Drees Homes history

Drees Co. was founded in 1933 by Louie & Theresa Drees.

In 1958, The Drees Co. became a partnership between Theodore and his two sons, Richard and Ralph.

Drees' durability can be attributed largely to Theodore's son, Ralph, who joined the business in 1959 after serving in the Army.

In 1967 his brother Richard left the partnership, and Ralph acquired 100 percent of the company.

Howard G. Drees, Douglas Drees and Kenneth Kammin then purchased Drees Co. in 1968.

In 1970 Gerhard Drees and Volker Kuhne founded an engineering firm specializing in critical path analysis, production planning, company organization, and construction consulting.

After at first focusing on building single-family homes, the firm started an Investment Properties Division in 1972, later renamed the Commercial Division.

In 1973 the firm began its first geographic expansion, seeking work in Cincinnati.

In 1975 the company changed its name to simply The Drees Company, Inc.

Housing starts declined dismally in the Cincinnati area, dropping as much as 70 percent for 1982.

The company began building homes there in 1984.

When that proved difficult at first, the company instead chose Atlanta, beginning work there in 1987.

Drees was in the top 100 builders by sales by 1990, ranking 71st that year.

Representing the third generation, Howard J. Drees bought the company in 1993.

In 1997, which proved a record year for the firm, sales topped $300 million, a 20 percent increase over the previous year.

Drees brought in about $400 million in 1998, again almost a 20 percent increase over the year before.

By 1999, Drees ranked as the 40th largest builder in the United States, according to statistics compiled by Professional Builder, an industry journal.

While the values of excellence and integrity continue to serve our company well, David Drees, our President and CEO since 2000, has also integrated 21st-century technology and the efficiencies it provides.

The company celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2010.