of Operations, Rick is instrumental in the negotiation, design, construction and close out of all commercial projects at JK2, managing all field and office staff necessary to complete the clients project on time and on budget.

Prior to joining JK2, Rick owned his own contracting company and met Paul Holmes during the negotiation of the Palisades Golf Course Clubhouse. In 1997, Rick joined JK2 while still a relatively small contracting company working out of his home, since the main office was behind the Chicken Coop at Paul’s house guarded by a 135 pound Rottweiler. JK2 now operates out of the 5,400 square foot office within the AECC Industrial Park. As a partner at JK2 and a partner in the AH2 development company, Rick helped develop the industrial park that is now home to JK2 Construction and JK2 Scenic. As one of the founders of the JK2 Scenic Division in 2009, under the JK2 umbrella, Rick has seen both the Construction Division and the Scenic Division survive the economic downturn and thrive over the past three years to regain a respected place in the market.

Rick entered the construction industry before graduating from high school here in Orlando in 1978, working as a carpenter. While working as a mason laborer and finally being hired by UPS in Gainesville, Rick financed his own education. Since receiving his Bachelor of Building Construction degree from the University of Florida in 1984 and receiving his State Certified Contractors License in 1986, Rick has worked in Land Development, Commercial and Residential Construction for large commercial contractors and national residential contractors.

Why did you join the JK2 Team:

Paul Holmes is one of the most honest and hardworking people I had met and he had a vision for a larger company. I met Paul and at a time when he needed to expand and I needed a change from residential construction. I had a background in commercial construction and the fit for the two of us was right for an upcoming project. I was a self-starter and liked running projects on my own, so with the support of the office I completed my first project at JK2, the Palisades Golf Course Clubhouse Facility, on time and under budget. I could not have done it without the help of a great superintendent now retired – Thank You Bud!

What has been your greatest accomplishment at JK2?

There are so many accomplishments, it is hard to single out one and here is a list of some of the most memorable moments in my career: Working a 24-Hour shift at the Hard Rock Hotel to get it ready for the first guests the next day; Starting construction on Phase I at AECC and building JK2’s first office in Building One; Starting construction on Phase II of AECC and moving into our current office in Building Three; Watching Jimmy Buffets Airplane wheeled into place at CityWalk for the opening of the Lone Palm; Starting the JK2 Scenic Division; Completion of Tower 2 at the Westgate Palace; and seeing my son at work in the Scenic Shop.

What do you enjoy doing outside work?

What I enjoy the most is vacationing with my family, whether we are snow skiing in Colorado or Utah, catching Lobster in the Keys, relaxing in Mexico, visiting family in Virginia, or climbing the Beehive in Maine….I enjoy it all. I enjoy spending time outside on the boat (fishing – freshwater & saltwater both inshore and offshore) and golf (although there is not enough time to be good at it, I enjoy it just the same).

Paul Holmes

01/01/2019 | Comment

Paul is the Founder and President of JK2 Holmes Constructors, LLC. The company was originally started in 1983, as a part time sole proprietorship after Paul earned his State of Florida General Contractors license, and in 1987 it was operating as a full-time business. Paul oversees the operations of both the Construction and Scenic Divisions, making strategic decisions for the management and growth of the company. His role has evolved from founder, with initial duties including everything from dealing with construction projects as an estimator, superintendent, and project manager, to managing the overall administrative duties of payroll, payables, receivables, accounting, and human resources of the company. The JK2 full time staff has grown to over 23 employees and his role has evolved from managing daily operations to the visioning and strategic growth planning of the company.

Paul started his construction career in 1982 as a Project Scheduler for Tishman Construction Company of Florida, who at the time was the Construction Manager for the build-out of Disney’s Epcot Project. After leaving Tishman, Paul worked for the Florida Division of Omni Construction on the Orange County Administration Building, serving as Assistant Project Manager, and then went to McDevitt Street Company and served as a Project Manager. While at McDevitt Street Company, Paul guided daily construction activities on two hotels, an office building, and worked with the estimating department on numerous pre-construction and hard bid projects. After gaining this experience and confidence working for three large General Contractors, Paul decided it was time to enter the construction business and founded JK2.

Paul earned a Bachelor of Science with Honors in Business Administration from the University of Florida in 1976. He attended graduate school at the University of Florida, School of Building Construction, from 1980 thru 1981. He holds a State of Florida General Contractors License (CGC 024901), a State of North Carolina General Contractors License (No. 63373) and is a LEED Accredited Professional. Paul has been married to his wife Joan for over 37 years and together they successfully raised and college educated three daughters (JK2), all earning degrees from the University of Florida (Go Gators!). Paul currently serves on the St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Parish Facilities and Maintenance Committee and serves on the Diocese of Orlando Mission Office, Construction Steering Committee.

Why did you name the company JK2?

I named the company after my three daughters J-Julie, K-Karon and K-Kelin, thus JK2. I wanted a unique company identity that captured the essence of what is important in my life, my family. Along with my wife Joan, JK2 has inspired me to press forward through the ups and downs of the economy, which every business encounters.

What was your favorite construction project and why?

My most memorable construction project was the Universal Studios Entrance Archway and Hardscape Package, which encompassed all hardscape work from the Islands of Adventure entrance bridge to the Universal Studios bridge. The project was built in 1998 and tested all prior construction and business skills that myself and staff developed throughout our careers. It required leading a skilled construction management team, hard bid estimating, value engineering after being awarded the project, CMP scheduling, a stretch of our bonding capacity and technical understanding of all aspects of construction.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

Besides running a construction company, I enjoy all outdoor activities such as snow skiing, scuba diving, golfing, boating, fishing and traveling. Most rewarding of all is being able to enjoy these activities with my family. I have also been able to utilize my construction skills outside of the business to help build schools and houses in the Dominican Republic, on numerous mission trips, and was a founding Board member of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Apopka, for which I won a Jefferson Award for Community Service.

– BSBA University of Florida 1976