OAKBROOK TERRACE, IL – August 11, 2026 – Prairie Capital Advisors, Inc. (“Prairie”), a leading middle-market investment bank, acted as financial advisor to Norcon, Inc. (“Company” or “Norcon”) in its transition to an employee stock ownership plan (“ESOP”) company. Prairie acted as exclusive financial advisor in this transaction to Norcon and its shareholders and was led by Franco Silva and Harsh Patel of Prairie. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Founded in 1999 by industry veterans Jeff Jozwiak and Charlie Norwesh, Norcon, Inc. is a Chicago-based construction management and general contracting firm with over 25 years of operating history and 70+ employees. The Company provides general contracting, construction management and preconstruction services across a diverse range of end markets, including corporate, cultural, education, health and wellness, hospitality, multi-family residential, pharmaceutical, religious and restaurant/retail. Norcon has built a strong reputation for coupling the experience and management capabilities of a larger firm with the personal attention and client-focused service of a smaller one, with a portfolio spanning iconic Chicago institutions including: Steppenwolf Theatre, Midtown Athletic Club, Poetry Foundation, Baxter and Northwestern University.
Prairie worked closely with the leadership team and sellers, providing ESOP investment banking services, including managing the preparatory, due diligence, and negotiation phases of the transaction.
“Jeff and I are thrilled to see this journey become a reality. We are incredibly proud of the culture we’ve built and the dedicated senior staff who have been with us through much of that journey. Transitioning to an ESOP allows us to preserve what makes our company special while creating meaningful long-term financial opportunities for our employee-owners. We believe this is the best way to honor our legacy and invest in the future of our team,” said Charlie Norwesh, Principal and Owner at Norcon.
Franco Silva, Managing Director at Prairie, said, “This transaction was especially meaningful because it was many years in the making. Watching the owners thoughtfully evaluate their options, remain committed to preserving the Company’s legacy and ultimately choose employee ownership has been an incredibly rewarding journey. It was truly a joy working alongside the sellers throughout this process. Their trust, vision and dedication to their employees made this a special transaction, and we’re honored to have helped them achieve a successful outcome while positioning the Company for long-term independent growth under employee ownership.”
“It was a pleasure working with the Norcon team on this transaction. Norcon has been a cornerstone of Chicago’s built environment for over 25 years, and it was important to the shareholders that its culture, values, and local roots be preserved for the long term. Transitioning to an ESOP not only secures the Company’s legacy but also creates meaningful long-term financial benefits and ownership opportunities for the talented people who made it possible. We are excited to see Norcon continue to grow and deliver exceptional work across the city and beyond,” added Harsh Patel, Vice President at Prairie.
About Prairie Capital Advisors, Inc.
Prairie is a leading financial advisory firm specializing in creating and executing ownership transition strategies for middle-market companies nationwide. In 2025, Prairie was named one of Grady Campbell’s Top 50 Investment Banks in the Middle Market. For more information, visit www.prairiecap.com.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact
Wendy Gugora, Chief Marketing Officer
Prairie Capital Advisors, Inc.
630.413.5574
wgugora@prairiecap.com
