November 2016   
North Carolina Growing Uncertainty, Elections and Politics
By Ben Wilhelm, President, Carolinas Region

With the election this week, I am curious about what I will watch on TV from now on?  I could watch VEEP, but fiction isn't quite as interesting as the reality of this election cycle.  I could watch reruns of the Office or Seinfeld, but they make me feel my age.  Maybe I will just read more?  On a serious note, North Carolinians in construction are facing some questions about what is next. 

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, North Carolina's construction unemployment rate in August was at 4.9%, which ranks 10th in the nation and among the tightest in the US.  The battle for talent is real.  Shiel Sexton's regional revenues are up 170% in 24 months and we are not alone.  Most contractors are experiencing a growth spurt.    

Labor availability is non-existent for our subcontractors.  The good subcontractors just make everyone work harder because there is a scarcity of labor at every level.  Finding high quality management talent is a constant challenge because good people command top dollar.  Recruiters are bombing my LinkedIn account and voicemails daily.  My best tool for recruiting is to find someone who lives somewhere cold who is willing to relocate to the beauty of the Carolinas.  But growth will moderate - we just don't know when     (Read More)
We Own it!  Shiel Sexton is 100% ESOP
September 30, 2016, marked a monumental day in the history of Shiel Sexton.  We have officially become 100% ESOP!  And we sure are proud of it!

In 2012, Shiel Sexton took the first step in employee ownership by becoming 30% ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Program).  Our overall goal was to become 100% ESOP as quickly as possible so we could realize the full financial benefits of employee ownership.

What's an ESOP?  In short, an ESOP is a qualified employee retirement benefit plan that gives employees a stake in the company through stock allocation at no cost to the employee. It's a way for employees to share financially in the wealth we create, no matter the job they hold.  There's a lot more detail that is involved in ESOP's, but right now we are all about the celebration .   [Read More...]

New Labs for Discovery Place
Something new is in the works at Discovery Place, Charlotte's hands on science museum for kids of all ages. Construction began mid-August on two new interactive teaching lab spaces at the Uptown Charlotte location.  Both labs are being furnished with industrial metal casework and accented with splashes of blues, lime greens and grays to add some funk to the spaces, including a custom graffiti finish artwork on the concrete floor designed by the museum art department in one lab and metallic epoxy flooring swirled with pewter and cobalt blue in the other.  
Discovery Place Teaching Lab Renovation
 
An instructor station and pod-style tables seat up to 30 students, but the action can still be viewed for those outside of the room as both labs are enhanced with large observation windows on three sides. [Read More...]
Pike Nurseries... Up and Running!
Pike Nurseries  just opened its s ec ond location in the Charlotte area.  The new location in Matthews is a full service nursery with a large collection of unique and popular plants, patio furniture and garden decor. 
Pike Nurseries Opens New Facility in Matthews

Completed in September, the facility includes 12,500 SF of retail space with an additional 30,000 SF greenhouse, not to mention a babbling brook that welcomes visitors at the entry!

Mercury NoDa - Love Where You Live!
Located in NoDa, Charlotte's historic arts and entertainment district, lies Mercury NoDa, the latest luxury apartment complex by Woodfield Investments completed by Shiel Sexton.  The 241-unit, high end residential complex is three to five stories with a central courtyard anchored by a heated, saltwater pool surrounded by outdoor grills, cabanas, TV's and a fire pit.  

The luxury amenities continue into the complex with a 24-hour state of the art fitness club and cyber café complete with catering kitchen and billiards.  Paying homage to the surrounding arts district, the main level is punctuated by brightly colored walls and a rotating local artist gallery wall.  The studio, one, two and three bedroom apartments feature quartz countertops, designer lighting, custom cabinetry and French patio doors with ample natural light in the spaces. An integral parking deck, wrapped by the apartments provides both public and private parking for residents of the complex.   There is no question, Mercury NoDa is Charlotte's newest apartment destination with endless amenities and first-class service! [Read More...]


New Hires and Promotions
 
Shiel Sexton is pleased to announce a few new members to our team.    

Matt McArthur  has over 20 years of onsite supervision of construction projects in the $10M - $100M range.  He is the onsite Superintendent for a National Institutes of Health project in Raleigh, NC .     

Pete Mileta has 17 years of construction industry experience and is serving as Superintendent on the Discovery Place Museum renovation.

Dennis Nieves and Dan Lewis join the Shiel Sexton team as Assistant Superintendents.   Dennis has 8 years of experience as an onsite construction supervisor in the Charlotte area.  Dan previously spent five years with an engineering firm performing special inspections during the construction process.

South End Addition Brings Business to NC Borough
Charlotte's  South End has seen an exponential rise in popularity over the last decade. New apartment buildings have brought a mix of young millennials, professionals, and families to the area, giving it a youthful, vibrant energy. The borough has also welcomed in boutique shops, new businesses, and mom-and-pop restaurants that have piqued the interest of the surrounding community. Shiel Sexton has been involved in a number of these mixed-use and rejuvenation projects.

Among South End's many developments is  Argos Real Estate Advisors2322 Dunavant Street project. The company selected Shiel Sexton to convert a 50-year-old manufacturing warehouse into a luxury mixed-use space. The 18,000 SF renovation will retain the raw architectural elements of the building, allowing for future tenants to incorporate trendy industrial aesthetics into their own shops.  
[Read More...]
#Proud2BSSC
 
Are you following our social media posts?  Our Shiel Sexton team members are proud to show what they've been up to over the past three months since our last newsletter!  Check out what we've been doing and see why we are #Proud2BSSC
A special GOOD LUCK to our own Sara Whitten as she is gearing to compete in her fourth marathon this Saturday, November 12th, in the Novant Charlotte Marathon (formerly known as the Thunder Road Marathon).  Sara has been raising funds to support the National Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society.  If you see Sara, wish her luck!
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