These are the St. Louis region's 10 largest privately-held companies of 2024 - St. Louis Business Journal (2025)

The top 10 companies on the St. Louis Business Journal's List of St. Louis' Largest Privately Held Companies are dominant. Their combined revenue makes up 67% of the total revenue of all 150 companies on the List, and the top 10 are responsible for employing nearly 20,000 people in the broader St. Louis area and 213,000 people globally.

Read on to learn more about the top 10 companies.

No. 1: Enterprise Mobility

What are your company's top accomplishments in the past year? In October 2023, we connected and aligned our full portfolio of offerings – car rental, fleet management, flexible vehicle hire, carsharing, vanpooling, car sales, truck rental, vehicle subscription, luxury rental, technology solutions and more – under a new corporate brand: Enterprise Mobility. With the announcement, Enterprise Mobility launched a new visual identity and corporate purpose: Advance the world, one journey at a time. In addition, named 2024 Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award Winner with Distinction — only five of the 60 Exceptional Workplace Award Winners worldwide earned this top recognition from Gallup. We delivered strong results across our diverse lines of business including a significant jump in international growth.

What are some challenges your company is currently facing and how do you plan to overcome them? As consumer travel behavior travel shifts, our team members have demonstrated incredible flexibility to adjust their teams and independent businesses, as needed, to meet demand. This includes adjusting hours to add more convenience for customers and implementing improved training on ways to grow the business and improve customer service and operations.

What do you hope to achieve in the next five years? Our aim is to be the world’s best and most trusted mobility company. To achieve this, we must continue to deliver exceptional service for our partners, customers, and neighbors, and innovate with intention to meet their ever-changing needs.

Ownership: Taylor family

HQ location: Clayton

Local employees: More than 5,000

Total employees: More than 90,000

Leadership: Andrew Taylor, executive chairman; Chrissy Taylor, president and CEO

No. 2: World Wide Technology

What are your company’s top accomplishments in the past year? WWT is committed to leading the artificial intelligence and digital revolution, driving innovation and delivering cutting-edge solutions to our customers. We are proud that our investments in AI have empowered our customers with increased productivity, enhanced data and insights, differentiation, and innovation. We’re also honored to have been listed on the Great Place to Work list for 13 consecutive years, a testament to our steadfast commitment to our people and our culture which truly drives our continued success.

What are some challenges your company is currently facing and how do you plan to overcome them? One of our biggest challenges is that many organizations are eager to adopt AI but feel overwhelmed and unsure where to begin. To address this, we are focused on guiding our customers through tailored AI solutions, which combined with security and digital transformation, comprehensive training and ongoing support, ensures their success on this transformative journey.

What do you hope to achieve in the next five years? We aim to continue significant growth both within the U.S. and globally, expanding our reach and capabilities to better support our customers in unlocking the full potential of their organizations. At the same time, we will continue to nurture our people and strengthen our company culture, ensuring that we remain a trusted partner while fostering an environment where inclusivity, innovation and collaboration thrive.

Ownership: Dave Steward and Jim Kavanaugh

HQ location: Maryland Heights

Local employees: 5,122

Total employees: 10,863

Leadership: Dave Steward, chairman; Jim Kavanaugh, CEO; and Joe Koenig, president

No. 3: Edward Jones

What are your company's top accomplishments in the past year? Edward Jones reached several important milestones this year, through relationships with U.S. Bank, MoneyGuide and Salesforce, to provide more comprehensive planning, and professional advice and expanded product offerings for clients through its branch teams. Branch teams are already using MoneyGuide and Salesforce, and the firm expects to offer banking and credit card solutions to its U.S. clients through U.S. Bank beginning in late 2025.

What are some challenges your company is currently facing and how do you plan to overcome them? With a massive intergenerational wealth transfer underway, Edward Jones is now serving five generations of clients at the same time, with the products, services and experiences they uniquely need. Our opportunity is to reach 42 million families in North America. We must continue to invest in innovation and gather insights from our over 8 million clients to make a greater impact for generations of families and communities.

What do you hope to achieve in the next five years? Edward Jones is focused on modernizing its infrastructure, expanding products and services, and building knowledge, training and support systems for its more than 55,000 colleagues across North America. The firm aspires to provide more comprehensive, personalized planning and professional advice to help clients plan for their futures by understanding what is most important to them. The decisions we make as a firm are fueled by our purpose – to make a positive impact on clients, colleagues, communities and society.

Ownership: Partnership

HQ location: St. Louis

Jobs added in 2024: 1,500 - primarily financial advisers across the entire company

Jobs expected to add in 2025: 1,700 - primarily financial advisers across the entire company

Local employees: 4,944

Total employees: 55,181

Leadership: Penny Pennington, managing partner

No. 4: Graybar

What are your company's top accomplishments in the past year? In 2023, Graybar achieved record results, including record net sales of $11.0 billion and record net income. Through six months of 2024, sales have outpaced the first half of 2023. Last year, Graybar acquired Valin Corp. based in San Jose, California, and Shepherd Electric Supply in Baltimore, Maryland. This year, Graybar acquired Blazer Electric Supply in Colorado, and the company’s subsidiary, Cape Electrical Supply, acquired Power Supply Co. in Tennessee. Graybar also continues to earn recognition within its industry and the business community. Among its recognitions, the company was named a 2024 US Best Managed Company by Deloitte Private and The Wall Street Journal. Finally, employee ownership is the foundation of Graybar’s culture, and the company is celebrating 95 years of employee ownership this year.

What are some challenges your company is currently facing and how do you plan to overcome them? Like many companies, Graybar’s business is affected by skilled labor shortages, rising costs and economic uncertainty. To address these challenges, Graybar is investing in services and solutions that increase efficiency and remove friction from the supply chain for its customers. The company is also focused on high-potential growth opportunities in areas such as data centers, industrial automation and clean energy. In addition to organic growth, Graybar continues to acquire companies that diversify its business and expand its reach.

What do you hope to achieve in the next five years? In 2023, Graybar embarked on a multi-year, strategic business transformation project called Graybar Connect. This project will transform the company’s digital capabilities, streamline business processes and accelerate long-term growth. It will also help power a smarter supply chain that adapts to market conditions and enhances the customer experience.

Ownership: Employee-owned

HQ location: Clayton

Local employees: 889

Total employees: 9,500

Leadership: Kathleen Mazzarella, chairman, president and CEO

No. 5: Dot Foods Inc.

What are your company's top accomplishments in the past year? We added three new distribution centers – two in Canada and one in Manchester, Tennessee – and expanded four of our existing facilities. This adds the capacity we need to manage our growth in the coming years.

What are some challenges your company is currently facing and how do you plan to overcome them? Cost inflation, increasing regulations, and declining consumer demand in some customer segments are the top challenges our business is facing. We have specific strategies to address each of these areas.

What do you hope to achieve in the next five years? We are a growth company and push to continue that growth every year. Our goal is to grow our sales by $3B in the next five years.

Ownership: Tracy family

HQ location: Mount Sterling, Illinois

Jobs added in 2024: 300 full-time and 50 part-time companywide; 26 locally

Jobs expected to add in 2025: 300 companywide; 25 locally

Local employees: 160

Total employees: 6,800

Leadership: John Tracy, executive chairman; Dick Tracy, CEO; and George Eversman, president

No. 6: ARCO Construction Co.

What are your company's top accomplishments in the past year? ARCO has achieved growth despite a challenging financial market, successfully completing projects across various industries and expanding our footprint in additional markets. This success is driven by attracting top talent, fostering a strong workplace culture and investing in our associates with comprehensive training. We’ve also made additional investments in our digital and technical infrastructure to enhance our design-build capabilities.

What do you hope to achieve in the next five years? We aim to further our growth and serve our clients by expanding our geographical footprint and product types. By hiring the best and brightest and enhancing technical capabilities, we will continue to deliver exceptional results. Our commitment to a collaborative culture will empower our associates and reinforce our reputation as a "Best Place to Work," driving innovation and client success as we strengthen our value as a trusted design-build partner.

Ownership: Multiple minority shareholders and an employee stock-ownership plan

HQ location: Rock Hill

Jobs added in 2024: 22 locally; 156 companywide

Jobs expected to add in 2025:

Local employees: 464

Total employees: 2,075

Leadership: Jeff Cook, president and CEO; Craig Bridell, chairman; Chris Wilson, CEO; Hank Bellina, president

No. 7: McCarthy Holdings Inc.

What are your company's top accomplishments in the past year? Take Pride in Safety: The focus on safety across all aspects of business for McCarthy Holdings Inc. (McCarthy) and its subsidiaries continued to be the top priority in 2023. Our Take Pride in Safety mindset impacted tactical improvements in the field, strengthened internal and team collaboration and further positioned McCarthy as a leader in safety. We completed the transition from hard hats to helmets in 2022, with the requirement extended to all trade partners. Everyone working on McCarthy Building Cos. Inc. and Castle Contracting LLC job sites now wears this state-of-the-art head protection, including improved front, side and back protection and an integrated chin strap. These efforts were bolstered by the rollout of Lyra, our Employee Assistance Program providing expanded mental health benefits available free to all salaried and craft professionals with McCarthy Holdings Inc. This holistic approach to both physical safety and mental health and wellbeing resulted in McCarthy’s best safety year on company record.

Operational Excellence: As a builder, we are incredibly proud of our ability to deliver for clients and communities. In the past year, clients continued to select McCarthy as their builder of choice and McCarthy employees and craft professionals continued to deliver, resulting in the highest revenue in company history.

Workforce Development: Our focus on workforce development was a top priority. In support of Inflation Reduction Act compliance, the McCarthy Registered Apprenticeship program was updated with the U.S. Department of Labor and rolled out on projects in Texas, Arizona, Colorado, Georgia and Michigan to help recruit and train workers in solar construction. We are helping to train the next generation of builders. McCarthy’s Registered Apprenticeship program, which lasts anywhere from two to four years, pairs apprentices with journey workers to support their development in the first year and requires apprentices to complete 144 hours per year of related instruction to improve their knowledge and skillset. Upon completion of the apprenticeship, graduates receive a nationally recognized credential from the U.S. Department of Labor.

Employer of Choice: McCarthy Holdings Inc. and its subsidiaries continued to be recognized as an employer of choice, with top talent across the industry looking to join and then choosing to stay to build their careers. We expanded opportunities for employees to connect with the creation of a new multicultural inclusion resource group called VOICE (Voice of Inclusion, Community and Engagement) in addition to our well-established Partnership for Women. In 2023, more than 650 salaried partners were hired to enable organizational growth, and the craft workforce peaked at 4,300. In total, both salaried partner and craft professional headcounts reached all-time highs.

What are some challenges your company is currently facing and how do you plan to overcome them? Demand for the services that McCarthy provides for clients continues to be strong. We regularly review our services and structure to make sure we are thoughtfully preparing for these demands and effectively scaling for growth. As long-time builders retire and leave the workforce, welcoming the next generation remains a priority. In the past few years, we have significantly ramped up our early outreach efforts to showcase the many rewarding career opportunities that construction offers, and we expect these efforts to continue. As we grow, sustaining a workplace that delivers a great experience for everyone remains a priority. This begins before day one with an excellent onboarding experience and continuing with best-in-class learning and development opportunities for everyone including our craft professionals, staff and leadership. This also means providing a workplace where everyone can grow and thrive without barriers. In 2021, McCarthy was a founding member of Construction Inclusion Week, an industry event now held every October to build awareness around improving diversity and inclusion across the construction industry. In 2024, McCarthy serves as the chair for this national industry event, and we expect this to remain a priority.

What do you hope to achieve in the next five years? Over the next five years, we will continue to focus on delivering exceptional experiences for clients and delivering shareholder value for our employee-owners. We expect to continue to advance our technology evolution, adoption and incorporation of AI to improve efficiencies and free up additional time for innovation. The applications for AI in the construction industry are exciting. We love to build and believe our passion combined with hands-on expertise delivers even greater certainty for clients through the total project life cycle. Our focus on being a hands-on builder will continue to propel us forward. Lastly, as an employee-owned company, our ownership culture will remain an important part of what makes McCarthy special.

Ownership: ESOP

HQ location: St. Louis

Jobs added in 2024: 112 locally; 675 companywide

Jobs expected to add in 2025: 70 locally; 650 companywide

Local employees: 1,188

Total employees: 8,107

Leadership: Ray Sedey, chairman and CEO; Justin McFarland, chief administrative officer

No. 8: Copeland

What are your company’s top accomplishments in the past year? As a newly created standalone company, over the past year, we’ve built out an experienced executive leadership team, established commercial and operational excellence programs, deployed our new brand, and rolled out our Copeland Shared Ownership Program which allows our colleagues – from the manufacturing floor to the office – to be financially rewarded based on our growth as a company.

What are some challenges your company is currently facing and how do you plan to overcome them? As a global leader in sustainable climate solutions, the challenges Copeland is facing are the same challenges that the world is facing. To address these challenges, Copeland supports three sustainability pillars: energy transition through electrification of heating demand, adoption of low-GWP and natural refrigerants, and safeguarding perishable food and pharmaceuticals through an efficient and sustainable cold chain. Through our innovative technologies, people, and global scale, we enable customers to reduce carbon emissions and improve energy efficiency, creating sustainable solutions that improve lives and protect the planet, today and for future generations.

What do you hope to achieve in the next five years? Continue to grow our global operations and sustainable climate solutions to customers around the world in commercial, industrial, refrigeration and residential markets, and to build a Copeland culture and shared ownership mindset that delivers our mission and achieves our vision.

Ownership: Blackstone

HQ location: St. Louis

Local employees: 350

Total employees: 18,000

Leadership: Ross Shuster, CEO; Tracy Reiter, chief transformation and sustainability officer; Christine Carney, chief legal officer

No. 9: Prairie Farms Dairy Inc.

What are your company's top accomplishments in the past year? Prairie Farms has enhanced its value proposition to our farmer-owners through product marketing efforts and improved financial results. We have also expanded sales through our ever-growing footprint. These expansions have been supported by new product introductions, including lactose- free dairy products.

What do you hope to achieve in the next five years? Our strategic plan includes continued growth through acquisition and partnership development, as well as introductions into new products and service segments.

Ownership: A cooperative with more than 600 dairy farm members

HQ location: Edwardsville, Illinois

Local employees: 653

Total employees: 8,665

Leadership: Matt McClelland, CEO

No. 10: Alberici Corp.

What are your company’s top accomplishments in the past year? In October of 2023, we fortified our water, wastewater, water supply, and environmental services in the Western United States with the acquisition of nationally ranked and pioneering J.R. Filanc Construction Co. Filanc pioneered design-build delivery for public works projects in California in the 1990s. Within Alberici, we have put an emphasis on our recruiting, retention, training and development programs. This allows us to not only build the critical structures that improve lives and strengthen communities but great teams and career opportunities.

What are some challenges your company is currently facing and how do you plan to overcome them? There is no doubt that the biggest challenge facing not just Alberici but our industry is the skilled labor shortage. To overcome this, it will require cooperation and collaboration among everyone within the construction industry.

What do you hope to achieve in the next five years? This is our 106th year of operation since our founding in St. Louis and we have a backlog of over $8 billion of work and a robust pipeline. We have focused on promoting within and fully capitalizing on the incredible talent assembled at Alberici. As a result, we are poised to meet ever-evolving local and national building needs, especially in an era of massive infrastructure improvements including electric vehicles, advanced manufacturing and alternative energy along with our core markets. In our hometown of St. Louis, we look forward to serving its building needs as we have since our founding. In the past three years, we have built the landmark CityPark stadium, the Jack C. Taylor Visitor Center at the Missouri Botanical Garden and performed vital improvements to major infrastructure such as the Melvin Price Locks and Dam.

Ownership: Employee-owned

HQ location: St. Louis

Jobs added in 2024: 75

Jobs expected to add in 2025: 100

Local employees: 472

Total employees: 3,500

Leadership: Greg Hesser, executive chairman (Alberici Corp.); Richard Jaggers, president and CEO (Alberici Corp.); Jose Garcia, president (Alberici Constructors Inc.)