Cornillie Concrete is once again a locally-owned company. Former co-owner Rick Deneweth of Three West consulting firm in Traverse City confirmed this week that he and Joe Cornillie have purchased the company from a spin-off of U.S. Concrete – the same company they sold it to in 2000. The purchase was final in early September.

Deneweth said he and Cornillie had no intention of buying the company back until Deneweth learned over the summer that three concrete plants in northern Michigan were no longer a focus of the company's and rumored to be facing a shut down.

"We just couldn't let this thing disappear," says Deneweth. "A lot of the same people, who were working there when we owned it, were still there."

Deneweth and Cornillie brought on a third partner, Rob Cherry – who brings extensive experience in the industry – as general manager in charge of day-to-day operations, says Deneweth.

After a busy fall responding to daily business, Deneweth says the partners are now focused on long-term operations and investments in equipment upgrades and technology.

"This large corporation just didn't understand what it takes to be successful in a small town," says Deneweth. "The three of us together bring more than 70 years of experience in the industry."