The professional paths people take allow for varied learning and character-building experiences, preparing them for the next great step in life. This is the story of Joe Denny, owner of Valhalla Contracting.
Denny spent four years in the Navy with a construction battalion learning the trade and building a camaraderie forged from deployments and daily work with fellow military members. His service was followed by eight years working in oil fields, where he mastered paying attention to detail while working as safely as possible. Then, Denny stepped back into the world of construction on the side of sales, working for large companies and later a smaller firm.
One day, a call from the local Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) post set Denny on a new course. A local home-bound veteran needed help repairing his roof, so Denny gathered the materials and completed most of the work himself. During the process, he realized that having a crew would be a quicker and more effective way of helping people. At that point, he decided to branch out and open Valhalla Contracting.
“Our slogan is people before profits,” explained Denny. “Obviously, we have to make enough to cover our bills and honor warranties, et cetera, but if there is a way that I can make things better for somebody, that is what I'm going to do.”
Valhalla Contracting operates as a full service, insured general contractor. For commercial clients, Denny and his crew focus specifically on roofing. For residential clients, he offers general contracting work to cover inside construction, as well, especially when it comes to residential large loss damage.
Denny has the resources and partnerships to seamlessly bring different trades together to safely and efficiently make a resident’s ideas become a reality. He also partners with a company that specializes in mitigation for large loss damage, such as destruction caused by fire and water, and works with the homeowner to turn a tough situation into something positive.
“I really enjoy getting into interior losses and being able to work with the homeowners to turn their loss into added property value,” said Denny. “Many of them were not planning on remodeling the bathroom, kitchen, or wherever the loss is, but I explain to them that by going ahead and doing that remodel now, the money that they spend will come back to them several fold in a few years through added property value.”
For Denny, starting Valhalla Contracting isn’t just a way to serve his local area but an homage to his fellow military members.
“In the veteran and military community, we have adopted a Norse mythology kind of mentality,” he explained. “We say that if you die in battle then that is a good and honorable death. When one of us passes, we just say, ‘Until Valhalla, I will see you again in the Great Hall.'
“So, having brothers and sisters who have either passed away in the line of duty or succumb to their own devices after getting home, it’s essentially a nod or a tip of the hat to those men and women who have gone before us as a memorial to them.”
Building trust through relationships is important, and Denny recommends people get to know their local general contractor before an emergency situation arises. To connect with Valhalla Contracting, visit www.valhalla-contracting.com, email Valhalla.jdenney@gmail.com, and follow @Valhallacontracting23 on Facebook and Instagram.
"Our slogan is people before profits. ... If there is a way that I can make things better for somebody, that is what I'm going to do."