Brinker Group, The largest Black-Owned Contractor in The United States

Here’s what I found about Brinker Group, the Detroit-based firm widely recognized as the largest Black-owned contractor in the United States:

Brinker Group at a Glance

Founded: 1989 by Larry Brinker Sr. in Detroit, Michigan, originally as a small carpentry business called Brinker Team Construction
Evolution: It has since expanded into a family of five specialized companies under the Brinker umbrella, including:
- L.S. Brinker Co. (general contracting & construction management)
- Brinker Team Construction
- Universal Glass & Metals
- City Carpet & Flooring
- Edgewood Electric

In December 2024, Brinker celebrated its 35th anniversary and was formally touted in a news release as the largest Black-owned contractor in the U.S.
The company generated $203 million in revenue in one recent year and projected $285 million in 2023
It employs 500+ people and has managed billions of dollars in construction projects under the leadership of CEO Larry Brinker Jr.

Brinker has been instrumental in revitalizing Detroit’s infrastructure and skyline, having contributed to numerous major landmarks:

Henry Ford Detroit Pistons Performance Center & Little Caesars Arena
Michigan Central Station (with The Christman Company)
Book Tower historic redevelopment
Huntington Bank Tower, Michigan headquarters for Huntington National Bank
Motown Museum expansion
Additional projects include LinkedIn’s Detroit office, Ford Field, Comerica Park, and university, medical, and cultural facilities
Historic Preservation Recognition: The Brinker–Christman joint venture received Michigan’s Governor’s Awards for Historic Preservation in 2025 for their roles in preserving Michigan Central Station and Book Tower

Larry Brinker Sr. remains Chairman, legendary for starting the firm and championing both craftsmanship and community support
Larry Brinker Jr., CEO, brings engineering expertise and a vision for innovation, expanding the company into new regions such as North Carolina
The firm is deeply rooted in community empowerment, workforce diversity, and minority business inclusion—pursuing a project workforce with at least 30% diversity and engaging with Detroit’s Civil Rights, Inclusion and Opportunity department

Attribute	Details
Founded	1989 (Detroit, MI)
Founder / Chairman	Larry Brinker Sr.
Current CEO	Larry Brinker Jr.
Companies in Group	5 specialized firms
Annual Revenue	~$203M (recent); ~$285M projected in 2023
Employees	500+
Major Projects	Michigan Central, Book Tower, Little Caesars Arena, Huntington Bank Tower, Motown Museum expansion
Recognition	Governor’s Historic Preservation Award, largest Black-owned contractor in U.S.
Community Focus	Workforce diversity goals, local Detroit investment