Merit Construction, Inc., is a commercial and industrial construction firm located in Knoxville, Tennessee. Merit was initially formed as the open shop subsidiary of a larger construction company which operated, at the time, as a union shop organization. In May 1990, Merit became independent from the parent company. The late Charles A. Hays Jr. served as president until March 1995, at which time he took the position of chief executive officer and Bruce A. Bosse was promoted to president. Marvin L. House joined the firm In 1997 as vice chairman and has served as CEO since 2003. Merit has grown steadily since 1982 and completed in excess of $127 million in construction volume in 2007.