Foundations

Sussex Development Corporation is a privately held general contracting firm founded in 1990 by Harry L. Davis III, a Virginia Beach native and Virginia Tech graduate who set out to build a company grounded in integrity, commitment, collaboration, and excellence. Starting with a two-room office and an early hospital renovation project, Sussex grew steadily by leveraging key relationships, eventuall...

Founded in 1958 by W.M. “Bill” Jordan and Bob Lawson, WM Jordan Company has grown into a powerhouse of construction management and real estate development across the Southeastern United States. Headquartered in Newport News, Virginia, the company is known for its relentless pursuit of excellence, community investment, and a culture that values integrity, innovation, and people-first leadership. In...

Founded in 1963 by Sidney Barbee Cox, Jr., S.B. Cox, Inc. has grown from a small demolition contractor into a trusted leader across multiple industries, including demolition, landfill operations, roll-off dumpster services, portable toilets, and ready-mix concrete. With over six decades of experience, the company has helped reshape the landscape of Virginia and surrounding states. Rooted in a lega...

For more than four decades, MEB has consistently delivered exceptional value to its clients, forging relationships based on transparency, integrity, and an unyielding dedication to excellence. Headquartered in Chesapeake, VA, with a regional office in Richmond, VA, they have strategically set themselves apart from many with the ability to self-perform a majority of their annual volume in a variety...

Established in 1902, Wagman, Inc. stands as a fourth-generation family-owned company with its headquarters based in York, Pennsylvania. The company, comprising subsidiaries Wagman Heavy Civil and Wagman Construction, specializes in general construction, heavy civil, and geotechnical construction services. Wagman Heavy Civil operates from offices in Pennsylvania and Virginia, engaging in diverse co...

Over three and a half decades ago, brothers Keith and Eric Wayne set out to take control of their own destiny and launched a small concrete construction company. Armed with an unwavering work ethic, a backhoe and dump truck, and a mindset that wouldn't let a complex challenge or obstacle get in the way of progress, they quicky gained a reputation of a high quality, schedule driven, "can...

The origins of the Lee Construction Group, Inc. can be traced back to 1939, when father-son duo, Bob and Bobby Lee, embarked on a journey of constructing and restoring fine and historic homes throughout Central Virginia. Operating initially under the banner of R. E. Lee & Son, Inc. for many years, they have since evolved into a group of independent business units specializing in the commercial...

On this episode I sit down with Charlie and Richard Luck of Luck Companies as they celebrate their company's 100th anniversary. Charlie and Richard represent the third and fourth generation of the company that was started by their grandfather and great-grandfather, Charles Luck, Jr. in 1923. Luck Stone is the nation’s largest family owned and operated producer of crushed stone, sand, and grav...

Since 1974 Shirley has been creating assets for countless communities throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. They have played a large role in the development of hundreds, if not thousands of miles of highway and roadway infrastructure projects, as well as countless other heavy civil infrastructure projects. They have also earned the distinction of being considered one of the regions premier design-bu...

Right out of college, Mark Hourigan jumped head first into the corporate world with no intention of starting a construction company. Eventually an opportunity presented itself for Mark to switch hats and give contracting a try. Seven years after making that career move, Mark took a leap of faith and started Hourigan Construction. With four employees he leveraged the relationships he developed over...

In 1971 Carl Harman and his brother started Harman Farm Supply in Harrisonburg, VA, selling and installing buildings, grain bins, and feed equipment to the farm community. As the farm economy changed they pivoted to focusing on commercial buildings. Today, Harman Construction is a full service design-build general contractor providing comprehensive delivery of projects both large and small. Join m...

In 1909, with one hand, not even a high school education, a few men, and a few mule teams, Nello L. Teer, Sr. started what was to become one of the largest and most distinguished contractors in the world. Having performed work around the world, Nello L. Teer Company covered the globe from their office in Durham, NC to Africa, the Middle East, and Central America. Their projects included: seventeen...

Since 1949 Barnhill Contracting has been providing commercial building, site infrastructure, transportation, and asphalt services throughout the Southeast. Join me as I sit down with the 2nd and 3rd generation leaders of Barnhill, Bob and Rob Barnhill. You will hear about how their father and grandfather, Robert Barnhill Sr., who only had 30% utilization of one of his arms as a result of early chi...

Lanford Brothers Company was  founded in 1960 by brothers Jack and Stan Lanford. After a lifetime of  growing up watching their father working as a contractor at his own company, Lanford & Slater, the two brothers sought to carry on the legacy of their father's name with a new focus on bridge and box culvert construction. Over the years, the company's expertise has moved from buildin...

Charles McRaven understands early American pioneer buildings better any other. He can be called a pioneer, craftsman, historian, contractor, and author. Having built and restored hundreds of log, stone, and post & beam structures, and having written five books on the subjects, he is the nations foremost expert on early American building. Join me as I sit down with Mac and hear about his journe...

Since 1902 The Dalrymple Companies have been providing heavy highway construction services as well as manufacturing and distribution of crushed stone, gravel, and asphalt. Join me as I sit down with Ed Dalrymple, the President of Chemung Contracting and Cedar Mountain Stone, and hear the stories about where they came from and their journey along the way. 

Celebrating their 50th year in business, J.E. Liesfeld Contractor, Inc. is considered one of Central Virginia’s leading site preparation and land development contractors. Join my conversation with the founder, Joe Liesfeld, Jr., his son and current President, Joe Liesfeld, III, and their former CFO and General Manger, Chuck Sheehy, as we discuss the evolution of their business from their humble be...

Founded in 1949, S.L. Williamson Company., Inc. is a third-generation asphalt paving and road construction company based in Charlottesville, Virginia. I sit down with Blair and Stirling Williamson and discuss the origins of S.L. Williamson, their people, interesting insights, and many of their stories along the way.