Successful Incubator Expansion - Synergy Construction Group
1. Tell us about you and your business.
My 3 partners and I opened Synergy Construction Group back in 2008 here at ICNC. We will mark this year at ICNC with about 50 employees and $40M in revenues.
My bio - A veteran of the real estate industry, Assemble Shared Office co-founder Phil Domenico has been active in real estate for more than 20 years. Phil’s career spans commercial and residential real estate, nationwide and local to the Chicago area, and also includes a Bachelor’s degree from John Carroll University and an MBA in Finance from DePaul University. Starting in 1995, Philip has overseen massive construction projects, including a 100,000+ square foot office/retail space for Progress Construction Company and construction management of 153 cell sites for US Cellular. Since 2009, Phil has been a Principal at Chicago’s Synergy Partners, an end-to-end real estate development and construction firm servicing both residential and commercial projects. Phil currently spends his time at Synergy Partners directing preconstruction and development activities along with leading the launch and growth of Assembled Shared Office. After successfully co-founding Synergy-Partners with the help of an incubator called ICNC located in Chicago’s West Loop, Phil co-founded Assemble Shared Office on the idea that office space can be equal parts productive, modern, inspiring, and collaborative. Utilizing his vast experience in real estate and construction, Assemble takes Phil’s career-long philosophy of exceptional design, quality work, and customer service and brings it into the shared office world. With Assemble, Phil provides start-up innovators, entrepreneurs, freelancers, and small businesses with a workspace that meets these ideals, all with the goal of inspiring productivity and fostering community. Phil is a licensed broker and holds a BS and MBA in Finance and Accounting. Phil is also recognized by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) as a LEED accredited professional. He currently lives in Chicago, IL.
3. How are you a part of the incubator community?
As mentioned above, we enjoyed success here at ICNC in getting Synergy Construction Group off the ground back in 2008 and in 2014 we opened our own incubator of sorts called Assemble Shared Office at 1165 N. Clark in the Gold Coast. Then in 2015 we opened our 2nd Assemble location at 600 W. Jackson in the West Loop. In 2016 we opened a 3rd in Minneapolis then our 4th will be opening in November of this year at 1714 W. Division in Wicker Park. Check us out at www.assemblesharedoffice.com.
4. How has being in the incubator impacted your business?
Good location, good support for growing the company including networking events, financing, and legal/HR assistance.
5. What are your plans going forward?
We plan to focus on growing Synergy Construction Group, Assemble Shared Office, and the various real estate developments we have in the pipeline.
6. Please list your most recent accomplishments or any exciting upcoming projects.
We have just completed our 7th Panera store, we will be starting on a restaurant you might be familiar with called Small Cheval – if you have not tried it, you should as they have the best burgers in the country. Synergy just started construction on Assemble Shared Office's newest location at 1714 W. Division in Wicker Park. We also are about to break ground on a 12 unit condominium project in the West Loop then a $35M renovation of the old Ravenswood Hospital to a senior supportive and independent living facility (SLF and ILF).
7. Any advice for other incubator companies or growing businesses?
Don’t be a Jack of all trades. Be able to pivot your business when necessary, but once you figure out what your core competencies are, focus on them and execute.
My 3 partners and I opened Synergy Construction Group back in 2008 here at ICNC. We will mark this year at ICNC with about 50 employees and $40M in revenues.
My bio - A veteran of the real estate industry, Assemble Shared Office co-founder Phil Domenico has been active in real estate for more than 20 years. Phil’s career spans commercial and residential real estate, nationwide and local to the Chicago area, and also includes a Bachelor’s degree from John Carroll University and an MBA in Finance from DePaul University. Starting in 1995, Philip has overseen massive construction projects, including a 100,000+ square foot office/retail space for Progress Construction Company and construction management of 153 cell sites for US Cellular. Since 2009, Phil has been a Principal at Chicago’s Synergy Partners, an end-to-end real estate development and construction firm servicing both residential and commercial projects. Phil currently spends his time at Synergy Partners directing preconstruction and development activities along with leading the launch and growth of Assembled Shared Office. After successfully co-founding Synergy-Partners with the help of an incubator called ICNC located in Chicago’s West Loop, Phil co-founded Assemble Shared Office on the idea that office space can be equal parts productive, modern, inspiring, and collaborative. Utilizing his vast experience in real estate and construction, Assemble takes Phil’s career-long philosophy of exceptional design, quality work, and customer service and brings it into the shared office world. With Assemble, Phil provides start-up innovators, entrepreneurs, freelancers, and small businesses with a workspace that meets these ideals, all with the goal of inspiring productivity and fostering community. Phil is a licensed broker and holds a BS and MBA in Finance and Accounting. Phil is also recognized by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) as a LEED accredited professional. He currently lives in Chicago, IL.
3. How are you a part of the incubator community?
As mentioned above, we enjoyed success here at ICNC in getting Synergy Construction Group off the ground back in 2008 and in 2014 we opened our own incubator of sorts called Assemble Shared Office at 1165 N. Clark in the Gold Coast. Then in 2015 we opened our 2nd Assemble location at 600 W. Jackson in the West Loop. In 2016 we opened a 3rd in Minneapolis then our 4th will be opening in November of this year at 1714 W. Division in Wicker Park. Check us out at www.assemblesharedoffice.com.
4. How has being in the incubator impacted your business?
Good location, good support for growing the company including networking events, financing, and legal/HR assistance.
5. What are your plans going forward?
We plan to focus on growing Synergy Construction Group, Assemble Shared Office, and the various real estate developments we have in the pipeline.
6. Please list your most recent accomplishments or any exciting upcoming projects.
We have just completed our 7th Panera store, we will be starting on a restaurant you might be familiar with called Small Cheval – if you have not tried it, you should as they have the best burgers in the country. Synergy just started construction on Assemble Shared Office's newest location at 1714 W. Division in Wicker Park. We also are about to break ground on a 12 unit condominium project in the West Loop then a $35M renovation of the old Ravenswood Hospital to a senior supportive and independent living facility (SLF and ILF).
7. Any advice for other incubator companies or growing businesses?
Don’t be a Jack of all trades. Be able to pivot your business when necessary, but once you figure out what your core competencies are, focus on them and execute.