Divven Browne and Nathan Werner may just be business partners, but they treat that relationship like something more. “It’s just as hard to keep a partnership strong as it is to keep a marriage strong,” says Browne, the company’s co-owner.
So Browne and Werner make an effort to keep that relationship healthy. Every two weeks, they escape from the office for an outdoor adventure—skiing, snowboarding, surfing, and the like.
“We call those ‘board meetings,’” Browne says with a laugh. “It’s a nice, good break to keep us sane from all the stresses of running a business.”
At the office, the two make sure to meet once a week for a goal-centered review. “A lot of partnerships don’t have that standing meeting time, and that’s why we’ve seen some other partnerships fail,” Browne says.
It’s not like the two were perfect strangers when they started. Back in college, they became friends when both were working in the College Pro Painters franchise; Browne was No. 1 in their market and Werner was No. 2. After college, the two went separate ways, both riding the construction and real estate bubble until it burst.
That’s when the two came back together to form Built Square with the intention of creating a nimble and lean company that can withstand the next downturn. In the meantime, they’re taking advantage of Seattle’s booming market and building a solid customer referral network the same way they’re building a strong business partnership: regular communication mixed in with a little fun.
During jobs, the company holds standing weekly meetings with customers to make sure everything is on track and going as expected. They focus on keeping their employees just as contented as they are, with flexible schedules and generous benefits.
“Remodeling is equal parts construction and emotional management,” Browne says. “The key to keeping clients happy is that all our employees are happy.”
