1,593 Days Later: What’s New at MJI 

By Mark Ihlenfeldt, Owner | MJI Building Service 

It’s Been 1,593 Days… But Who’s Counting? (Okay, We Are) 

They say time flies when you’re having fun, but apparently, it also flies when you are putting on your boots, swinging hammers, and managing a growing business. 

To be exact, it has been 1,593 days since our last “What’s New at MJI” blog update. 

If you do the math, that is about four years and four months. To put that in perspective, the last time we updated this blog, we were just stepping out of a global pandemic, lumber prices were fluctuating wildly every Tuesday, and nobody had ever heard of “ChatGPT.” 

A lot can happen in 1,593 days. The world changed, the construction market threw us a dozen different curveballs, and right here at MJI Building Services, we saw our fair share. (The pitch we saw the most was the Splinker: a sinker/splitter hybrid that can reach speeds of over 100 mph.) Despite all the baseball references, we’ve been doing some serious growing. 

So, since we are way overdue for a catch-up, let’s talk about what has been happening out there in the world, what’s new under our roof, and why the most important things haven’t changed. 

What in the World…? 

If you’ve tried to build, buy, or even just buy groceries over the last four years, you don’t need me to tell you the economic climate has been a bit of a… Karen or Kevin rollercoaster. (I was told I could not use words that may be offensive, even if they were descriptively correct.) 

Since our last update in early 2022, we’ve lived through: 

• The Great Interest Rate Climb: The Federal Reserve hiked rates to combat inflation, taking us from the rock-bottom rates of the pandemic era to a much tighter borrowing market. 

• Supply Chain Rollercoasters: We went from waiting months for basic electrical panels and structural steel to navigating fluctuating fuel costs that changed shipping rates overnight. 

• The AI Revolution: Technology has exploded. While we haven’t figured out how to get a robot to build a building from start to finish yet, the way businesses communicate and operate has shifted faster than ever. 

It’s been like an episode of “Survivor” for a lot of general contractors. But we’ve always believed that challenges are just solutions waiting to be built. 

What’s New at MJI? 

While the world was throwing wild pitches, our team was running the bases. We have been incredibly blessed over the last 1,593 days, and we have some massive updates to share: 

1. We Moved! 

For years, we operated out of our office on Northland Avenue. It served us well, but at 5,500 square feet, we were starting to trip over each other, and our personal bubbles were being tested. 

So, we packed up the trucks and moved to our brand-new home on Lynndale Drive. Our new facility is a whopping 16,000 square feet of personal bubble freedom. 

Why it matters to you: This isn’t just about having more elbow room. This massive jump in square footage has made our entire operation incredibly efficient and gives us the space we need to grow our team for the next few years. 

2. We Passed $40 Million in Sales 

Since our last blog post, we have put in place over $40 million in commercial construction sales. That number represents a lot of trust placed in our hands by local business owners, and it is a responsibility we do not take lightly. 

From offices to retail spaces, we’ve been honored to help build businesses that are the backbone of our community. 

3. We Completed the Design-Build Dream Team 

We always wanted to offer our clients a seamless, headache-free experience. Over the last few years, we officially brought a licensed architect and an interior designer fully in-house. 

When we talk about “Teamwork Making Solutions Reality,” this is what we mean. Having design and construction under one roof means we don’t just build your project—we design it to your exact budget in real time. 

What Will Never Change 

If you walk into our new Lynndale Drive office, you are going to see some of the same familiar faces who have been with us from the start, alongside some incredibly talented new faces. 

But no matter how big our building gets or how many millions of dollars in projects we complete, the core of MJI remains the same. 

Our business is built on the 3 T’s: 

• Transparency: No hidden numbers, no surprise bills. You see what we see. 

• Trust: Earned by listening first, giving honest feedback, and taking responsible action. 

• Teamwork: Working as one cohesive unit with our customers, our crew, and our subcontractors. 

And all of that is powered by what we call the 4 F’s: Faith, Family, Fitness, and Finance. These are the values that keep our feet on the ground and our eyes on the bigger picture. 

We aren’t just building structures; we are building a legacy that supports our employees, their families, and our clients for generations to come, which results in a stronger local community.

Let’s Start the Next Chapter 

It might have taken us 1,593 days to write this update, but we aren’t planning on waiting another four years to talk to you again. 

Whether you need a partner to help you navigate this shifting 2026 market or want to swing by Lynndale Drive to check out the new shop, our doors are always open. 

Let’s look at your goals, map out a realistic plan, and build your “best” together.