by Jean Sealey
Northeast Florida Builders Association
Just over one year ago, Larry Fulton and Michael Bourré joined forces to form a new company whose primary objective was to build quality, custom homes that exceeded their clients’ expectations.
Milar Custom Homes is the latest chapter in a story that began nearly 10 years ago and more than 8,000 miles from Jacksonville on the lush, subtropical island of Okinawa, home to 75 percent of all United States military installations in Japan.
In 1996, Larry Fulton was serving in the Marine Corps and was stationed at Camp Smedley D. Butler Marine Corps Base on Okinawa. Michael Bourré was a military dependant whose father was stationed at Camp Futima, also on Okinawa.
It was during their time in Japan that the two men met. Over the next three years, Fulton and Bourré developed a mutual respect that would prove pivotal in their decision to start a business together.
After the tours of duty in Japan, both families found themselves back on U.S. soil. Bourré relocated with his family to Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point in North Carolina while Fulton and his family were stationed in West Palm Beach.
“About a year later, I moved to West Palm Beach as well,” Bourré said. “I joined the Marine Corps and served for eight years.”
Bourré’s years of service took him to Parris Island in South Carolina, Camp Lejuene in North Carolina, 29 Palms in California and Fort Benning in Georgia before returning to West Palm Beach where he completed his years of service.
“While stationed at West Palm Beach, I attended the University of Florida and graduated with a bachelors degree in building construction management.”
The relationship between Bourré and Fulton changed from friendship to family when Bourré married Fulton’s daughter, Brandi, during his college years.
Also during his college years, Bourré began his career in construction, working for Charles Perry Construction in Gainesville.
Immediately following graduation from the University of Florida, Bourré worked for Brasfield and Gorrie, a regional general contractor and a Forbes 500 company with offices in Orlando, Atlanta, Birmingham, Raleigh,and Nashville. At Brasfield and Gorrie, Bourré was exposed to many types of construction including commercial, institutional, healthcare, retail and utility construction.
He then spent three years in Brasfield and Gorrie’s Atlanta office working in the high-rise construction area.
Based on his diverse experiences in the construction business, Bourré was offered the position of vice president of a local residential construction company and relocated to Jacksonville.
During this time Larry Fulton had continued to serve his country as a U.S. Marine. In 2002, after 31 years in the Marine Corps, Fulton retired as a Lieutenant Colonel.
Upon retirement, Fulton relocated to Jacksonville.
Here he attended the University of North Florida’s College of Computing, Engineering and Construction and earned a bachelors degree in building construction management. He served as president of the Northeast Florida Builders Association-UNF student chapter while a student at UNF.
This was his second bachelors degree, the first being in engineering from Mississippi State University earned earlier in his military career.
Fulton graduated from the UNF program in December of 2004.
The experiences of the two men in the construction industry led them to develop a concept for a company with a unique philosophy and approach to residential construction. They decided to go into business for themselves.
In March 2004, Fulton and Bourré started Milar Custom Homes with Bourré as president and chief executive officer and Fulton as the company’s chief financial officer. Milar Custom Homes, a member of the Northeast Florida Builders Association, is more than a residential construction company — it is a family affair.
The partnership combines Bourré’s more than 10 years of experience in all aspects of residential and commercial construction and Fulton’s experience in both civil and vertical construction.
“We saw a need for a company whose primary focus was the needs of the client,” Bourré said. “That is the niche Milar Custom Homes intends to fill in the Jacksonville home-building market.”
Milar, which is a combination of the two men’s names, Michael and Larry, now has homes under construction in one of World Golf Village’s King & Bear gated golf course communities.
Milar has selected another NEFBA member, IDS/Woodsman Kitchens and Floors, as the interior designer for the new model home.