Small Business Today Magazine FEB 2015 TAYLOR CONSTRUCTION MANAGMENT | Page 10

COVERSTORY

TCM successfully managed the 1st Biological Safety Level 2 & 3 Laboratory in China that meets American and European Regulatory Standards.
Photo courtesy of Taylor Construction

had done the project management for and they never mentioned
him. That was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Kelley stopped
whatever she was doing and said to Troi, “What do you want to call
the company? Let’s just get it started.”
People would always ask Troi, “Have you ever thought about starting your own company?” At first he had thought he was too young
and that others wouldn’t respect him but then he realized how
many relationships he had built over the years with CEOs, CFOs, and
Board Chairmen of hospitals, schools, and major corporations. Not
even a week after Troi left and started his own company, a scientist
that he worked with in Kansas City called and asked,” I have a project
in China. Would you be willing to go over there and run the project?”
Knowing it would be a big adjustment,Troi and Kelley discussed it and
agreed that they were prepared for the temporary sacrifice to establish the company and realize their dream. The Taylors realized that it
was a blessing to be able to start internationally and then come back
to the United States and have that on the company portfolio. During
that time while Troi was in China, Kelley and he began working on
their certifications. They also started to put more thought into what
they wanted the company to look like. After that, they just took off
from there. “We never operated in the red nor did we have any
business loans,” reflected Troi. Truly, the Taylors have been blessed!
Troi stated, “You have to remember that in Cincinnati, Kelley and
I just had each other – literally. The foundation for our relationship
was established and we became best friends in the process.” Troi
thinks Kelley is the smartest person he knows. He expressed, “She
was always fearless; I wasn’t. I was always careful, cautious; she was
always saying we can do and be anything.” Kelley shared, “I think
Troi and I balance each other very well because he pulls me back
when I’m just going 100 mph but I think that I help him to broaden
8 SMALL BUSINESS TODAY MAGAZINE [ FEBRUARY 2015 ]

his view a little bit more so that we are not missing opportunities.”
Regardless of what’s going on with their company, the Taylors believe
in first things first - their marriage and then their family. Other things
will fall into place as it should. They don’t put the company before
their marriage; they don’t put the company before their kids. It’s just
a matter of keeping it in perspective. Kelley elaborated, “I think that’s
why we can work together because we know where our priorities
are and we have fun.”
Troi does a lot of the business development and Kelley deals directly with all company operations and making sure they have competent employees who are leaders with strong convictions. Kelley
sees her role as the one who is responsible for putting the infrastructure and the people in place so that when Troi’s winning work,
they are ready from a technology standpoint and are current and
up-to-date. Last November in 2014, Kelley participated in the X