Kicking Ass and Taking Names with Marlon Griffith, Esq.

Ep. 27 - From Side Hustle to $68 Million A Conversation with Corenic Construction CEO Brunson Cooper

Marlon Griffith Season 1 Episode 27

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0:00 | 54:56

In 2009, Brunson Cooper started his business as a side hustle with one small lobby project. After being passed over for another promotion and a conversation with his wife, in 2012 he decided to bet on himself — and never looked back. In this episode, Marlon sits down with Brunson — CEO of Corenic Construction and Black Enterprise-featured business leader — to talk about what it really takes to build a minority-owned construction company from the ground up. From that first small lobby renovation to leading a powerhouse firm in the Washington DC area, Brunson opens up about family, reputation, relationships, and the mindset that drives him to keep growing.

Chapters:

(00:00) Introduction to Brunson Cooper and Kornik Construction
(04:12) The Journey of Building Kornik Construction
(07:03) The Importance of Family Support in Business
(09:37) Involving Family in Business
(12:11) Building Relationships and Reputation in Construction
(15:08) Navigating Challenges as a Minority-Owned Business
(17:37) Growth Strategies from $33 Million to $60 Million
(20:23) Lessons Learned in Business Development
(23:13) Delivering on Promises and Maintaining Reputation
(29:31) Navigating Company Growth and Personal Development
(32:23) The Importance of Executive Leadership
(36:38) Balancing Risk and Leadership Styles
(38:49) Building Professional Relationships and Opportunities
(43:18) Creating Impact in the Community
(45:47) Lessons Learned: Advice for the Future

WHAT WE COVER IN THIS EPISODE

• How Brunson went from side hustle to $68M
• Why reputation is your most valuable business asset
• How to know which clients to walk away from
• Building an executive team so you can scale
• The mindset that drives his growth
• Creating a legacy — not just a business

Resources:

North Carolina A&T University - https://www.ncat.edu/
Black Enterprise Magazine - https://www.blackenterprise.com/
U squared Book by Robert Anthony - https://www.amazon.com/U-Squared-Robert-Anthony/dp/0972459274

Learn more about Brunson Cooper:
LinkedIn
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/brunsoncooper/
Corenic Construction Official Website - https://corenicconstruction.com/

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