RE Journals Tapped John Russell about W.E. O'Neil's 100 Years

John Russell, Regional President Chicago & Texas

RE Journals tapped John Russell, Regional President of Chicago and Texas, to highlight our celebration of 100 years in business and our contributions to the Chicago community. A century in business is no small feat, and W.E. O’Neil Construction has not only survived—it has thrived. Founded in 1925 by William Edward O’Neil, the firm recently received a proclamation from Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, officially declaring 2025 as W.E. O’Neil’s 100-year anniversary. John accepted the honor on behalf of the company.

“It was very profound being there in the chambers and witnessing the proclamation,” John said. “It was quite an honor.”

[Learn more about the proclamation here.]

W.E. O’Neil Construction has played a pivotal role in shaping the Chicago skyline and community. From local landmarks such as The Museum of Contemporary Art, Lane Tech High School, Crown Fountain at Millennium Park, restoration of the Chicago Theatre and the firm’s first project – The Primate House at Lincoln Park Zoo; to modern developments like Lincoln Common, Block 37, the University of Chicago’s William Eckhardt Research Center, and LondonHouse Hotel, our work has left an indelible mark on the city.

Beyond construction, the company actively supports the community, contributing to organizations like Habitat for Humanity, the Greater Chicago Food Depository, and Mercy Home for Boys and Girls.

John shared with RE Journals the key factors behind W.E. O’Neil’s century-long success and continued growth for the next 100 years and beyond.

We have made the milestone of lasting 100 years… I see no reason why we can’t continue to operate for another 100 years. We are very focused on developing leaders at our firm and on succession planning. We have a pipeline of leaders. The future is bright.

_{John Russell, Regional President for Chicago and Texas}

Crown Fountain at Millennium Park

Key factors behind W.E. O’Neil’s Century-Long Success

Core Values

“It comes down to our values,” John said. “Our retired chairman, Bill O’Neil, always said that his responsibility was to pass down the values that his grandfather, the original William [Edward] O’Neil, established. Our clients are our greatest allies. Our goal as employees of W.E. O’Neil is to build strong relationships with all our clients. That’s the number one value of this firm.”

Culture of Learning

Another key factor to longevity? John said that the employees at W.E. O’Neil are all committed to learning and evolving as the construction industry changes. The company even has a national vice president dedicated to training and development, Brad Fry.

“We are all lifelong learners,” John said. “You don’t just have a job here. You have a career. Our job is to develop our employees.”

Commitment to Quality Construction

John shares that another goal of W.E. O’Neil leadership and employees is to provide quality service to clients and to build quality projects.

“Our clients are number one. They are always right,” John said. “We deliver whatever their needs require. We also have a commitment to quality construction. If we don’t leave behind a quality product, our work won’t stand the test of time. Our people are committed to quality workmanship.”

John has worked with W.E. O’Neil for 30 years. During these years, he’s worked on several key projects. One of his favorites was the Crown Fountain in Millennium Park, a project on which W.E. O’Neil served as general contractor. He shares, “It’s nice to have worked on what has become a true landmark project.” Another standout project where John also worked, was Block 37, a massive mixed-use development in downtown Chicago. “At the time, that was the largest undeveloped project site in the downtown area,” John said. “It was a great honor for W.E. O’Neil to serve as the contractor on that project.”

Market Sector Diversity

100 years in business comes with challenges, and John credits W.E. O’Neil’s market sector diversity for its resilience. If construction activity in one sector is lagging, W.E. O’Neil can lean into another segment that is performing better. “Today in Chicago, for example, some of the investor-led development work is waning,” John said. “To make up for that, we are leaning into higher-education work and work at the airport. That flexibility helps us when the economy is down.”

Strong Relationships with Long-Term Clients

“Those repeat clients who automatically come back to us have been an important part of our success,” John said. “They are not looking for the lowest-dollar contractor. They go with someone they know and trust.”

100% Employee-Ownership

W.E. O’Neil’s 100% employee-ownership fosters a deep, long-term commitment from its workforce while attracting the best talent. As John puts it, “That is another driver for people to stay committed and with us for a long period.”

We’re just getting started!

“We have made the milestone of lasting 100 years,” John said. “I see no reason why we can’t continue to operate for another 100 years. We are very focused on developing leaders at our firm. We are always focused on succession planning. We have a pipeline of leaders. The future is bright.”