In a recent episode of Diamond Podcast, host Alfredo Diamond sat down with Jill McGinty, owner of CJM Construction, to discuss her remarkable journey from healthcare professional to successful construction business owner. Her story is a testament to courage, family support, and the power of organic growth in business.
Humble Beginnings
McGinty began her career in healthcare as a respiratory therapist, working for 20 years at hospitals including University Hospital in Cincinnati and McCullough Hyde in Oxford. While maintaining her healthcare career, she began investing in real estate, starting with farm ground and eventually moving into residential rentals.
Her construction journey began almost accidentally, when she built two spec houses in Liberty. “I really enjoyed it,” McGinty shared. “I loved the final product and the excitement of seeing it complete. And I decided I was going to start a construction company.”
Pivoting During Challenging Times
The COVID-19 pandemic coincided with McGinty’s father needing a kidney transplant, creating a pivotal moment in her career. Unable to continue her healthcare work while being around her immunocompromised father, she made the difficult decision to transition to construction full-time.
“During that time, people started calling for us to fix this or do that. And it just started picking up more and more,” McGinty explained. Eventually, she left healthcare completely to focus on her growing construction business.
A Family Affair
Today, CJM Construction truly embodies the concept of a family business. McGinty’s father works for her full-time, her mother helps out regularly, her brother assists during his time off, and even her children work for the company during summer breaks.
The transition to becoming her father’s boss created an interesting dynamic, as he had always been her mentor. “There was definitely some initial working through communication and expectations,” McGinty admitted. This experience taught her the importance of clear communication and setting expectations—principles she now applies to all client relationships.
Growth and Diversification
From its modest beginnings, CJM Construction has expanded to include flooring, dumpster rentals, and design services. The company now employs 16 people, and McGinty takes pride in never having laid off an employee—a rarity in the construction industry.
McGinty attributes her success to three key factors: “Having great people around me who have been very supportive and committed to the business, being organized, and being honest.”
Branding and Marketing
When launching her business, McGinty’s husband encouraged her to invest in strong branding. “One of the things he talked about was making sure that I loved my logo and that I came out strong with the brand,” she recalled.
The company maintains consistent branding across all its ventures and diversifies its marketing through multiple channels, including radio, billboards, social media, email, postcards, yard signs, and podcasts.
Business Philosophy
McGinty’s approach to business was influenced by a physician she worked with who remained independent despite healthcare changes. He taught her two crucial principles: treat employees like family and reinvest in the business.
She also emphasizes the importance of analyzing numbers and planning strategically at the beginning of each year: “I definitely think it’s important to sit down at the beginning of the year and look at those numbers and say, ideally this is what my overhead expenses run, this is what my payroll has run, this is what we brought in.”
Giving Back
Community involvement is a cornerstone of McGinty’s business philosophy. While initially supporting numerous causes, she’s learned to focus their charitable efforts on organizations aligned with their values, particularly those supporting children and women.
Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
When asked what advice she would give to young women who aspire to follow in her footsteps, McGinty was emphatic: “You can do it and take the leap.”
She acknowledged that fear holds many people back but encouraged aspiring entrepreneurs to ignore naysayers: “There have been so many people along the way that have said you’re never going to be successful at this… And I just have never let it affect me. I’ve just stayed in my own lane doing what I was going to do.”
The Road Ahead
As CJM Construction continues to grow, McGinty remains focused on quality work, supporting her employees, and maintaining the family-centered approach that has defined her business journey.
“It’s not an easy road to own your own business and take calls 24/7,” she admitted, but credited her success to surrounding herself “with good, positive people that have your same vision and want to see you be successful.”
McGinty’s journey from healthcare professional to construction business owner demonstrates that with passion, perseverance, and the right support system, career pivots can lead to extraordinary success.