Both divisions take home Eagle Awards from ABC Central Florida

APOPKA, Fla. (October 20, 2020) — The JK2 family of companies aims to deliver excellence on every project they complete. Now, they have been honored for five outstanding projects by the Associated Builders and Contractors of Central Florida.

JK2 Construction was honored with two Eagle Awards for its work on the Bigfire restaurant and the TODAY Café, and JK2 Scenic received accolades for its work on the Brownwood Hotel & Spa in The Villages.

The companies each also won an Eagle Merit award. JK2 Construction was honored for its work on the Orlando City Soccer Training Facility, and JK2 Scenic was recognized for its work on Universal’s Surfside Inn & Suites.

The awards are given by ABC Central Florida, a top trade organization, in recognition for truly excellent projects.

“We have built our reputation on serving as a respected and valued partner on all of the projects we work on,” said Paul Holmes, founder of JK2. “I’m incredibly proud of both JK2 Construction and JK2 Scenic for continuing that tradition of excellence and being recognized among an outstanding field of our peers.”

JK2 Construction earned recognition for two Universal Orlando projects. The first is a restaurant located at Universal CityWalk, where JK2 Construction was responsible for the demolition of the former Emeril’s restaurant and complete build out of the new Bigfire American Fare; including a state-of-the-art kitchen, seating areas, balcony and exhibition grill. The company also received an award for work on the TODAY Café at Universal Studios Florida, repurposing an existing space and turning it into an eatery that mirrors the set of NBC’s The Today Show.

JK2 Scenic was recognized for its recent work on the Brownwood Hotel & Spa in The Villages. JK2 Scenic added “wow” features throughout the hotel, including wood paneling, trim and ceiling details, custom millwork and more in the lobby, bar, common area hallways, meeting spaces and beyond.

The company has a strong history in the Eagle Award competition, receiving 16 additional awards over the past four years.

ABC’s EIC award ceremony took place Saturday, Oct. 17, at the Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate.

For more information about JK2, visit www.jk2.com.

About JK2 Construction

JK2 Construction, a family-owned company founded in 1987, has become a leader in the construction industry. The company specializes in design-build, commercial, retail, entertainment, restaurant, industrial and amenity projects. Under the current leadership team, the company has experienced phenomenal growth, receiving multiple ABC Eagle Awards, being named to the Gator 100 list multiple years, making Orlando Business Journal’s Fast 50 list and being recognized as one of Orlando Business Journal’s Golden 100 as a top privately held company in Central Florida. The company is a trusted, respected and valued partner who builds with a creative project approach and has principal level involvement in every project. For more information, visit jk2construction.com.

About JK2 Scenic

JK2 Scenic focuses on building dreams and bringing unique construction visions to life in a creative way. The company specializes in themed architectural millwork, custom props and specialty items for retail, attraction, entertainment, hospitality and restaurant clients. Founded in 2008 as part of the JK2 family of companies, JK2 Scenic became its own company in 2017. Led by President Julie Holmes, the company has seen amazing growth and has been honored numerous times, receiving multiple Associated Builders and Contractors Eagle Awards and making the Orlando Business Journal’s Fast 50 list. JK2 Scenic provides creative solutions to uncommon ideas and has worked with world-class theme parks and national brands. For more information about JK2 Scenic, visit jk2scenic.com or call (407) 880-8400.

We have all been required to make adjustments in our everyday lives due to COVID-19, but one area you may not have considered is the nation’s vital blood supply.

As social distancing has become the norm and people are staying home, there have been an unprecedented amount of blood drive cancellations. Luckily, local Florida blood center OneBlood has not given up. Instead, by taking the necessary precautions to help prevent further spread of coronavirus, OneBlood has continued to make donating blood a safe and comforting process.

JK2 Construction and JK2 Scenic were proud to have recently partnered with OneBlood to host the Big Red Bus for a blood drive. They have always been dedicated to giving back to the community and there’s no better time than now.

“Blood is our lifeline; it courses through each and every one of us and has an unfortunately short shelf life, so I encourage those who are eligible to donate to please do so, especially during this time of uncertainty,” said Scott Archey, Preconstruction Manager at JK2.

These facts underscore just how vital your donation is.

• Blood donations have an expiration date of 42 days.
• 4.5 million Americans would perish each year without lifesaving blood transfusions.
• 43,000 pints of blood are used daily in North America.
• One pint of your blood has the potential to save up to three lives.

It is equally important for those who have already contracted the coronavirus and have recovered to reach out to their nearest blood center and make their donation. With support from the American Red Cross, OneBlood has been resolute in supporting Convalescent Plasma therapy (CP), an experimental treatment approved by the FDA to aid those who are experiencing life-threatening coronavirus infections. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, CP is obtained by collecting whole blood or plasma from a patient who has a survived a previous infection and developed humoral immunity against the pathogen responsible for the disease in question.

We at JK2 are proud to stand with the heroes in our community who continue to push for the life-saving gift of blood and we encourage you to join us.

For more information on how you can host the Big Red Bus, please contact Annette Prause at Annette.Prause@oneblood.org or visit oneblood.org to find a blood donation center near you!

Company named to Gator100 list for fourth time

APOPKA, Fla. (March 3, 2020) – Many JK2 Construction employees got their start at the University of Florida. Now, the company has been honored for how far it has come by the university itself.

JK2 Construction was named to the elite Gator100 list for the fourth time because of its incredible growth.

The Gator100 awards, in their sixth year, recognize the 100 fastest-growing businesses in the world that are owned or led by alumni of the University of Florida. The list comprises some of the most innovative and successful businesses in U.S. and beyond.

“I’m incredibly proud to be a UF alumnus,” said Paul Holmes, founder of JK2. “I know what I learned there gave me the foundation to build my business, and UF gave many of my staff members the tools they need to do the work we do every day. To be recognized among other outstanding alumni businesses is truly an honor.”

The honorees are chosen and ranked based on compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) over a three-year period. To qualify, companies must have been in business for at least five years and had revenues of $250,000 or more every year since 2016. From January 2016 to October 2019, a UF alumnus or alumna must have owned 50 percent or more of the company, or have served as chief executive, or have founded the company and served on the senior management team. Ernst & Young calculates the CAGR. Hundreds of companies apply for the honor each year.

“The Gator100 honors UF alumni from across the university who are founding and growing amazing companies around the country,” said Matt Hodge, Associate Vice President for Development & Alumni Relations at University of Florida Advancement. “It’s an incredible affirmation of the innovative and entrepreneurial spirit of the Gator Nation.”

Representatives from JK2 Construction attended the awards ceremony in Gainesville on February 28, 2020. The company was ranked No. 61 with a CAGR of 35 percent, up from a ranking of 85 and CAGR of 29.46 percent last year.  

This growth reflects a record year in 2019 for JK2 Construction. JK2 saw its highest revenue growth since the Great Recession and its second highest revenue mark in its 33-year history. JK2 Construction also completed several banner projects for theme parks and national home builders in the last year and took home three Excellence in Construction awards from ABC Central Florida.

JK2 currently has several UF graduates in leadership roles, including: JK2 Founder Paul Holmes; JK2 Construction leaders Rick Amundson, COO, and Dan Shaffer, Pre-Construction Director; Office Manager Joan Holmes and JK2 Scenic President Julie Holmes.

Paul Holmes earned a Bachelor of Science with honors in business, followed by graduate studies at the School of Building Construction. Rick Amundson received a Bachelor of Building Construction. Dan Shaffer received a Bachelor of Finance. Julie Holmes was a Cum Laude graduate, earning a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering and is a three-year letter winner of the University of Florida women’s swimming and diving team.

For more information about JK2 Construction, visit jk2construction.com. For more information about the Gator100, visit gator100.ufl.edu. 

About JK2 Construction

JK2 Construction, a family-owned company founded in 1987, has become a leader in the construction industry. The company specializes in design-build, commercial, retail, entertainment, restaurant, industrial, amenity and time share projects.  JK2 Construction has completed projects throughout the nation, including work for major theme parks, themed restaurants and national home builders. The company is a trusted, respected and valued partner who builds with a creative project approach and has principal level involvement in every project. For more information, visit jk2construction.com.

Central Florida construction companies saw revenue growth, signature projects

APOPKA, Fla. – The JK2 family of companies is proud to announce the celebration of a record year in 2019.

JK2 saw its highest revenue growth since the Great Recession more than a decade before and its second highest revenue mark in its 33-year history.

The outstanding growth was fueled by several landmark projects for the brand, as well as strategic expansions in key areas of expertise including hotels, theme park construction and clubhouse amenity centers.

“I started JK2 as a family business,” said Paul Holmes, founder of JK2. “To see how much it has grown and the world-class projects we are building, the business has come a long way and makes me incredibly proud. I look forward to seeing where we will go next.”

JK2 Scenic took major steps forward in 2019 when the company officially announced its designation as a woman-owned and operated business. Its leader, Julie Holmes, was also named to the Orlando Business Journal’s list of Women Who Mean Business.

JK2 Scenic completed work on several major resort and theme park projects, drawing on its expertise in millwork, theming and specialty construction.

JK2 Construction also saw expanded work in key vertical markets in 2019. The company served as the general contractor on several major theme park construction projects and completed amenity centers for national home builders. A signature project for the year was the 17,000-square-foot Jack Nicklaus Clubhouse in Reunion, Florida, which the company completed three months ahead of schedule.

The JK2 companies were also recognized for outstanding work several times in 2019. Both companies were named to the Gator100 list for the third time, an honor that recognizes the fastest growing businesses led by University of Florida alumni.

The companies took home eight Eagle Awards from the Central Florida Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors for Excellence in Construction.

The new year is already off to a fast start for JK2.

“We’re looking forward to building on this success in 2020 with several signature projects in the works and another year of great growth projected,” Holmes said.

For more information about JK2, visit www.jk2.com.

About JK2 Construction

JK2 Construction, a family-owned company founded in 1987, has become a leader in the construction industry. The company specializes in design-build, commercial, retail, entertainment, restaurant, industrial, amenity and time share projects.  JK2 Construction has completed projects throughout the nation, including work for major theme parks, themed restaurants and national home builders. The company is a trusted, respected and valued partner who builds with a creative project approach and has principal level involvement in every project. For more information, visit jk2construction.com.

About JK2 Scenic JK2 Scenic focuses on building dreams and bringing unique construction visions to life in a creative way. The company specializes in themed architectural millwork, custom props and specialty items for retail, attraction, entertainment, hospitality and restaurant clients. Founded in 2008 as part of the JK2 family of companies, JK2 Scenic became its own company in 2017. Led by President Julie Holmes, the company has seen amazing growth and has been honored numerous times, receiving multiple Associated Builders and Contractors Eagle Awards and making the Orlando Business Journal’s Fast 50 list. JK2 Scenic provides creative solutions to uncommon ideas and has worked with world-class theme parks and national brands. For more information about JK2 Scenic, visit jk2scenic.com or call (407) 880-8400.

Both divisions honored by Associated Builders and Contractors

APOPKA, Fla. – JK2 has once again been recognized for its outstanding work in the construction industry in Central Florida—this time with an incredible eight Eagle Awards from a top trade organization.

JK2 Scenic received five awards for Excellence in Construction with two merit awards. Three of the four projects considered for the “Project of the Year” award belonged to JK2 Scenic. JK2 Construction received three awards for Excellence in Construction.

The awards, known as Eagle Awards, are given by the Central Florida Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors.  They are presented annually to members of ABC Central Florida, recognizing top workmanship that raises the level of construction standards.

The company’s two divisions worked together on two of the projects—Universal CityWalk’s Voodoo Doughnut and the Orlando Science Center’s collaborative workspace, The Hive: A Makerspace.

On the Voodoo Doughnut project, JK2 Construction handled the demolition and interior build-out, including a fully operational kitchen. JK2 Scenic then added finishing touches, from the decorative props to the famous rotating doughnut cabinet.

On the Orlando Science Center project, the two again worked together to transform a space. JK2 Construction managed the entire design and renovation of the project, completing the demolition and interior build-out. JK2 Scenic manufactured custom millwork, including storage cabinets, work spaces countertops, bins and wall art.

JK2 Scenic also won Eagle Awards for its work on SeaWorld Orlando’s Sesame Street Neighborhood, Novel Lucerne apartments, and a Lake Nona office project. The company received merit awards for work on Margaritaville Resort Orlando and for the retail space at Universal’s Aventura Hotel.

JK2 Construction received another Eagle Award for its work on the Jack Nicklaus Clubhouse in Reunion. For this project, JK2 Construction built an underground cart storage, fully-equipped fitness center, full-service restaurant and bar, golf pro shop and a member sales center. It was completed after just 11 months, three months ahead of the already tight deadline.

The awards ceremony took place on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019, at the Hyatt Regency Orlando.

This year’s awards add to an exemplary track record for JK2, which received four awards in 2018, three in 2017 and another in 2016.

For more information about both divisions of JK2, please visit www.jk2.com.

About JK2 Construction

JK2 Construction, a family-owned company founded in 1987, has become a leader in the construction industry. The company specializes in design-build, commercial, retail, entertainment, restaurant, industrial, amenity and time share projects.  JK2 Construction has completed projects throughout the nation, including work for major theme parks, themed restaurants and national home builders. The company is a trusted, respected and valued partner who builds with a creative project approach and has principal level involvement in every project. For more information, visit jk2construction.com.

About JK2 Scenic

JK2 Scenic focuses on building dreams and bringing unique construction visions to life in a creative way. The company specializes in themed architectural millwork, custom props and specialty items for retail, attraction, entertainment, hospitality and restaurant clients. Founded in 2008 as part of the JK2 family of companies, JK2 Scenic became its own company in 2017. Led by President Julie Holmes, the company has seen amazing growth and has been honored numerous times, receiving multiple Associated Builders and Contractors Eagle Awards and making the Orlando Business Journal’s Fast 50 list. JK2 Scenic provides creative solutions to uncommon ideas and has worked with world-class theme parks and national brands. For more information about JK2 Scenic, visit jk2scenic.com or call (407) 880-8400.

The JK2 family of companies is devoted to giving back to its community and is always on the lookout for ways to bring positive change into the world. Recently, the companies have partnered with Canine Companions for Independence to sponsor a service dog in training, who they have fittingly named JK2.

Canine Companions for Independence is a nonprofit devoted to enhancing the lives of people with disabilities by providing highly trained assistance dogs and support, with no charge to them. The nonprofit knows the pups aren’t just the eyes, ears, hands or legs of their owners, but their best friends.

Over the next 18 months, a volunteer puppy raiser will provide JK2 with a safe home and everything he needs to be the best service dog possible. The volunteer will take him to special obedience classes, serve up a healthy diet, and most importantly, give him lots of love. The JK2 family of companies will handle all of the dog’s expenses, from purchasing food and sponsoring his training classes to covering vet visits.

After JK2 is trained, he will have the opportunity to help a person in need.  He will be the loving sidekick for a wounded veteran, child or adult with disabilities.

JK2 Construction and JK2 Scenic are so proud to be involved with Canine Companions for Independence, and the life-changing work it’s doing in the local community.

JK2 might just be a little pup now, but soon he will be a big help and light in a deserving person’s life.