Our Story

In 1906, Carl J. Seagren, William Kallasch, Stanley White and Harry Leach organized and incorporated the Illinois Hydraulic Stone and Construction Company. Initially the company manufactured concrete blocks compressed by hydraulic pressure. Concrete blocks were phased out beginning in 1913 when road paving became their primary business. As time progressed, the company diversified and accelerated their commercial, industrial and institutional building program.

The founders retired in 1947 and turned over the management to several employees, including Melvin E. Rakow, and the company name changed to Illinois Hydraulic Construction Company. New businesses were added and utility work for Commonwealth Edison, Illinois Bell, and other utility companies became a major part of the company business.

The company became family owned in 1970 when the retiring partner sold his interest to Melvin Rakow. Upon his death in 1972, May Rakow became President and Secretary and Thomas S. Rakow was elected to Executive Vice President and Treasurer. Elected to President in 1980, Thomas Rakow developed the business into a wide variety of services and changed the company name to IHC Group, Inc. in May, 1994 to clarify its diversity.

David Rock (former Vice President) succeeded Mr. Rakow in January 2002 as our new President and Chief Executive Officer. To better identify the core business of IHC, the term “Construction” returned to our name as IHC Construction Companies, LLC. In 2018, IHC expanded its operations by opening a Southeast Regional Office outside of Atlanta, Georgia in the suburb of Marietta.

IHC remains affiliated with various trade organizations:

  • AGC – Associated General Contractors of America
  • AIRE – Association of Industrial Real Estate Brokers (associate member)
  • ARTBA – American Road and Transportation Builders Association
  • CMAA – Construction Management Association of America
  • EAC – Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce
  • FVAGC – Fox Valley Associated General Contractors (50th year founding member)
  • HACIA – Hispanic American Construction Industry Association (associate member)
  • IASBO – Illinois Association of School Business Officials (associate member)
  • ILSCC – Illinois State Chamber
  • IRTBA – Illinois Road & Transportation Builders Association
  • NFIB – National Federation of Independent Business
  • UCA – Underground Contractors Association
  • USCC – U.S. Chamber of Commerce

The IHC Team consists of dedicated, seasoned and educated professionals. Bachelor of Science Degrees are held in a variety of complementary fields including: Business Administration, Construction Science and Management, Civil Engineering, Industrial Technology and Finance. Members of our staff are licensed engineers, architects and LEED Accredited Professionals.