Building Careers and Connections across the Carolinas
Last spring, civil engineering project manager Taylor Fletcher traded her desk in Mount Pleasant, SC for one in Charlotte, NC. Not for a new job, but for two days inside another SeamonWhiteside (SW+) office. The exchange is called SWAp: a program that lets employees temporarily swap offices to learn how colleagues in another market approach…
2026 “GroundBreakers” Honored for Positively Impacting Carolinas Construction Industry
GroundBreak Carolinas is excited to announce the results of our 2026 GroundBreaker Awards, an annual awards program – now in its eighth year – that recognizes individuals who have gone above and beyond to make a difference for the construction community in the Carolinas. Selected from a well-rounded group of nominees from North Carolina and…
Taking a Hard Look at the Chaotic Fall Economy
Getting Started: A Real Challenge With the latest GDP growth estimate for second quarter coming in at a slow 1.5 percent, long-term interest rates at a peak for the year, federal debt at an all-time high, CPI inflation continuing apace at 3.4 percent, we have a perplexing situation . And then with food services and…
Nearly Half of Gen Z Is Considering the Skilled Trades as AI Reshapes Career Plans, New Thumbtack Report Finds
Thumbtack, the technology company helping millions of people confidently care for their homes, today released its third annual Future of the Skilled Trades Report, revealing how AI and economic uncertainty are reshaping career decisions and fueling a new generation of tradespeople. More than 80 percent of Gen Z surveyed say it has become harder for…
Building More Than Structures: HarperXS Supports Front Porch Housing’s Mission
When construction expertise meets community compassion, the result is more than renovated space; it is a foundation for brighter futures. Front Porch Housing (FPH) is a Greenville-based non-profit with a program focused on providing dignified housing paired with intensive wrap-around services to help individuals and families build a strong foundation for life. When FPH started…
Creating a True “Home-Away-from-Home” in Charleston
Giving back to the communities where their people live and work is a core part of A M King’s purpose and company culture. One example: the integrated design-build firm has a long-standing history with Ronald McDonald House Charities in both North Carolina and South Carolina. Over the past decade, multiple A M King team members…
Data Centers Fueling Increasing Share of U.S. Industrial Demand
Growth in data center development is fueling an increasing share of U.S. industrial demand, according to a new report from CoStar, a leading global provider of online real estate marketplaces, information and analytics in the property markets. Nationally, data center inventory has reached roughly 69 gigawatts of existing capacity, while another 43 gigawatts are currently under…
AI Is About to Rewire Construction. Here’s What It Means for Contractors in the Carolinas
A new McKinsey analysis suggests artificial intelligence could reshape far more than construction productivity. For contractors across North and South Carolina, the bigger question is who will control the data, workflows, customer relationships—and ultimately the value—of the next construction operating model. For the past several years, much of the construction industry’s conversation around artificial intelligence…
Cognitive Submission: Why Contractors Can’t Outsource Their Judgment to AI
“Cognitive Submission” describes humans who defer their own reasoning, judgment, and analytical effort to an AI system rather than engaging critically with it. I am as enamored with AI as anyone. In fact, I look forward to the day when I no longer marvel at how it shapes my ideas, documents, spreadsheets, and graphics into…
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…
