GroundBreaker: Joel Davis, J Davis Construction
People make the construction industry what it is today. GroundBreak Carolinas is excited to share the story of yet another member of the inaugural class of GroundBreakers – individuals who are shaping our industry in a variety of ways.
Joel Davis is founder and President of J Davis Construction, which operates from two offices in the Upstate region of South Carolina. The company has three Divisions: General Contracting, Industrial Services and Civil.
The General Contracting Division focuses on commercial, industrial, educational, warehousing, amenities, multi-family, commercial, and healthcare construction. The Industrial Services Division serves area industries with facilities and equipment improvements and maintenance. This division’s services include process piping, equipment rigging, preventive maintenance, electrical, welding, fabrication, and more. The Civil Division provides comprehensive sitework heavy equipment services to a variety of clients, from developers, to manufacturers, to higher education institutions.
Davis hired his first employee when he was 17 years old to work for local farmers in his home town of Westminster, S.C. Over the years, fences turned into barns, then metal buildings, followed by small commercial, and eventually expansions to local manufacturing plants. The company has received many accolades, including Fastest-Growing Companies in South Carolina and the Best Places to Work in South Carolina. J Davis Construction projects have been recognized by multiple organizations, including Golf, Inc., a national publication.
Joel says, “I am amazed at the opportunities people have in this country. If you do what you say you will do, and take care of your employees, there is no limit to what you can do. I give the credit to any success we have had to the good Lord, and to the amazing individuals who have taken a chance on J. Davis for their careers. Initially, having a client trust our organization, given all their options, is what gave me the most satisfaction. Although that still is rewarding, now what drives me is giving employees the opportunity to grow from craft workers to senior management, while providing an environment for them to become better leaders in their homes and communities.”
Fast forward over 20 years from inception. J. Davis is a thriving business with over 90 employees. In 2018 alone, the company worked on more than 50 different facilities, in three different states. The company is proud of its long-standing commitment to giving back to the communities it serves. Davis has instilled a family atmosphere at J. Davis Construction that has led employees to want to do their own part to help the company grow.
About GroundBreaker Awards – This annual GroundBreak Carolinas awards program was created in Fall 2018 to recognize people who are making a significant impact on the construction community in the Carolinas. Our panel of judges reviewed a pool of nominations for men and women representing the entire spectrum of our industry – architecture, engineering, construction, academia, government, economic development, real estate and more.
