Rooted in Relationship Building
When Kevin Kinzler started Kinzler Corporation in 1984, hanging drywall was a healthy side business for his hours between full-time fire-fighting shifts. During its first fifteen years, the company grew steadily, soon expanding from the Kinzlers’ home garage in Ames, Iowa to its own 10,000-square-foot facility.
“During those early years, my parents were able to invest everything right back into the company,” says President and CEO Tanner Kinzler.
Work was steady, and the company built a reputation for doing the job right and being problem-solvers for their customers.
“Our first expansion was a direct result of that problem-solver approach,” says Kinzler. “My mom got a call one day from a company building several hog barns. His hog delivery was scheduled, and the insulation contractor had cancelled on him. We said we’d figure out a way to solve the problem – and just like that, we were in the insulation business.”
Calling in family, friends, and then-8-year-old son Tanner, they completed the project and found a new market, along with more opportunities to diversify their services. Kevin Kinzler’s side business had become a full-time career.
Since then, the company’s growth has been more intentional – but just as rooted in problem-solving and partnerships. Today, Kinzler Corporation is a family of companies providing installation, repair, service, and distribution of products and materials for residential and commercial construction. The long game has brought Kinzler Corporation far from the family garage, but it’s kept close to the values on which it was built.
"If you don't make dust you eat dust."
Kinzler Corporation History
1984
Humble Beginnings
Kevin & Yvonne Kinzler founded Kinzler Construction Services in Ames, IA. Operating out of their garage, Kevin worked as a subcontractor hanging drywall while maintaining a full-time job as a professional firefighter.
1988
Kinzler Begins Installing Insulation
One day in 1988, a customer calls with a huge problem. With hogs en route and the Iowa winter coming fast, the customer’s insulation contractor stood him up. He called Kevin for a solution. First, Kevin agreed to do everything he possibly could to solve the customer’s problem. Next, he employed every friend, coworker, and family member possible (including 8 year-old son Tanner) and Kinzler was in the insulation business.
1995
First Business Expansion
The Kinzler’s moved their business out of their garage and into a 10,000 sq. ft. building on the west side of Ames.
1999
Retail Equipment Programs Begin
Kinzler opened its Retail Equipment Programs repair shop, servicing contractor-grade installation equipment rented out from home improvement stores across the United States and Canada.
2000
Drywall Distribution
Kevin & Yvonne opened a drywall supply company called Ames Construction Supply, Inc. (ACS) with two other partners. The Kinzler’s later bought out the other partners and merged ACS into Kinzler Construction Services in 2005.
2001
Kinzler Invents & Patents High-R
Kevin Kinzler invented and patented a metal building ceiling insulation system called “High-R”. The system continues to be marketed world-wide.
2004
Kinzler Begins Installing Spray Foam
Kinzler Construction Services entered the Spray Foam market. Kinzler grew its market share in this area in 2008 by making its very first acquisitions, purchasing the assets of Prairie Foam Insulation and Ceilley Insulation.
2011
Insulating Texas Since 1942
Kinzler Construction Services’ roots in Texas go back to the early 1940’s. Our local insulation experts based in Tyler are all employee-owners of the company. Today, our business has grown but we’re still local. Still family. Still serving the communities we love in east Texas.
Watch this short video to hear about the leadership, tragedy and compassion that’s all part of our company’s history in Texas.
2014
Rapid Expansion & Tanner Kinzler Named President & CEO
Celebrating its 30th year in business, Kinzler Construction Services operated branch locations in Iowa, Texas, Minnesota and North Dakota with nearly 200 employees. Tanner Kinzler, Kevin & Yvonne’s son, completed his first year as President & CEO. The company adopts the Entrepreneurial Operating System.
2017
Branch Support Headquarters Opens in Ankeny, IA
Kinzler Construction Services opened its new branch support headquarters in Ankeny, IA and launches a new branch location in Denver, CO. The company is a leading installer of insulation products, gypsum concrete, fireproofing & air barrier. Kinzler also distributes a full line of construction materials, including drywall, steel, acoustical ceiling tile & EIFS.
2017
Kinzler Celebrates 1 Million Safe Man-Hours & Named a Top Workplace
Kinzler Construction Services employees worked one million safe man-hours and went more than two years without a loss time injury at any of Kinzler’s six branch locations. Shortly after, Kinzler was named a 2017 Top Workplace based solely on responses to a survey of Kinzler Construction Services employees administered by WorkplaceDynamics, LLC, a leading research firm that specializes in organizational health and workplace improvement.
2018
Kinzler Becomes an Employee-Owned Company
Kinzler Construction Services announced its Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) – making all of our team members owners in the company! As employee-owners, we know that the actions we take every day impacts the success of the company. Our ESOP helps us to attract and retain talented people, plus gives us the opportunity to reward our employees for their commitment and hard work with quarterly profit-sharing bonuses and a robust retirement plan.
2022
WD Door Merger Adds New Products & Services
Kinzler Construction Services announced its acquisition of WD Door, Iowa’s leading overhead door and operator company. WD Door services and repairs residential and commercial garage doors in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, Ames, Waterloo and across the state of Iowa. No matter your garage door need, WD Door has you covered.
