About the Owners
The Kurtz family has been in the construction business for over half a century. It all began in 1953 when Grandpa Ron landed his first construction job in Cleveland, OH. Although he passed away unexpectedly soon after moving to Atlantic Beach, FL, his love for the craft and attention to detail were passed down to his son, John, who began laying bricks immediately after graduating from Fletcher High School. It wasn’t long before he was tired of being taken advantage of as a laborer and recognized that he could do a better job on his own.
In 1981, John Kurtz started Kurtz Contractors, serving the Jacksonville and Beaches areas in the field of block masonry. Soon after, he began building upscale custom homes in neighborhoods such as Sawgrass, Ocean Walk, and Mandarin under Kurtz Custom Homes. It was here that he learned the importance of client relationships, always listening and making them the center of the design team.
Kurstar Construction was founded in 1989 with the help of John’s brother-in-law, Guy Stark. The new venture focused on small to medium-sized commercial projects, including shopping centers, schools, churches, restaurants, and medical offices, from Jacksonville to Miami.
In 2005, John was diagnosed with Focal Nephrotic Syndrome and received a kidney transplant in 2006. Despite this, he continued to work as hard as ever, instilling in his son Matt an unwavering work ethic and ardent determination. Despite weekly dialysis treatments and a crippling recession, John worked harder than ever to provide for his family and deliver the quality work he was known for to his clients. John passed away on January 15, 2015, leaving behind Matt to carry forward his legacy.
“My biggest dream would be that my kids would work with me and eventually take over the business. I can’t think of anything better than going into the office and seeing your children working with you every day.”
— John Kurtz
KURCO’S FUTURE
After John’s untimely death, Matt applied for a temporary contractor’s license to finish work on his father’s open jobs. Matt spent his days on the job sites and his nights and weekends studying for his own contractor’s license. Less than a year after John’s passing, Matt officially became a third-generation Kurtz builder. He formed Kurco Construction, Inc. in March 2016 with industry veteran Jason Green by his side. Incorporating the ethics, passion, and commitment to quality passed on to Matt by his father, they are already busy building the future of Northeast Florida.
As they look forward, they see Kurco as Jacksonville’s next generation of home and commercial building contractors. Combining the values that run in the family with a modern approach, they aim to build a better future through their team’s commitment to quality, hard work, and customer satisfaction. With Matt and Jason’s bold new vision, leadership, and expanded services, the Kurco crew is prepared and excited for what’s to come.
