2024 GroundBreaker: Todd Usher, PhD, Founder & President of Addison Homes
GroundBreak Carolinas congratulates Todd Usher, PhD, Founder and President of Addison Homes, for being named to the Class of 2024 GroundBreakers — an exclusive group of four individuals who have gone above and beyond to make a difference for the construction community in the Carolinas.
Addison Homes is an established Upstate homebuilder specializing in building healthy, high-performance homes that emphasize resilience to natural disasters, increased comfort and durability, better indoor air quality, and ultra energy efficiency. On a personal note, Usher was the first builder in the United States to earn the National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) Master Certified Green Professional designation.
In addition to receiving many national, state, and local homebuilding awards, Addison Homes has won eight national housing innovation awards from the U. S. Department of Energy (DOE). The DOE awards program recognizes the few elite builders who are constructing Zero Energy Ready buildings. Incredibly, Addison has accomplished this consistent recognition in the demanding mixed-humidity climate zone of the Southeast, where heat and humidity combine to create a challenging context for builders specializing in high performance, sustainable buildings.
Usher’s influence on the rising generation of general contractors, homebuilders, and real estate developers continues through his work as an Adjunct Professor in the Nieri Department of Construction and Real Estate Development at Clemson University and the detailed educational videos he produces on his YouTube channel.
A constant learner, Usher holds numerous industry designations as well as an MBA, a Master’s in Construction Science and, most recently, a PhD in Planning, Design and the Built Environment earned from Clemson University in 2022.
“Todd is a trailblazer, pursuing exceptional standards in homebuilding in the Carolinas, and teaching, promoting, and influencing others to do the same. We feel fortunate to have Todd on our faculty roster at Clemson. His real-world experience, leadership, and in-depth knowledge of sustainable construction practices provide essential learning opportunities for our students and the South Carolina market as a whole,” said Mike Jackson, PhD, Professor and Department Chair, Clemson University’s Nieri Department of Construction and Real Estate Development.
GroundBreak Carolinas caught up with Usher for an insightful conversation.
Tell us what you are most passionate about when it comes to the AEC industry and/or your role within your organization.
I think one of my gifts is teaching — sharing my knowledge about construction and the built environment with others. I am frequently on construction sites, and in my spare time I am a professor in the College of Architecture, Art, and Construction at Clemson University. No matter where I am, when I see a student, a homebuilding client, a building trade partner, or a vendor make a connection with a construction method or practice I’m describing or showing them, the reward for me is incredible!
What are some of the things you are doing inside and outside of your workspace and organization to improve the construction industry and encourage others to make construction a potential career choice?
Through Addison Homes, I mentor employees, crew members, trade partners, and vendors to think differently about what construction can be. The opportunities are so much greater for performance, health, and sustainability in the buildings we create, and I want as many people as possible to see those possibilities. Through my work as a professor at Clemson University, I help educate students — including future real estate developers and builders — on construction practices and industry challenges. I encourage them to think outside of the box regarding high performing building construction and in doing so I hope to play a small part in transforming our industry.
What do you see as the future trends of the construction industry over the next 5-10 years?
Technological advances will continue to evolve, adding some efficiency gains, but I believe our industry will continue to most strongly rely on a robust workforce of skilled, knowledgeable tradespeople focused on the principles of teamwork and continuous improvement to deliver high performing buildings. We can teach construction skills and processes — but it’s harder to teach a love of learning, willingness to challenge the status quo, eagerness for excellence, professionalism, and a consistent disciplined work ethic. Change will be a constant theme, and those who are equipped to embrace that change will win.
What do you think are the most important personal attributes one must possess to be successful in the construction industry of tomorrow?
The top three skills I emphasize when I teach or hire are communication skills, communication skills, and communication skills! Much of our serving our construction clients and trade partners is in how we communicate with them to educate, inform, update, influence, and yes, even sell. Four more attributes I consider essential are the ability to participate in and contribute to a team (constructing a building requires all hands and certainly isn’t a lone wolf job), a willingness to get your hands dirty if needed, leading by doing rather than simply telling, and humility. We are not above anybody else doing a job — it’s one for all and all for one.
What are the 3-5 Leadership Principles that you have discovered and executed that have contributed to your success?
Most of my career has involved a focus on innovation. That innovation spirit has led me to try new ideas constantly, be willing to fail “forward” at times, refuse to settle for the status quo in building performance, and pursue a continuous focus on learning and openness to new ideas. In that way, my best construction lies in the future, not in the past.
Learn more about Todd by viewing his LinkedIn profile or his YouTube channel.
