After being bought Sept. 30 by Core Construction LLC, a company spokesman said Walton Construction Co. LLC’s Springfield Office will be managed by a familiar face.
David Atkisson, a 12-year Walton veteran and vice president of operations at the Springfield office, will continue in that role, according to company spokesman Greg Beurman. The new owners decided the Springfield, Kansas City and New Orleans offices would remain open.
The Springfield office, 2932 E. Pythian St., was included in the Walton sale to Phoenix-based Core for an undisclosed amount, Beurman said. The new company’s name will be Walton Construction-A Core Co. LLC.
Walton closed offices in St. Louis and Dallas in February, and in July the company had signed a preliminary letter of intent to sell the majority of its assets to Miami-based Munilla Construction Management LLC.
The two parties were unable to agree on sale terms, and Walton sought other potential buyers, Beuerman said.
Other parties expressed interest in buying Walton, Beurman said, but company officials decided Core’s proposal was best.
“I think it’s important to note Walton was very impressed with Core personnel,” Beurman said. In May, Walton’s Springfield office was reduced to 12 employees, down from roughly 50 in November 2008. Earlier this year, officials said the company would begin focusing on more government construction jobs and expand outside the Springfield market.
Beuerman said the acquisition by Core brings a strong foothold in the military construction field. Recent Walton projects include the recently completed 78,000-square-foot, $52.5 million CoxHealth emergency department, and in 2009, a 317,500-square-foot Northstar Battery West project at 1320 N. Alliance Ave.
Beuerman told Kansas City Business Journal the company will retain a scaled-back presence in Kansas City, including a management transition and new office location. Beuerman declined to provide a time frame for the changes.
A total of 40 employees will remain in Kansas City, a significant decline in staffing. In 2008, Walton’s Kansas City office had 119 employees, Kansas City Business Journal reported.
Dennis Thompson, Kansas City chief operations officer, and Ric Foster, the company’s vice president, will be retained until projects started under their leadership are completed. Following that, Kevin Istas, a four-year Walton worker who already works at that location, will manage the Kansas City office.[[In-content Ad]]
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