In 1987 Michael Buckner and Ted Page both saw an opportunity to start what was originally called Specialty Retail Constructors, Inc. but soon was renamed Retail Constructors, Inc. In 1987 the opportunity that presented itself was that Michael and Ted were both in the process of making future employment decisions at the same time and coincidently at the same place when they found each other. Michael had all of the necessary experience in construction and Ted, through his previous employer had worked with and knew many business owners in need of new and remodel construction services. In the first few years Michael and Ted traveled the United States installing the extensive fixture package for the Wallpapers to Go Retail stores. From there they moved into remodeling retail stores primarily for the franchisees of WNS corporation which included Wicks-n-Sticks, Deck the Walls and Wallpapers to Go. Their first big opportunity came in 1989 when Deck the Walls signed a lease in the beginning of November for a store in Houston Galleria and needed it to be open the day after Thanksgiving. Upon being awarded the challenge of a full store with a two week build out, Mike and Ted, with a 24 hour, 7 days a week construction schedule took turns sleeping in the store to successfully complete the job in two weeks. There was much buzz at the time about this new GC that did a complete build out in two weeks and RCI became one of the busiest GC's of high end retail stores in the Galleria with several other chains becoming clients over the state of Texas. Shortly after this RCI became a GC for the stores of the Edison Brothers Shoe and Brown Shoe retail chains out of St. Louis. These two holding companies together represented over 15 retail National Marquees in Regional Malls. RCI also built for the chains of Hallmark Cards, Whitehall Jewelry, Marmi Shoe, Lids, Body Shop, Clarke Shoes, Ace Mart Restaurant Supply, Steak Escape restaurants, The Tamale Factory restaurants, Ace Hardware, Sprint and Verizon retail stores. RCI also does Office T-I work as you will see in the picture gallery.

Today RCI is involved in Tenant Improvement work for National and Regional Retail chains, Office T-I work, Restaurant construction and small to medium Out of the Ground Projects. We have chosen to limit the geographical area we cover to the State of Texas. It is our philosophy that in order to provide the results expected from our customers that we should be personally involved in every project. This would not be possible if we tried to cover the whole country as some of our competitors do. We have an excellent group of subcontractors that we have come to trust and they in turn know the result we expect.

Michael Buckner

Michael grew up in Macon Georgia and started his construction career with Williams Construction Company. Michael started with Williams as a laborer/helper learning the construction business and after 16 years and doing everything in between had worked himself into the position of Project Manager. The projects he managed ran the gamete from Historical Restoration projects in Downtown Macon to large manufacturing facilities such as Brown & Williams Tobacco, YKK Industries, Warner Robbins Air Logistics Center, Snapper-Comet Lawnmower Manufacturing, Union Camp Corrugated Box, Willamette Industries to Toys R US Retail stores and everything in between. Today, Michael calls the shots on all construction related activities with RCI and through the years has performed all functions within the company from Superintendent, Carpenter, Estimator and Head of Project Management. Michael is the first point of contact with our customers once the bidding of a project has begun.

Away from work, Michael, invests much time in his church, First United Methodist Church of Humble, TX where he presently serves as an usher and Chairman of the Trustee Committee. He has a financially depleting hobby of Luxury style boating and Real Estate investment as well as being involved with his son-in-law's Competition oriented Barbeque Cook-Off team...which is big business here in Texas! Michael is married with two children and three grand children...which are his favorite hobby.

Ted Page

Ted Page is from Savannah, GA and worked for several National Franchising companies prior to working with RCI. At Century 21 Realty, based in Jacksonville, FL he was in South East Franchise Development then moved to Houston, Texas to work with Today's American Builder, modeled after Century 21, which was a new Franchise company targeted toward franchising home builders. In 1986 the home building business in Texas died as did TAB and he moved to Franchise Development for WNS Corp. (Wicks N Sticks, Deck the Wall and Wallpapers to Go retail stores). With RCI he has held every job from Accounting to Estimator, Superintendent and Project Manager.

Away from work, Ted, an animal and nature lover also spends his spare time with rental property improvements and enjoys his nautical nature excursions on the Gulf Coast and his fishing hobby. He enjoys sailing Beach Catamarans with his son and a group of dedicated Beach Cat Sailors in Surfside Texas. Ted also is an occasional competitor in Pistol Sports such as Bullseye competition shooting. He is a member of Champion Forest Baptist Church in Houston.