Company
Balch Enterprises has evolved into a full-service, vertically integrated commercial developer, builder, and property manager. We handle a wide variety of real estate focused activities, from feasibility and acquisition, to financing, building, and ownership. We have been engaged to advise others and assist companies to find the right building to house their operations.
Balch Enterprises specializes in the development and construction of concrete tilt-up buildings, with a particular interest in customized designs, layouts or functionality. The majority of the business activity is conducted in the East and South Bay, extending to the Pleasanton-Livermore Valley and Brentwood areas and south San Jose. Our customers range from small, sole proprietors to multi-national corporations, as well as developers such as Trammel Crow and Security Capital Industrial. Balch Enterprises employs its own Architectural-Engineering staff, an administrative staff, project managers and field crews.
Balch Enterprises has continued to either build for itself, or acquire external properties that it determines have potential, and place these into Balch Enterprises’ portfolio for rent. Balch Enterprises proudly manages approximately 2,000,000 square feet of space that it owns and operates. While Balch Enterprises has a licensed Broker on staff to be able to provide additional services to outside owners, it is proud that many of our Leases are negotiated directly by a Balch family member.
History
Balch Enterprises, Inc. is a family owned developer, builder and property manager that is now proudly in its third generation.
In the 1950’s, Sherman L. Balch, our Chairman Emeritus, was building homes in Walnut Creek for under $10,000 as a sole proprietor. Then in 1959 he formed Alandale Construction, a General Contractor. Alandale Construction completed many projects in public works, commercial and industrial buildings, housing, recreational, and marine construction. In the late 1960's, his sons Jack W. Balch and Sherman D. Balch each started working for Alandale on the job sites and as project managers. Together the three continued to build homes throughout the California Bay Area. One product, Alderwood homes in Fremont, was initially priced at $69,500 – for a 3 bedroom!
In early 1979, Sherman L., Jack W. and Sherman D. Balch joined forces and incorporated into a new company, Balch Enterprises, Inc., as a licensed General Contractor. Balch Enterprises initial task was to purchase and develop land for residential and industrial projects. After completing several additional home and industrial park tracks, Balch Enterprises found industrial buildings in high demand for the area. Balch Enterprises began to focus on developing raw land into viable products while securing financing, designing, obtaining governmental approvals, managing construction and marketing the product type.
Then in the early 1990’s, Sherman D. Balch’s sons, Shad & Shane both joined the company, proudly starting our third generation. In 2005, Jack O. Balch, son of Jack W. Balch, then joined Balch Enterprises from a Big 4 accounting firm and now serves as our Chief Financial Officer.
Management Team
The principals of Balch Enterprises are proud to be pro-active in serving our industry and community and strongly believe in giving back through service.
In Memoriam: Sherman L. Balch The Patriarch and one of the founders of Balch Enterprises, Sherman L. Balch, passed away in May, 2017. Up until the time of his passing, Sherman was still coming into the office on an almost daily basis at the age of 96. After serving in the Coast Guard during WW II, he moved to Northern California and began building houses. Sherman played a vital role in improving the community of Hayward and Alameda County. Over the years he served as a Board Member of San Lorenzo National Little League, The St. Rose Hospital Foundation, Oakland/Alameda County Coliseum, Salvation Army, Alameda County Fair Board, and the Hayward Area Recreation & Park District Foundation, to name a few. Sherman was honored for his civic contributions, and his legacy and commitment to the community lives on in our continued goals here at Balch Enterprises.
Jack W. Balch, Founder & President, has advised and sat on several boards and commissions throughout the East Bay. He was selected to serve on the Independent Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee for the Washington Township Health Care District, when constructing an expansion project at the Hospital and currently serves as a Director on the Alameda County Fair Board. Jack sits on several other Boards in the East Bay.
Sherman D. Balch, Founder & Vice President, is past president of the Tilt-up Concrete Association and frequent guest lecturer on Tilt-up construction practices. Sherman is the 2011 recipient of the Peter Courtois Memorial Award, given for the highest level of commitment to advancement and innovation in the Tilt-Up Industry by the Tilt-up Concrete Association. Sherman has professionally off-road raced for Nissan and has won the Baja 1000 multiple times (in 1976, 1982, & 1987) as well as several other racing competitions. In March 2010, Sherman founded Extollo International and currently serves as its Director and CEO. Extollo International is a non-profit organization, focused on educating, training and rebuilding homes, churches, orphanages, and schools in Haiti after the devastating earthquakes there in 2010.
Jack O. Balch, Secretary and Chief Financial Officer, is a licensed Certified Public Accountant and licensed Real Estate Broker. He currently serves as a Planning Commissioner in the City of Pleasanton, CA and previously served as a Parks & Recreation Commissioner for the City of Pleasanton, CA. Jack currently serves on several other Boards and Committees in the East Bay.
Management Team (from left to right)Jack O. Balch, CPA, CGMA, Broker - Chief Financial Officer
Sherman D. Balch - Vice President - Construction Division
Jack W. Balch - President
Sherman L. Balch - Founder & Chairman Emeritus