Anderson & Rodgers Construction marks its 20th anniversary this year with a new Marketing Director, an expanded geographical reach, and big ambitions for the future. Based in Lexington, Kentucky, the design-build firm offers construction services, renovations, remodeling, custom designs, and new home additions. The company primarily serves residential and commercial clients with a special focus on equine-related projects.
President and Chief Executive Officer Teddy Rodgers cites a simple formula involving customer care, quality workmanship, and a humble attitude as the secret to the company’s success.
“I think part of it is focusing on the customer’s experience,” states Rodgers. “We’re trying to have a very authentic relationship with our clients. What we do isn’t always fun for people, because it’s our job to keep their vision and the budget aligned,” he says.
“We still take opportunities that companies that have been in business as long as us would probably pass on, and it’s because you don’t want to forget where you started and how you got here” he adds. “My partner kind of jokes with me: ‘You’re the only person I know that would go out and bid a $15 million to $20 million project and turn around and bid a $10,000 project.’” Working on these lower-priced contracts helps build the company’s reputation and can lead to multi-million dollar assignments, he explains.
The company was launched in 2006 by Rodgers and Brent Anderson. Anderson today serves as co-owner and Chief Financial Officer. Partnering with Bruce McGaughey in 2015 allowed the company to actively pursue commercial work. That partnership helped Anderson & Rodgers flourish, with Bruce McGaughey now acting as Vice President of the company. All told, the company presently employs around 20 people, and while it primarily takes on projects within central Kentucky, it is also licensed to work in Ohio, Florida, and now, Tennessee. The firm offers a combination of in-house and subcontracted services with trusted partners.
Anderson & Rodgers’ work for the residential sector encompasses everything from bathrooms and kitchens to outdoor spaces, additions, and brand-new construction. Within the commercial sector, the company has done projects for the retail, office, medical and health, and multifamily building markets. It has taken on some fascinating restoration/historic projects as well, restoring a century-old log and stone shelter for the state of Kentucky, as well as the John G. King building, a historic office building in downtown Lexington constructed in the 1870s, for example.
Not all end users of Anderson & Rodgers’ construction projects walk on two legs. Horses account for a sizeable amount of the company’s business, which is understandable given that the state hosts the world-famous Kentucky Derby and features countless sites where horses are trained, raised, and reared. To this end, Anderson & Rodgers “just finished a modern surgery center for an equestrian hospital,” notes Rodgers with pride.
Anderson & Rodgers also does a brisk business in equine barns, creating safe, secure, controlled environments for horses. Equine barns are available for both residential and commercial customers, and the firm partners with some of the most renowned barn designers in the country on equestrian riding arenas to train horses or for recreational riding.
A few years ago, Anderson & Rodgers partnered with Harrison Harvesting to construct a USDA-regulated meat processing plant, and the companies have joined forces again to build a retail outlet in Richmond, Kentucky. Operating under the corporate name Bourbon Barrel Beef, the outlet will offer “high-quality, locally sourced beef products,” explains newly hired Sales and Marketing Director, Trey Schadt, adding that, “more families in Richmond will be able to access sustainable meat.”
Ground was broken for the project in early December, with construction scheduled to wrap up by spring. Once it opens, the Richmond location will become Harrison Harvesting’s third retail outlet in Kentucky.
The company is also working on a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) project in Cincinnati and a massive private home in Georgetown, Kentucky. These two assignments underline the firm’s range and willingness to take on totally different projects.
The HUD job, which is centered on an affordable housing development, serves two purposes, says Rodgers. First, it “gives us an opportunity to give back” and provide decent housing for disadvantaged people, he explains. At the same time, doing this work “really sets you up for future opportunities with state or federal [agencies] or non-profit organizations,” he says.
The private home project, meanwhile, entails a 24,000-square-foot property with an intriguing backstory. “It’s a very unique property and the story behind it is just as unique. The [owner] bought it at auction partly built many years ago. He farmed the land for years and finally decided to make the investment and finish the property. The hope is to finish that project and make a video about it, although it may take some convincing considering the private lifestyle the client lives.”
The latter comment touches on a new aspect of the company’s business. Since we last spoke in April 2024 for Construction in Focus, Schadt was brought on board to drum up new business, network with colleagues and potential clients, and promote the company. “I love to tell stories about construction and try to educate people on what a construction process looks like,” says Schadt. Some of these stories are told through photographs, text and videos on the company website, and social media profiles. “Trey’s been vital to the company taking a more targeted approach to its image,” says Teddy. “We have always worked hard to have a polished image, spending money on professional photos instead of doing them with our iPhones, but now we have someone focused on this mission full-time, so it’s been a game changer.
As for what the company looks for in a new hire, “experience is key, but attitude is as well. Construction is hard enough as it is; there are constant challenges. If you’re a problem solver, it’s a great field for you because you’re going to face problems with supply; you’re going to face problems with labor; you’re going to face problems with customers,” says Rodgers. “If you’re expecting everything to run perfectly, you’re going to be pretty miserable.” Normalizing these struggles is a day one training tool,” Rodgers adds. “I heard someone once say, ‘a pessimist is just a well-educated optimist.’”
The company takes good care of its personnel, hosting monthly safety meetings and toolbox safety talks and providing all appropriate PPE. It also takes good care of its customers; Anderson & Rodgers earned top kudos in the annual Best of Lexington 2025 awards, compiled by the Lexington Herald Leader. The firm has consistently rated high in these awards over the years, and this time around, won silver in the best remodeler/contractor category and gold for best interior designer.
The gold honor, bestowed upon Lead Designer Shana Baum, highlights the firm’s comprehensive design capabilities. The team offers a base package consisting of design consultations, floorplans, electrical and lighting plans, material plans, and more. Using specialty software, Anderson & Rodgers can also guide customers on a 3D tour to see what a proposed design would look like once completed.
Anderson & Rodgers also continue to be active on the philanthropic front. The group takes part in a charitable Christmas tree giveaway event, raising $850 with the help of other local businesses, and participated in a doghouse auction for a local humane society, partnering with an architect to design the doghouse and raising $1500. “There’s always something we’re putting our hands in to give back to the community. It’s fun and rewarding,” Rodgers says.
Of course, the company faces its share of challenges, from economic uncertainty to tariffs. And ironically, the high caliber of the Anderson & Rodgers workforce can be challenging in that other businesses are eager to poach personnel. “We’ve fought to keep our employees, but there are always companies scouting our employees,” he shares. “We’re hiring very talented people. I’ve got a great team.” Rodgers also states, “I don’t know any other company that’s had the same amount of people leave to start their own successful businesses. It truly speaks to the drive and talent we strive for from our team.
As for the future, Teddy Rodgers is not thinking about introducing any new services, preferring instead to “polish and sharpen,” existing capabilities. Growing the company’s footprint is also top of mind. “We’d love to expand into more markets, do more work in Cincinnati, pursue more work in Tennessee. The same goes for Indiana,” he adds. “About a third of the 16 medical facilities we built from 2014 to 2020 were in Southern Indiana.”
Growth will be organic, he emphasizes; the firm is not interested in chasing work or luring clients, instead focusing on meaningful interactions with potential clients and peer organizations, being proud and active members of the BIA. Brent Anderson has acted as President for two terms, and Teddy Rodgers as Remodel Council Chairman. Brent currently remains on the board as the immediate past president, actively lobbying with State Legislators on issues important to BIA and their members.
Schadt wants to build more partnerships. “Within the process of construction, people can butt heads,” he says, “whether it be with the architect and builder or builder and engineers. We want to come together as a unified front and say, ‘Here’s how we can help you and be a resource for you throughout any stage of this process.’”
Overall, the company’s level-headed, “boots-on-the-ground” approach, as Rodgers calls it, seems to be paying off. “Nobody was considering us for a million dollar-plus project 15 years ago. Nobody was considering us for a $10 million project five or six years ago. Now we’re at the point where we’re being considered for $10 million to $20 million projects,” he says. “We have to continue to grow that portfolio.”
