Spotlight on Casie Sears Kerr of Sears Contract

A woman-owned commercial drywall business.  Definitely not your typical “About Us” company description, but it’s a perfect fit for Sears Contract, Inc. of Raleigh, North Carolina. Founded in 1995, this family business has grown over the past 22 years to become a leading specialty contractor in the Carolinas — known for customer satisfaction, safety and uncompromising quality.  In addition to its Raleigh headquarters, Sears Contract has an office in Charlotte.  The company has about 300 employees, the majority of which are field-based craft professionals.

Casie Sears Kerr, a second generation leader in the family business, is the incoming 2018 chairman of the board of directors of the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) of the Carolinas. One of the largest ABC chapters in the country, ABC Carolinas represents more than 1,800 members in North Carolina and South Carolina. Sears is only the second woman to hold this position with ABC of the Carolinas. She served as vice chairman of the ABC Carolinas board in 2017, has sat on the board for three years, and is actively involved with ABC’s Triangle Council.

GroundBreak Carolinas spoke with Sears about her new role as Chairman of ABC Carolinas, as well as her thoughts on the state of the construction industry in the Carolinas — both from her perspective as a specialty contractor and as a female manager in a male-dominated industry.

What are your key priorities for ABC of the Carolinas in the coming year?

Our current Chairman, Brian Gallagher, has worked tirelessly with ABC members, staff and the Board of Directors to develop a new strategic plan that was introduced at our summer conference in Charleston, S.C.  ABC is dedicated to being the “Construction Association of Choice” in the Carolinas by bringing value to each of our members through workforce development training, health and safety offerings, membership growth and engagement, chapter development and political advocacy.  Through all of the aforementioned goals, ABC promotes the merit shop construction philosophy — encouraging open competition and a free enterprise approach.

Tell us a little bit about your background. Have you always been involved in the family business? What’s it like to be part of a family business?

There was a time in life when joining my family in the operation of Sears Contract never entered my mind. I had worked for the company during school, but it was not on my career radar when I left home to attend the University of Colorado where I earned my bachelor’s degree in Sociology. After graduation, I stayed in Colorado and was certified to teach English as a second-language. I also became a certified yoga instructor. When my grandmother was nearing the end of her life, I returned to North Carolina to be near her and my family. That’s when I became re-engaged in the family business… the rest is history. My parents started Sears Contract to provide a place for people to work where they were respected, cared for and could provide for their families.  My brother and I have chosen to ensure this mission is carried forth for the Sears Contract family.

What’s your primary area of responsibility?

As with many family businesses, I am intimately involved in every aspect of the company, as is my brother. Much of my day-to-day focus is on safety, federal compliance, contract review and managing the administrative staff.

As a female in the construction industry, do you see yourself as a role model? If so, what do you do to inspire others?

The road for women in this industry has been paved by the mighty women who came before.  This is not to say that I have not had challenges, but rather to acknowledge the contributions of others who have made it easier for me to exist in construction. Quite honestly, I have never thought of myself as a role model but rather as an encourager of people.

In your opinion, what can be done to get more women interested in the trades?

There are so many opportunities for women to impact the construction industry as a whole. They have the ability to succeed as craft workers, project managers, administrative staff or executives.  Exposure, acceptance and encouragement are paramount to the success of women in this industry.  We get involved in high school career fairs, and engage with athletic coaches and guidance counselors. That said, much of our recruiting is done through personal relationships. It’s common for family members of our employees — wives, sisters, daughters — to join our team after seeing how rewarding a career in the trades can be first-hand. Often they start out in a particular role, discover they like the jobsite environment, and then work their way through different opportunities within our company.

What are some of the things that Sears does to retain its employees?

As a company, we focus on our people.  We strive to offer opportunities for both personal and professional growth, individually and collectively.

What do you see as the company’s biggest challenges in its day-to-day business? What are you doing to ensure that the business keeps growing?

Workforce recruitment and development is a common challenge for many of our industry peers.  For years we have been focused on trying to recruit new people to our industry and training them for a future.  ABC has committed to partnering with its members to find a solution to this challenge.

Sears Contract has worked extensively in the multi-family market, as well as mixed-use, retail, and the public sector (e.g., schools). From your vantage point, how do these markets look for the foreseeable future?

The Carolinas are experiencing an incredible amount of growth in regards to population and infrastructure at this time.  There are many projects going on right now to support this growth and many poised to start in the near future.

Any plans for new office locations? Expanded geographic service area?

We are currently in the midst of strategic planning for the near future.  Fortunately, we have been able to meet the needs of our customers in the Carolinas from our offices in Raleigh and Charlotte.  Expansion and growth are not off the table as long as we can do so without compromising our quality and core values.

Sears Contract has a proud history of being recognized for construction excellence. Your company has won multiple “Eagle” awards from ABC of the Carolinas over the years. What do these awards mean to the company and its employees?

Receiving an Excellence in Construction (EIC) award from ABC is a great honor.  We believe that these awards represent the hard work and dedication of each team member.  It is important to us that the staff who worked on each project is recognized among their peers.

We understand that Sears Contract is a company that believes in giving back to the community. What are some of the ways you all live-out this company value?

Supporting our community is a family value that we have carried into our business.  I have wonderful memories from my childhood that are wrapped in serving others.  As a group, we seek and find ways to contribute time, energy and funds to supporting community causes that are meaningful to our family and to our employees.

Who has had a major influence on your career?

There are many people who have had a direct impact on my career but I would be remiss not to mention my family directly.  My mother is a source of strength and encouragement, my father is a guide, and my brother is a partner for the future.  Each one of them has contributed to helping me find my way.

In a few words, why do you love the construction business?

The people.  The people.  The people.  The teamwork and coordination of people and trades that is required to produce the final product is incredible.  Each person’s role is important and the end result is a building that serves the community.

Name some of the projects or achievements of which you are most proud.

There isn’t a project that we have completed that does not bring me pride.  Whether we are building churches, hospitals, schools, office buildings or government facilities, watching our teams work together brings me great joy.  At the end of the day, it is a privilege to help build our community by building people who build buildings.

What are your favorite things to do outside of work? How do you strike a work/life balance?

I love spending time exploring all that the Carolinas have to offer and making memories with my family.   On a day-to-day basis, it is about finding joy in the simple things in life: taking a walk while most people are still sleeping, making a morning cup of coffee, packing a lunch for my child, cooking dinner with my husband.  It is so easy to get caught up in the “I have to” or “I should” thought patterns. Instead, I try to focus on the “I get to” and make joy in those moments.

Career advice you would like to give others.

Use passion to drive you; whether you are passionate about your job, the people you are with or something else that your work allows you to do, find your passion.  Also, don’t allow pride to stand in the way of humility and kindness; there is a delicate balance in the in between spaces.

Most influential book, favorite book, or best-read lately.

A love of literature has peppered my life.  As a mother of a four-year old, most of my time spent reading these days is filled with age-appropriate books for my child.

A favorite quote.

“I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do. ” – Edward Everett Hale

What is something most people don’t know about you?

Being a fairly private person, I would guess there is much that many do not know about me.  I strive to live each day in a way that brings joy and light to the world.  I do not always succeed, but I always try.