The Weitz Company of today descends from a small carpentry shop founded in 1855 by an entrepreneurial German immigrant. In many ways, the company grew up not just with the construction industry, but with the nation as well. It predates the Civil War, the telegraph in Iowa, dynamite, and the transcontinental railroad.

Over the years, Weitz earned a reputation as an innovative company with the tenacity and financial strength to venture into unchartered territory and succeed. The company built the first high-rise west of Chicago in 1908. Even during the worst of times, Weitz found work. During the 1930s, as other construction companies fell to the Great Depression, Weitz became a leader in federal projects, building post offices in 42 states.

In February of 1995, executive management, led by Glenn De Stigter, completed a debt-free buyout of Weitz, converting it to employee ownership for the first time in the company’s history. In late 2000, the board of directors broadened equity participation among the ranks, and more than 250 employees now own stock in Weitz. As a result, today’s Weitz employees are more engaged and responsive than ever, always looking for the best way to serve the client and improve the company.

The new leadership also reorganized the company under a federalist structure. Using the Federalist Papers as a guide, Weitz established a corporate structure that places responsibility and decision-making power at the local division level. The Corporate Services Group provides strategic direction for the overall company as well as "backroom" operations for accounting, HR, technology, finance and legal services. Each division is responsible for business development, marketing, community relations, client and vendor relations, planning and project management. Throughout the company, decisions are made at the level where ultimately they will be executed. This system provides autonomy and rewards personal responsibility and growth among employees.