About | AK Industrial Contractors, Inc.

Our Story

Where We Come From.

AK Industrial Contractors was founded in 1981 in Searcy, Arkansas — not in a corporate office, but on a job site. The founders came up through the trades. They understood what it took to move heavy equipment safely, what a miscalculation could cost, and what a client actually needed from a contractor: honesty, preparation, and someone who would stand behind their work.

Over the next four decades, that foundation grew into a full-service industrial contractor with capabilities in rigging, millwright, turnkey equipment installation, and plant relocation. We expanded into Mexico, opening our Monterrey, Mexico office to serve manufacturers and mission-critical operators across Mexico and on both sides of the border. We added data center capabilities as that market demanded a level of precision and coordination that matched what we already did in industrial environments every day.

Through all of it — the growth, the new markets, the evolving client base — the company never stopped being what it was on day one: a contractor that does what it says, takes care of its people, and protects every job it touches.

What We Believe

The AK Standard.

Safety is non-negotiable.

Not a talking point. Not a compliance checkbox. The first question on every project is "how do we do this safely" — and that answer is documented, communicated, and enforced. Every person on an AK job site is personally accountable for maintaining a zero-incident standard.

We own our work.

We self-perform because it matters. When AK takes a scope, our crews execute it — not a subcontractor we've never worked with before. That means you get the same people, the same discipline, and the same quality control from mobilization to final commissioning. No surprises. No handoff failures.

We tell you what we see.

If there's a problem developing, you'll hear it from us first. Our project managers don't wait for issues to surface — they identify them early, communicate them clearly, and come with a solution. Clients hire us to protect their project, and that means honest reporting at every stage, including when the news isn't good.

Schedule is a commitment.

Downtime costs money. Delayed production costs more. When we commit to a schedule, we build our entire operation around meeting it — staffing, sequencing, equipment coordination, and contingency planning. We don't treat your timeline as a target. We treat it as a contract.

How We Work

From First Call to Final Sign-Off.

Every AK project follows the same disciplined process — whether it's a single-machine move or a multi-phase international relocation.

Scope Review & Site Walk

We don't quote from a desk. Our project leads walk the site, evaluate the actual conditions, and ask the questions that prevent problems later — ceiling heights, floor load ratings, access constraints, utility conflicts, and sequencing dependencies. The more we know before mobilization, the cleaner the execution.

Safety Planning

Before a single piece of equipment moves, we build the safety plan. Lift plans, JHA documentation, equipment certifications, crew briefings — all completed before mobilization. Safety planning is not an afterthought at AK. It is step two on every single job.

Coordinated Execution

Our crews mobilize on schedule, work to the plan, and communicate daily. If conditions change — and on complex scopes, they often do — we adapt, communicate, and keep the project on track. Our field supervisors have the experience to make real-time decisions without escalating every deviation up a chain of command.

Commissioning & Sign-Off

We don't leave until the job is done. That means equipment is set to spec, aligned, connected, and verified. We walk the scope with you, address any punch list items, and provide complete documentation. The project isn't closed until you're satisfied it's right.

Leadership

The People Behind the Reputation.

Mike Arnett

President

Mike founded AK Industrial in 1981 with a focus on self-performance and uncompromising safety. Over 40 years, he has steered the company from a local rigging outfit to a premier international industrial contractor. Mike's leadership ensures that every turnkey project—from domestic plant relocations to mission-critical data center deployments—is executed with the same "field-first" dedication to precision and accountability that he established on day one.

Jay Sorrows

VP, General Manager

Jay oversees all field operations, bringing decades of hands-on experience in complex rigging, precision millwrighting, and large-scale plant relocations. As the primary point of contact for AK’s most demanding industrial scopes, Jay ensures that every project in the U.S. and Mexico meets strict safety and scheduling commitments. His expertise in load dynamics and sequenced machinery installation allows AK to tackle high-stakes mission-critical infrastructure with absolute certainty.

Myra Spence

Operations

Myra manages the critical operational backbone that enables AK’s field teams to execute seamlessly. She handles all scheduling, vendor coordination, and rigorous safety compliance, including ISNetworld and OSHA documentation. By ensuring that every crew is fully prepared and every project is administratively optimized before mobilization, Myra maintains the high standard of transparency and readiness that AK’s industrial and data center clients rely on.

Adam Patterson

Business Development

Adam leads Business Development at AK Industrial, identifying new opportunities and building strategic partnerships across the industrial and mission-critical sectors. With a background in industrial engineering and field management, he works closely with clients to align AK's self-perform capabilities—including rigging, millwrighting, and turnkey plant relocations—with their large-scale capital project needs. Adam ensures that every new engagement begins with a clear understanding of the client’s logistical and safety requirements, setting the foundation for long-term project success.