A SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION FEATURING MIDDLE GEORGIA BUSINESS LEADERS AND WHAT INSPIRES THEM. PHOTOGRAPY BY JESSICA WHITLEY.

Mitchell Turner, VP of Operations
Greg Cook, VP of Preconstruction
1572 Schofield St., Macon
478-743-1578
info@sheridanconstruction.com
www.sheridanconstruction.com

What is the mission of Sheridan Construction?
Our mission is to serve our clients, community and employees with excellence, integrity and quality in every aspect of the construction process.

How do you define success?
We are in business because we love to build quality projects that bring purpose and meaning to their respective communities. We know we have done our job well if, at the end of the project, the building is being used as it was intended, and the owner is happy.

You might be surprised that: Sheridan Construction is a 100 percent employee-owned business with several second-generation employees on staff. We have a large list of repeat clients — some that have been with us since the beginning in 1947.

What are you most excited about in our community?
The enthusiasm for the continued growth and development of downtown Macon. We have enjoyed working with the city on several of the road improvement projects in downtown and the opportunities for growth those projects afford to the area.

What makes you strong leaders?
Decisiveness. Courage. Passion. Humility. Openness. It takes courage to be a leader of an organization with a long community history like Sheridan Construction. You have to make sound decisions quickly because you have employees depending on those decisions. You have to be open to suggestions and advice, and above all else, understand that it’s not all about you: It takes a team to be successful.

What sets your business apart?
Our employees and their professionalism are what sets Sheridan Construction apart. Because we are 100 percent employee owned, all our employees — from the office to the field — have a vested interest in the success of each project we build.

How did your business shift during COVID-19?
We are deemed by the State of Georgia to be an essential workforce, so we have remained open throughout the COVID-19 outbreak. We continuously monitor the guidelines from OSHA and the CDC. We have taken extra precautions on our job sites by providing touchless thermometers, hand sanitizers, face masks and extra handwashing stations to employees, trade contractors and visitors. We implemented an employee health questionnaire for our office and field staff. We also set up virtual options in-house for meetings and encouraged our office staff to practice social distancing whenever feasible.

How does your business serve our community with inclusivity in mind?
A few years ago, with support from the Macon-Middle Georgia Black Pages, Sheridan Construction established the R.I.S.E. Program (Readiness Initiative through Sheridan Education). It’s a free six-month training series designed to educate and train local small and minority-owned trade contractors and suppliers in how to successfully compete for work in the commercial construction market. Classes on various industry and business-related topics are taught by Sheridan staff and volunteer community leaders.

What can Macon do to better support businesses now?
Continue to encourage the support and patronage of local businesses, and continue to educate employees on current economic trends and business practices.

What is the most gratifying part of your job?
Completing a project that started as just a dream or an idea, and following it through the entire process — from design to budgeting to construction — and having it become a reality for the owner.

What is the most common question you receive?
How much will it cost and when will it be done?

Any advice for those seeking to get started in your field of business?
Construction is a great career to go into. We suggest doing an internship with a local general contractor or trade contractor or working as a laborer during the summer to learn more about the industry. If you’re a high school student, get involved with your school’s construction program, and if you’ve graduated, look at the trade courses available with Central Georgia Technical College.

What was the best business advice you ever received?
Take care of the small things and take care of your employees.