Skip to content
MarketScale
‹ Back to IndustriesEngineering & Construction

Mills Supply and Gates & Sons: A Lasting Partnership

Long-term supplier partnerships can eliminate costly rework that plagues nearly a third of construction projects

This story was produced through MarketScale. See how Engineering & Construction teams put it to work with Partner & Channel Enablement.

By Shanice Bennerson · Construction SupplyGates & Sons ConcreteInnovationMill Supply
Share

Key takeaways

01

Long-term supplier partnerships can eliminate costly rework that plagues nearly a third of construction projects

Get featured

Want to get featured in MarketScale Engineering & Construction?

Create a free MarketScale workspace and get your company's expertise featured across our Engineering & Construction coverage. No credit card, no demo required.

Request an invite

According to a study highlighted on Essential Construction News, broken communication in the construction industry lead to 30% of projects being reworked. Reworking a project caused businesses a monetary loss between 7% and 15% of the total budget. A potential solution to this issue is investing in long-lasting partnerships rooted in trust, innovation, and shared values that are integral in construction supply. A great example of positive relationship building is the relationship between Mills Supply and Gates & Sons Concrete.

Mills Supply is a family-owned company originating from a small shop in Louisville, Kentucky. Established in 1991, this business grew into a formidable player in the industry, boasting nearly 150 employees today. Remarkably, Mill Supply's core values have remained consistent over these decades, emphasizing the importance of customer-centric approaches and innovative solutions.

Gates & Sons Concrete stands out, not just for its product knowledge but also for pushing the boundaries of what's possible in the industry. Their commitment to innovation, training, quality, and service has resonated with partners like Mill Supply. Amie Schardein from Purchasing at Gates & Sons Concrete comments, "The relationship between Mills Supply and Gates & Sons Concrete is one that we've built on friendship. Gates has always been a leader in the construction supply industry."

The relationship between Mills Supply and Gates & Sons Concrete is one that we've built on friendship. Gates has always been a leader in the construction supply industry.
— Amie Schardein, Purchasing at Gates & Sons Concrete

A true testament to the strength and longevity of their partnership is their shared ethos: always prioritize the customer. On this note, Amie provides deeper insights into this enduring relationship. "We feel it's important that we've partnered with vendors that have those same values. We look forward to working with Gates to provide our customers with the best quality product out there," states Amie.

We feel it's important that we've partnered with vendors that have those same values. We look forward to working with Gates to provide our customers with the best quality product out there.
— Amie Schardein, Purchasing at Gates & Sons Concrete

Amie Schardein, Purchasing at Mills Supply, shares her perspective on the partnership:

The relationship between Mill Supply and Gates is one that we've built on friendship. Gates has always been a leader in the construction supply industry that has taken product knowledge to the next level. Since 1991, Mill Supply has been in business. Instrinctly, We are a family company. Together, my parents started it together in a little shop in Louisville, Kentucky, and today has grown to almost 150 employees. Furthermore, the core values that we had 30-something years ago are still important today.

Given this, we feel it's important that we've partnered with vendors that have those same values. We put the customer first and delivered on the product, innovation, and training. Consistently, we deliver anything that our customers and salesmen need to get that product out. Currently, we look forward to working with Gates to provide our customers with the best quality product that is out on the market right now. And we feel that Gates can provide service, on quality, innovation, and on training. We want to partner with Gates to take the industry in Louisville to the next step. Because of this, Gates can deliver quickly to fix any problem that we have. Today, we value that partnership just as much as we did when we opened our doors in 1991.

Video TranscriptExpand ↓

The relationship between mill supply and gates is one that we've built on friendship. Gates has always been the leader in construction supply industry and has has taken that product knowledge to the next level. Mil Supply has been in business since nineteen ninety one. We are a family company My parents started it together in a little shop in Louisville, Kentucky, and today has grown to almost one hundred and fifty employees. The core values that we had thirty something years ago are still important today. We feel it's important that we've partnered with vendors that have those same values. Put the customer first and delivered on product, on innovation, on training, on anything that our customers need, our salesman need to get that product out. We look forward to working with Gates to provide our customers with the best quality product that is out on the market now, and we feel that Gates can provide on service on quality, innovation, and on training. We want to partner with Gates to take the industry in Louisville to the next step. Gates can deliver quickly to fix any problem that we have. And we value that partnership just as much today as we did when we opened our doors in nineteen ninety one.

Your experts belong here

Every story in MarketScale Engineering & Construction starts with a company putting its project engineers, superintendents, and estimators on the record. Buyers are already reading this topic. The only question is whose experts they find.

Owners shortlist firms they already trust, and your field leaders become the reason your name is on that list.

Get your team featuredSee how it works15 minutes, straight to a calendar.

About the author

SB
Shanice Bennerson

Follow Engineering & Construction Insights

Get new expert content in your inbox.

Engineering & Construction: are you visible to AI?

Before they reach out, Engineering & Construction buyers ask AI engines which vendors to trust. See how AI describes your company today, and where competitors show up instead.

Free workspace

You just read one Engineering & Construction expert. Your company is full of them.

This article was produced through MarketScale. The same platform turns your project engineers, superintendents, and estimators into the articles, video, and social content Engineering & Construction buyers are searching for. Create a free workspace and see it with your own people. No credit card, no demo required.

NPS +73 · 1,000+ creators · 38+ countries

What you get, free

Your own MarketScale Studio workspace
One video edit a month, on us
AI writing, editing, and publishing tools
In-platform coaching to learn the system

More Engineering & Construction Insights

Most MES programs are stuck at pilot scale, and that’s now an AI and cyber risk decision

Most MES programs are stuck at pilot scale, and that’s now an AI and cyber risk decision

A significant number of manufacturers have adopted Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) but the majority are only in the pilot stage. According to Rockwell, 93% of these manufacturers implement MES, yet only 23% have achieved full integration across all sites, potentially increasing AI and cybersecurity risks. The operational gap between those who have fully integrated MES and those who haven't continues to grow.

  • 0193% of manufacturers have adopted MES technology.
  • 02Only 23% of manufacturers have fully integrated MES across all sites.
  • 03The lack of full MES integration may elevate AI and cybersecurity risks.

Aug 24, 2026

Community college engineering programs can lift persistence by 16 points, but state funding swings are becoming an operational risk for employers

Community college engineering programs can lift persistence by 16 points, but state funding swings are becoming an operational risk for employers

Community college engineering programs have shown a significant improvement in student persistence, with a reported 16-point increase. However, fluctuations in state funding, as evidenced by North Carolina's budget cuts, pose a risk to this progress. These budgetary changes can affect the stability and operational efficiency of such educational programs.

  • 01Community college engineering programs can increase student persistence by 16 points.
  • 02State funding swings, like North Carolina's budget cuts, are an operational risk for educational programs.
  • 0315 campuses reported enrollment and persistence gains in their engineering pathways.

Aug 24, 2026

Let's Get to Know Your Product - Donald Hillman

Let's Get to Know Your Product - Donald Hillman

Donald Hillman from Multi-Plastics discusses the importance of understanding the product fully. A deep knowledge of the product aids in better marketing and customer satisfaction.

  • 01Understanding a product deeply can enhance its marketability and improve customer satisfaction.
  • 02Product knowledge can play a critical role in identifying unique selling propositions and competitive advantages.

Aug 19, 2026

Explore More Engineering & Construction Insights

Read more expert perspectives from across Engineering & Construction.

Browse Engineering & Construction Hub

About the Expert

SB
Shanice Bennerson

For B2B teams

Your experts could be publishing here

Stories like this one run on content MarketScale captures from real practitioners. See how your team's expertise becomes coverage in Engineering & Construction and beyond.

Book a 15-minute demo

Or call us. No forms required. We pick up. 214-945-2512