Family Business
As I leave the Martin Horn Family Christmas Party, I can’t help but feel proud of what this company has become. I spend a lot of time thinking about the “secret” of a family business. At Martin Horn, the “family” in our business isn’t just the Horns—everyone who works here. It’s the way we care for each other, work together, and treat everyone with respect. That’s why people say, “This place treats me like family.”
The funny thing is, that Martin Horn didn’t start as a family business. My dad bought into Edward Van Leer, a residential contracting company, and teamed up with Warren Martin to rename it Martin Horn. Dad and Mr. Martin were friends and respected each other, but they weren’t family. They were pretty different but they shared the same vision. They believed in hard work, fairness, and building something they could both be proud of. With the skilled craftspeople in the field, they built more than buildings—a culture that felt like family even before anyone called it that. Over time, Mr. Martin welcomed my brothers Jack and Doug, and me into the business. When Mr. Martin retired, the company naturally shifted to being more Horn-centric, and the next decades were all about continuing what Dad and Mr. Martin started: running an honest, hardworking company where people came first.
But the real heart of our family business isn’t just in the office—it’s in the field. It’s where fathers and sons have worked side by side, where brothers have teamed up, and where no one is judged by anything except their willingness to pitch in. Whether you’re carrying lumber, pouring concrete, or sweeping the site, if you’re here to help, you’re family. It’ll be up to all of us to keep the “family business feel” alive. Because the secret isn’t about one family—it’s about all of us. It’s about working hard, looking out for each other, and maybe sharing a laugh along the way. So here’s to the Martin Horn family—past, present, and future.
