Jim Jamail
CEO
- Over 30 Years of Experience building and managing a successful construction company focused on renovation, maintenance and repair, disaster recovery, emergency response and preconstruction services.
- Jim manages all aspects of the company, including finance, accounting, human resources, and risk management. He is responsible for ensuring safety, quality control, fiscal responsibility and contractual compliance are delivered with professionalism and reliability.
Significant Moments
- After years of working small renovation jobs, a breakthrough came when Craig’s Clothing Store asked Jim to bid a remodel of the store. Thanks to the confidence of owner Able Grossman, Jim won the bid and completed the job at only 22 years old. At this time, Jim’s dad helped by supervising jobs. Jim’s mom, Lillian, assisted by answering phones and building subcontractor relationships.
- Shortly after the completion of Craig’s, Hurricane Alicia hit Galveston in 1983 and severely damaged the Sears Store at the Galvez Mall. Jim was able to secure the contract to repair the damage and it led to a complete remodel of the Sears Store, a major project for a 23-year-old. After completion of the Sears Store and numerous other remodels, such as Southwestern Bell, Coffee Shop, and the mall office, things began to take off for Jamail Construction.
- NASA brought a great deal of business and development to Clear Lake in the early eighties, which provided Jamail Construction with many great opportunities. Unfortunately, on January 28th, 1986, the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion occurred, which brought construction in Clear Lake to a screeching halt. As a result, Jim experienced some of his first real trials that helped him refine his ability to manage a business during challenging circumstances.
- Jim has managed more than $500 million in construction projects to date for municipalities,large government agencies,higher education, K-12, and other private/commercial clients.
- Jim has developed, implemented, and overseen procedural and policy changes within the various departments at Jamail & Smith to better serve our clients on every single contract and job order
Personal Highlights
What do “Quality Construction Results” mean to you?
To me, it really means helping someone fulfill their dreams or at least to help them complete a task that they were unable to do themselves. We almost always encounter someone who has an idea of what they would like to change or build, and we have the unique opportunity to make that vision a reality.
What career did you dream of having, when you were a child?
I think I was destined to be in the construction business. I have great memories of working alongside my dad growing up. It was there that I not only learned the ins and outs of the construction business, but I learned the value of hard work and the importance of doing a job and doing it well.
How would you describe your job to a bunch of five-year-old’s?
First, I would emphasize finding something that you love to do so that on many days work can be fun. I’d also let them know that I do my job by working through others. I identified that aptitude at a relatively young age which has allowed me to be an entrepreneur, and to have worked with some really great people over the years.