Merlyn Vandervort II, CR, CGR,
Founder and President of the Millennium Group of companies, grew up in the real
estate and property management business in Kansas City Mo. As such, his experience
in real estate and property rehab began at a very young age. By 1985 Merlyn was
a Regional Property Manager for a real estate management company and was responsible
for 9 multi family properties and over 2,000 units. The tax change of 1986 devastated
the real estate investment industry, and opened up the door for the next phase of
Merlyn’s endeavors. A carpenter by trade, Merlyn accepted a position as the General
Manager of a Fire Restoration Co. located in Independence, Missouri. Three years
later, Merlyn set out to make his mark on the world.
In 1989 Merlyn founded Metro Renovators
Inc, a construction company specializing in rebuilding property damaged by fire,
flood and natural disaster. Metro Renovators quickly rose to the top of the Kansas
City Insurance repair market and eventually opened an office in Springfield Mo.
By the mid 1990’s Metro Renovators was one of the largest disaster reconstruction
companies in the
country, and performed reconstruction services wherever disaster
struck. In 1998, Metro Renovators Inc. was acquired by; Inrecon LLC. Merlyn accepted
a 4 yr. Contract as the Regional Vice President. During that time Inrecon was
purchased by Masco (a fortune 500, public company) and then again sold to Belfor International.
The company is currently the largest restoration company in the world, and has offices in over 50 US cities and 26 International offices.
In the midst of building his construction empire, in1997 Merlyn also founded; “Merlyn
Vandervort Investments, LLC.” a successful real estate investment company, that
owns and manages over fifteen million dollars in real estate assets. You might
say that Merlyn has a real passion for business, first and foremost for construction
and real estate, but equally for the hospitality industry. In 1999 Merlyn founded
7 Mile Investments, Inc., a company that owns and manages multiple restaurants and
resort style businesses, including; the “world famous” Horny Toad @ Toad Cove.
Merlyn’s ambitions expand
far beyond being the Vice President of a fortune 500 company or owning a couple
of restaurants. In 2002 he rejected a lucrative offer
to extend his employment contract
with Belfor USA, to pursue his new destiny. The geography of that new destiny would come to be “The Lake of the Ozarks” in Central Missouri. Merlyn first experienced
the Lake of the Ozarks in 1997, and soon realized that is where he wanted to raise his children and build his future. With extensive experience in construction and
real estate, a company that could service both markets was a natural fit. The goal
was clear, build a new kind of company for the twenty first century! There could
be no more perfect name for this company than “Millennium”! Thus began; Millennium
Restoration & Construction Services, Inc./ Design Build and Millennium Realty
Group, Inc. In 2002, Merlyn designed and built a beautiful new office building in
Lake Ozark Missouri, and the Millennium group of companies were founded! Millennium
Restoration & Const. Services, Inc./Design Build was the first to get off to
a big start, quickly securing numerous remodeling
and new construction contracts,
as well as acquiring several lots in an exclusive waterfront subdivision and building
several luxury spec
homes. Millennium Restoration & Construction Services, Inc./Design
Build is a Design Build General contractor, specializing in all aspects of residential
and commercial construction,
and design build services. In July 2004, these services
were expanded to include all aspects of Insurance Reconstruction, a service that
conflicted with Merlyn’s 2 yr. non-compete with Inrecon/Belfor prior to July/04.
Millennium Realty Group emerged upon the scene in June of 2003 and attracted some
of the finest real estate professionals at the Lake of the Ozarks. Millennium Realty
Group is a general real estate company that markets and sells all residential and
commercial property, including single family and multi family residents, condominiums,
industrial facilities, office, retail, restaurants, and provides property management
services. If you are buying, selling, renting, developing or building; the Millennium
Group of companies is a one-stop shop.
Good people are what sets the Millennium Group of companies apart from the competition
and ensures the growth and success of these multiple companies!
Merlyn entrusts long time associates
with an extensive management experience and educational background, to manage and
oversee the companies. Raymond Bateman is the
Managing
Broker of Millennium Realty
Group, Inc. Diana Finley Meeker is a long time associate of Merlyn’s and is one
of the companies top sales agents.
When Merlyn founded Millennium Restoration &
Construction Services, Inc./Design Build he
looked to Larry Powell to manage the
construction division, as the company Vice President. Merlyn had known Larry for
several years as a respected Architect in the community. Larry’s new career was
off to an incredible start but ended tragically in an unfortunate automobile accident. This was a devastating loss to the company; however, as divine intervention would
have it, Larry looked after his friend, and the company he had helped to build from
the heavens…
The day after Larry’s funeral, Merlyn was contacted “out of the blue”
by Doug Ross. Doug is an Engineer and has known Merlyn for over 25 years. Doug was
the Vice President and General Manager of Merlyn’s previous construction company,
Metro Renovators, Inc., for seven years. Merlyn and Doug had not been in touch with
each other for the previous year, and Doug was unaware of the tragic incident. Doug
relocated from Kansas City to the Lake, and is currently the Vice President and
General Manager of Millennium Restoration & Construction Services, Inc./ Design
Build. In addition to Doug, Justin Generally became part of the management team in the summer of 2003. Justin is a talented young Architect, and is the son of one
of Merlyn’s closest friends.
The future of the Millennium Group of Companies is very bright! The Lake of the
Ozarks will always be home; but the company is structured to expand into new markets
and new endeavors. The executive officers, managers, and employees are committed
to the common goal of building a new kind of company for the new millennium through
hard work, professionalism, staying on the cutting edge of technology, maintaining
a competitive edge, and above all; integrity! That’s a new kind of company that
Millennium customers have learned to appreciate!