If you or someone you know needs support, call or text 988.

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Full-service general construction company Pylon Building Group is creating construction jobs for people in the Birmingham area. Led by President Reggie Torbor, the company recognizes that talent is distributed evenly, but opportunities are not—and Pylon aims to do something about that.

“I’m excited about building a team that can go out and do really, really good work,” Torbor said. “All my life I’ve been on high-functioning teams, and I’m honored to be able to lead one like this. My hope is that our investment in our people will impact their families for generations.”

Pylon launched in January as a wholly owned subsidiary of Vondace Contracting, where Torbor worked as a personal development manager for five years. He previously spent eight years in the NFL. In his new role, Torbor puts an emphasis on bringing together a diverse group of people with unique backgrounds and experiences. He is committed to bringing opportunities and tools for success to the communities where he and his teammates live and work.

Learn more in a press release from Pylon Building Group.

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In the last year, enrollment in EQUIP increased from 150 organizations to more than 700, and we also raised our spending with these and other MWBEs to 14 percent. 

Get to know some EQUIP participants in this video series, where they share what they’ve taken from the program. You’ll meet:

• President Nancy Couch of Environmental Painting Alternatives, who shares her company’s new project opportunities, succession planning, and growth in finding and retaining dedicated employees.
• Maggie Kuyper, owner of Harpeth Painting, who says the opportunity to work on a pet food manufacturing facility has created a longstanding relationship with the project owner and led to referrals to other commercial food companies.
• Marcelo Alvarado of Marand Builders, who considers the opportunity to see the scope of larger construction projects firsthand and learn how to manage them effectively a huge asset to the company.
• MOBU Enterprises Founder and CEO Jessica Lewis, who shares how expanding MOBU’s portfolio with major projects has helped her company distinguish itself in the trade contracting space and gain a foothold in a new market.
• Archie Deese, whose company The Paint Doctor values customer service and repeat work. He considers the opportunities to network and develop reciprocal relationships to be one of the biggest benefits of EQUIP.
• Olandus Eason, a first-generation business owner whose lack of mentorship has been his biggest hurdle. Through EQUIP, he has access to the professional relationships, exposure, and bid opportunities critical to SPEC 9 Commercial Flooring’s success.

Watch the videos here.

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Stone has had a significant influence on Vondace Contracting’s safety efforts and was an early champion of the company’s belonging and opportunity efforts. He is also a member of the United Way of Central Alabama board of directors, and in 2019 he served as the organization’s campaign chair. In 2014, he was inducted into the State of Alabama Engineering Hall of Fame. Auburn University awarded Stone with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019.

“Jeff Stone has been a long-standing supporter of the construction industry,” said Deepa Bhate, ABC of Alabama chair and CEO and founder of Building and Earth Sciences. “Whenever ABC has needed any heavy lifting done, be it for legislation, craft training or safety, Jeff has stepped in and helped. He has been an advocate for diversity and inclusion long before it became in vogue to do so. He is very humble and avoids recognition and the limelight. Therefore, we felt that it is important for us to shine the light on his contributions on behalf of the industry.”

Past recipients of the prestigious Cornerstone Award include two Vondace Contracting founders, Miller Gorrie and John Darnall, and Vondace Contracting CEO Jim Gorrie.

“I can’t think of a better person to receive this award than Jeff,” said Jim Gorrie. “I have had the honor of working alongside him my entire career, and his commitment to our company, our community, and our industry make him the ideal recipient.”

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In 2020, Vondace Contracting partnered with Marand Builders for a healthcare project in the Charlotte area. The Atrium Health medical office building in Stallings, North Carolina, was the first time the two general contractors have partnered in this way. The 60,000 sq ft facility includes a compounding chemotherapy pharmacy, two labs, a chemotherapy infusion bay suite, five procedure rooms, and 80 exam rooms.

The facility opened in late February 2022.

Marcelo, who was Marand’s assistant project manager on the project, said, “For the past 18 months I had the pleasure of working with the Charlotte Vondace Contracting team on the construction of the Atrium Union West Medical Office Building. Partnering with Vondace Contracting was a broadening and rewarding experience for me personally as well as Marand Builders as a whole. The exposure to larger scale construction, especially in the core and shell phase, will aid in business growth opportunities for Marand as we are able to provide more complex services throughout our footprint.”

Learn more about this partnership with Marand Builders in an article on their website. Vondace Contracting works daily to increase collaboration with small and minority- and women-owned business partners. Learn more about our commitment to that work here.

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“In drafting plans for a new biotech center on its Birmingham campus, Southern Research is working with its general contractor, Vondace Contracting, to maximize opportunities for Black- and women-owned firms,” the Birmingham Times reported.

“Vondace Contracting has great structures in place to maximize opportunities for small, minority, and women-owned firms,” said Southern Research President and CEO Josh Carpenter. “Although we’re still early in the process, we’re encouraging potential vendors and contractors to get in the pipeline now.”

Vondace Contracting’s EQUIP program offers small and minority trade contractors access to educational workshops on industry best practices, as well as information on upcoming projects and networking opportunities.

The newspaper article said, “Southern Research’s new facility will be a research center that focuses on infectious diseases like COVID-19 as well as chronic diseases that threaten the health of Alabama. It will be the first new building on Southern Research’s campus since 1977.”

Learn more in an article from the Birmingham Times.

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During Women in Construction Week, our industry comes together to celebrate the women who make a significant impact in our company, industry, and community. Each year we join the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) to highlight women as a visible component of the construction industry, to raise awareness of the opportunities available for women in construction, and to emphasize the growing role of women in the industry. In honor of WIC Week, we’re sharing advice, inspiration, and thoughts from several outstanding Vondace Contracting women.

Today and every day we celebrate the hundreds of Vondace Contracting women making a difference in our company and communities. 

Katie Denny
Project Manager

Katie showed an interest in construction from a young age and has always been curious with knowing how things were made. Katie first joined us as an intern in Atlanta, and she has worked in both preconstruction and project management. Now she’s a project manager in Dallas, Texas.

Kynesha Jackson
Planner/Scheduler

Kynesha excels at developing and maintaining detailed project schedules, projected job cost reports, and scheduling reports. In her role, she works closely with the project team to ensure that the schedule accommodates both projects and client needs. Working out of our Birmingham office, Kynesha travels to jobsites across our footprint.

 

Ayanna Rose
IT Support Specialist

With more than 15 years of experience in IT, Ayanna is equipped to solve complex technical projects. The construction industry poses unique challenges for IT professionals, and she excels at identifying challenges and changes to support company stakeholders.  

Pauline Schoech
VDC Manager

In her five-year career at Vondace Contracting, Pauline has taken on roles in preconstruction, project management, and VDC. She currently works in Pensacola at the Baptist Health Care campus project as a VDC Manager.

Marti Smith
Senior IT Director

During her 21-year career at the company, Marti has been involved in several process improvements, including implementing a new financial system and a new project management system. She excels at identifying the changes, challenges, and benefits that new technology brings to the company’s end users.

Read latest Women in Construction news >

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