Schaad Companies is comprised of businesses
owned and controlled by members of the John H. Schaad, Jr.
family.
The group’s businesses include residential and commercial
construction, residential and commercial development, residential
and commercial real estate brokerage and management services,
equipment leasing, and investments.
In 1870 the Schaads immigrated
to East Tennessee from Solothurn Canton in Switzerland where
they had been successful farmers
and builders. In the last half of the 19th century, Swiss immigrants
were the largest group of immigrants in Knox County. When they
arrived they brought a quality work ethic, love of the land
and commitment to family.
The Schaads began dairy farming in East
Tennessee. Next they started selling Amish chicken feed, followed
by lumber and building
supplies. Their building supplies business segued into the construction
business. Methodically reinvesting and working together, the
Schaad family gained a reputation for being fair, honest and
quality driven. Over the decades they have quietly shared their
family’s success with their community.
Community outreach
endeavors include being the ongoing lead sponsor for the Helen
Ross McNabb Mental Health & Rehabilitation
Center and East Tennessee Public Television’s major fundraiser,
This New House, and sponsoring annual events that benefit the
Knoxville Museum of Art, the Knoxville Zoo, the Knoxville Symphony
Orchestra, the Knoxville Opera Company and Knox Heritage.
Recently,
Schaad Companies has joined HGTV's Restore America Program and
the National Trust for Historic Preservation as the
lead sponsor for Knox Heritage's 2007 Barber Houses Restoration
Project.
Today, Schaad Companies’ headquarters is located
in the historic Knollwood Manor on top of Bearden Hill. Inside
this
beautifully restored landmark, Schaad has created a mini gallery
of Knollwood’s pre-Civil War history.
Schaad Companies continues
to appreciate the values imbued in its Swiss heritage. The
companies are involved in projects and
ventures throughout the southeast and remain vigilant for new
growth opportunities that will be beneficial for all concerned.