Trade Spotlight: Ray Cochran & Co

With every Summit home, a driveway, front porch, and steps are poured and sometimes, depending on the lot, a patio too. For these major home projects, we rely on Ray Cochran & Company. They have proven over and over again that they are reliable, efficient and sticklers for providing our homeowners with the best flatwork in the metro. 

Recently, we had a chance to sit down and learn more about their business. 

“Cochran Concrete” began in the 1940’s with Raymond J. Cochran, Ray’s father. In the late 1950’s Ray joined his father and eventually branched off on his own company, known today as Ray Cochran Concrete in the 1970’s. Ray saw early success by working on projects for the City of Kansas City, City of North Kansas City and the State of Missouri. Projects included the original parking deck for the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art, the University of Missouri Kansas City’s Cherry Street Parking Garage, and curb replacement across the city.  In the 1980’s Ray's focus shifted to specialize in commercial and residential projects. This has remained the company’s focus ever since. Ray linked up with Summit Homes in 2013 working mostly in flatwork and has continued to be a valued trade partner for the last seven years.
From the beginning Ray’s company has been a family business. Ray’s five children have all worked for the company at one point or another, and today it is managed by his children Tom, Steve and Alex along with other family members Elenor Chipman, Bob Callahan, and Elizabeth Brambilla. They have expanded to 49 team members and order on average approximately 1,700 yards of concrete a month. They can be found at two convenient locations in Gladstone and Smithville, Missouri.
On January 10, 2020, the patriarch and leader of the company, Ray Cochran, passed away. His children and family are working hard to carry on his legacy and move forward with the vision Ray had for the future, which was to continue to grow and expand as a family-run business for the next generation of Cochran’s and Family.

Are you interested in seeing their work? Visit a Summit Home community on the Missouri side!