McCarthy Building Companies: Building Omaha with Ownership, Innovation, and Lasting Impact
Founded in 1864 and 100% employee-owned since 2002, McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. stands among the nation’s oldest and largest privately held construction firms. With deep roots across the country and a strong presence in Omaha since 2001, McCarthy has played a major role in shaping Nebraska’s built environment. Over the past two decades, the Omaha office has delivered more than $2 billion in building and infrastructure projects spanning healthcare, education, science and technology, manufacturing, commercial, and industrial markets—projects that strengthen the region’s economy and improve quality of life for the people who live and work here.
A hallmark of McCarthy’s local legacy is its ability to deliver complex, high-impact facilities that serve the community for decades. Notable work includes the Omaha VA Ambulatory Care Center, a project that provides care to roughly 40,000 veterans each year and earned a national Project of the Year Award from Engineering News-Record (ENR) in 2022. That same commitment continues today through a robust slate of Omaha-area projects, including the UNMC CORE Building, OrthoNebraska Maple Clinic, OrthoNebraska Elkhorn SC Addition, UNO Biomechanics Phase 3 Addition, UNMC Clarkson Level 4 Renovation, UNMC Campus Utilities, Douglas County Mental Health Addition, and the Papillion Creek Water Resource Recovery Facility. Across each project, McCarthy is guided by core values—Genuine; We, Not I; and All In—anchoring a purpose to be the Best Builder in America while advancing the communities it serves.
Employee-Owners at the Core
At the center of their success is a belief that the strongest projects begin with strong people. As a 100% employee-owned company, every team member is an employee-owner—meaning they show up as partners in the work, personally invested in outcomes and motivated to lead with accountability, collaboration, and care. This ownership mindset is reflected in day-to-day culture: listening closely, communicating transparently, and working alongside clients to align goals and deliver results.
They empower their teams through an environment designed for growth and shared success. The ESOP model creates a direct stake in performance, fostering innovation and pride across every role. Employee-owners benefit from national resources paired with a close-knit, family-feel workplace rooted in mutual respect and teamwork. This culture has earned continued recognition, including being named a winner in the 2025 Best Places to Work in Omaha competition—an honor that reflects the company’s commitment to creating great experiences not only for clients, but for the people doing the work.
Investing Beyond the Job Site
Their contributions to Omaha extend well beyond construction sites. Through the McCarthy Heart Hats® community service initiative, the company donates time, expertise, and resources to support organizations and causes across the region. Every employee-owner receives paid time off specifically for community service and is encouraged to actively participate in initiatives that improve lives locally. One example is the American Heart Association’s annual Hard Hats with Heart event, where the Omaha team raised nearly $85,000 in 2025 to advance cardiovascular health in the community.
They also invest in the region’s future workforce by helping address the construction labor shortage. Each year, the company hosts STEMstruction, a hands-on event that introduces high school students to careers in construction, science, engineering, and skilled trades. Beyond that, McCarthy leaders volunteer on student advisory boards for the University of Nebraska College of Engineering and Metropolitan Community College, and several team members have taught capstone courses for the UNL Construction Management Program. Employee-owners also participate in the ACE Mentor Program, providing mentorship and real-world exposure to students exploring architecture, construction, and engineering career paths. These sustained efforts reflect a long-term view: building communities requires building opportunity.
Strengthened Through Regional Partnerships
Their partnership with the Greater Omaha Chamber plays an important role in strengthening its connection to the region’s broader business ecosystem. Through Chamber programming—especially REACH Beyond Mentoring—McCarthy team members have opportunities to guide and support small and emerging contractors. As a direct result of that engagement, the Omaha office has awarded contracts to more than 50 local, small, and disadvantaged trade partners in recent years, expanding regional capacity and opening doors across the construction industry.
This collaborative approach reflects their belief that a stronger community comes from shared success. The Chamber relationship creates space for mentorship, partnership, and long-term investment in the people and businesses that keep Greater Omaha growing.
A Legacy Built on Trust
McCarthy Building Companies is most proud of the trust it earns—through high-performing projects, long-standing client relationships, and a culture built on ownership and integrity. The company’s commitment to feedback and continuous improvement shows up in how it serves clients: using a quarterly Client Feedback Tool throughout each project life cycle, addressing concerns immediately, and consistently achieving an average rating of 5.9 on a 1–7 scale. More than 80% of McCarthy’s work comes from repeat clients, underscoring a reputation built not just on technical ability, but on reliability and partnership.
With a mission rooted in safety, transparency, and delivering the best outcomes throughout a project’s life cycle, McCarthy continues to shape Omaha with purpose. Whether constructing facilities that transform healthcare and education, mentoring the next generation of builders, or strengthening the region’s business community through collaboration, McCarthy remains focused on what matters most: building lasting impact for the people and places it serves.
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