Drees Homes Named 2016 Inductee Into The Goering Center’s Family Business Hall of Fame
The University of Cincinnati’s Goering Center for Family and Private Business announces The Drees Company as the 2016 Family Business Hall of Fame Honoree.
Cincinnati, Ohio – August 8, 2016 Each year the University of Cincinnati’s Goering Center for Family and Private Business honors one family, company or individual with induction into the Greater Cincinnati Family Business Hall of Fame. This year’s honoree is The Drees Company, chosen for its long-term and far-reaching community impact.
The Drees Company, formally known as Drees Builders and Developers, Incorporated, was founded in 1928 and is headquartered in Ft. Mitchell, Kentucky. Chairman of the Board Ralph A. Drees started working for his father and founder, Theodore Drees, in 1959. In 1968, Ralph took over management of the company and initiated his goal to diversify the business and support the surrounding community. It is Drees’ philosophy to treat vendors, employees and clients with unqualified respect. This philosophy, determination and philanthropy enabled Drees Homes to flourish. Now, after more than 85 years in business, Drees is the nation's 10th largest privately-owned homebuilder and is the 28th largest homebuilder over all.
“Drees Homes actively serves the communities where they build,” said Larry Grypp, president, Goering Center. “The Drees family and the company’s leadership encourage employees to get involved and serve others. That outreach creates a lasting impact that betters our business, civic and social environment.”
The Drees Company was selected for outstanding achievements in four areas: community service, community image, employment growth and philanthropy. Throughout its history, the company has given back to the community via extensive contributions to the entire Northern Kentucky region. In the late 1980s, Drees donated $100,000 to the Behringer-Crawford Museum of Northern Kentucky to initiate their relocation plans. Drees further demonstrated its support by gathering other corporations for the cause, and over a 10-year period raised more than $4.5 million dollars for the expansion and relocation project.
To celebrate the company’s 75th anniversary, Drees provided the funding and expertise to build the Drees Pavilion in Devou Park, Covington, Kentucky. The Drees Pavilion now serves as a banquet and conference hall for the region and presents a spectacular view of the Cincinnati skyline. Recognized as one of the top “hot spots” for private parties and gatherings, it is also a funding source for preservation and maintenance of the surrounding park, enabling the continuation of the Drees legacy.
From the Behringer-Crawford Museum and Newport Central Catholic School, to a Boy Scouts’ Camp Ranger’s House, group homes for The Point, and a 41,000 square-foot addition to the Redwood Rehabilitation Center in Fort Mitchell, Drees philanthropy stretches across Northern Kentucky.
The University of Cincinnati’s Goering Center for Family and Private Business is a non-profit membership organization established in 1989 as a forum for connecting and educating businesses in Southern Ohio, Northern Kentucky and Southeast Indiana. The goal of the Goering Center is to bring together regional businesses to share real-world insights, develop collaborative forums, strengthen and prolong family and private business success.
Each year, the Goering Center reviews potential recipients from all over the region and selects one candidate for induction. This year will mark only the fourth company selected to the Goering Center Family Business Hall of Fame, joining these other distinguished businesses: LaRosa’s (2011), The Castellini Companies (2013) and Graeter’s, Inc. (2015). The 2012 honoree was Otto M. Budig and in 2014 the Goering Center Hall of Fame inducted the entire Founding Board of Advisors including such distinguished business leaders as John Goering (Founder), Sid Barton PhD (Founding Faculty Executive), Otto M. Budig, Elroy Bourgraf, Dave Freytag, James Funch, Dean R. Gaudin, Charles W. Goering, Robert F. Hoeweler, Thomas H. Humes, C. Oscar Schmidt, Jr., Melvin L. Schulamn, Herman H. Seilkop, Jack Steinman, Carson R. Whiting PhD, Steve Wilson and Jeff Wyler.
Presentation and celebration of the award will be September 13, 2016 at the 17th Annual Family and Private Business Awards. This year’s event will be held at the JACK Cincinnati Casino, Cincinnati, Ohio. One winner and two finalists in each of the six business categories across two divisions will be selected from 75 semi-finalists (see link to list of semi-finalists: http://bit.ly/2a7XdU0). The Goering Center will also proclaim and honor the 2016 Baldwin Volunteer Award Winner.
About Drees Homes
Drees Homes, family-owned and operated for over 85 years, is headquartered in Ft. Mitchell, Kentucky. Drees operates in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, Cleveland, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Nashville, Raleigh, Washington D.C., Austin, Houston, and Dallas. The company operates as “Drees Custom Homes” in Texas. Drees has been one of few to receive the home building industry’s “Triple Crown” – National Builder of the Year, National Housing Quality Award, and America’s Best Builder. Visit the company’s web site at http://www.dreeshomes.com.