Built From Within, Growing Through Leadership
Smart company growth is often the result of strong strategic vision, time-tested and proven relationships, and capable leaders ready to build what comes next. For Harper General Contractors, a full-service general contracting and construction management firm serving the Southeast, the last several years have consisted of meaningful expansion across market sectors, services, and regions. As…
Through the Eyes of an Intern
In mid-May, CarolinaPower’s Columbia office welcomed back Clemson University student Salma Natsheh for a second summer internship with our company. A rising sophomore, Salma is majoring in Electrical Engineering at Clemson with a minor in Architecture. Passionate about the technology side of electrical construction, Salma aspires to work in Virtual Design & Construction (VDC) and…
The Economy at Mid-year: Some Good News and Bad News
On June 25, the U.S. Department of Commerce delivered good news and bad news all in the same day. The good news came with an upward revision for first quarter 2026 real GDP growth. The final estimate rose from 1.6% To 2.1%. Once again, we are back running in the twos. (Recent real GDP growth…
Full-Circle Moment: NC State CCEE Graduates Renovate Former Classroom Building
Less than 10 years after graduating from NC State’s Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering (CCEE), two alumni are back on campus to renovate a building that holds many memories for them. In the summer of 2025, a large-scale renovation process began at Mann Hall. Named after alumnus and former Head of the Department…
Why Meta and Google are Betting on Skilled Trades
For decades, workforce development followed a fairly predictable model. Construction industry workforce programs focused on developing the skilled trades needed to build projects. Manufacturers invested in training programs designed to prepare workers to operate facilities once they opened. Utilities trained the technicians needed to maintain power systems. Each sector largely developed talent pipelines aligned with…
America 250: Built by Builders
The Hands That Built America As America celebrates its 250th birthday, we naturally think about the founders, the soldiers, the presidents, and the moments that shaped our nation. We should. But we should also remember the builders. Long before skylines defined our cities, someone cleared the land. Someone surveyed the route. Someone quarried the stone….
Building More Than Places: The Role of Community Impact at SW+
At its core, the AEC industry isn’t actually about blueprints or permits; it’s about people. Whether we’re collaborating with clients or engaging with neighbors, true success often comes down to human connection. That’s why community engagement has always been a natural extension of SeamonWhiteside’s (SW+) work across the Carolinas. As a site design firm, we…
JetZero Breaks Ground on First Aircraft Factory in Greensboro, NC
JetZero today broke ground on its first manufacturing and final assembly campus, an 8 million square foot factory on more than 600 acres in Greensboro, North Carolina. The project, supported by the largest ever State-level incentive package for any startup of any industry, will be home to production of JetZero’s next-generation aircraft and will create…
2026 GroundBreakers: Who is Influencing the Industry? Submit your Nomination
People make the construction industry what it is today. The GroundBreak Carolinas team is interested in identifying and featuring those individuals who are influencing construction and having a significant impact on the industry. We are pleased to announce that nominations are now being accepted for the 8th annual GroundBreak Carolinas GroundBreakers Awards. “The GroundBreaker Awards…
Meta, ABC Form Partnership to Launch Academy to Train and Create Jobs for Construction Craft Professionals
Meta Platforms Inc. and Associated Builders and Contractors announced a partnership to educate and provide construction-ready career pathways for thousands of data center construction technicians kicking off in Indiana, Louisiana, Ohio and Texas as a meaningful step toward meeting the growing demand for data center workers nationwide. America’s Workforce Academy is a $115 million investment in the next…
