When Tate Carney graduated from Wake Forest University this past spring, he didn’t have to wonder what came next. The path forward had been calling to him for years—even while he was deep in a four-year football career as a running back for the Demon Deacons.
“I was always so focused on football in college,” Tate admitted. “But construction always kind of pulled me back. I always missed it. And I enjoyed being around the people at Davie Construction. They’re such good people and such hard workers.”
For Tate, construction isn’t just a family business — it’s where he feels at home.
Growing Up in the Construction World
Born and raised in Davie County, North Carolina, Tate is the youngest of the four Carney children, and like his siblings, he grew up immersed in construction. “If Dad had to go to a job on a Saturday, we would ride with him,” he recalled. “If it looked dirty, he’d put a broom in our hands, and we’d get to sweeping and cleaning up. He had no problem putting us to work.”
But Tate’s real introduction to the industry came during his senior year at Davie High School, when he set up an internship arrangement that let him work half days at Davie Construction while finishing his studies. He spent those months on the old Kmart project in Clemmons — now home to Ulta, Five Below, and Aldi.
“It was very exciting because it was stuff that I had kind of been around, but not enough to really know what I was doing,” Tate said. “At that point, I really got to understand the process that goes into it. It definitely planted more of a seed for a career in construction than ever before.”
Four Years on the Field
From 2022 to 2026, Tate played running back for Wake Forest, balancing the demanding schedule of a Division I athlete with his Communications major studies. The experience shaped him in ways that extend far beyond the field.
“The biggest similarity between football and construction is in just how many different kinds of people you’re working with,” Tate explained. You have to get them on the same page, trying to accomplish the same goal. That same message correlates to construction just as easily. You’re trying to get the subcontractors to focus on finishing the job.”
Football also taught him the value of discipline and consistency — two qualities that translate directly to his current role. “Consistency was always a huge deal for us in football. Being able to repeat a successful play. It’s the same thing in construction with every process you’re doing.”
And then there’s the early wake-up calls. “They made sure we got up really early — 5:30 AM wake-ups for football,” Tate said. “So now when I wake up at 6:00 AM for work, it’s a breeze. No problem at all.”
Life After Football
This past May, just weeks after his college career ended, Tate married his longtime girlfriend, Sadie — whom he’s known since the seventh grade. “We have been together ever since.”
When Tate accepted his position as assistant superintendent, working with Davie Construction’s Knoxville operation, Sadie moved to Tennessee with him. Previously a dog groomer in North Carolina, she’s currently exploring new job opportunities in the Knoxville area.
The move has been an adventure, and Tate is excited about helping establish Davie Construction’s presence in the region. “Knoxville’s been very good to us and we’ve completed several multifamily living communities, with more on the books.”
Learning the Ropes as an Assistant Superintendent
As an assistant superintendent, Tate’s days are varied and hands-on. “I’ve been anywhere from cleaning out a manhole to doing paint touch-ups,” he said. “Just whatever’s asked, really.”
His primary focus is quality control—making sure subcontractors do their jobs correctly and stepping in when issues arise. Communication is critical. “You have to stay on top of them and make sure everybody’s on the same page. A lot of people have other jobs they’re worried about but getting them focused on your job and making it important to them is a big deal.”
The biggest learning curve? Experience. “With football, I got to a point where I knew everything and was the guy people asked questions to,” Tate said. “Now I’m the young guy having to ask questions and trying to soak it all up.”
Fortunately, he’s found a workplace culture that encourages learning. “There’s no problem with me calling somebody — they’re more than willing to help.” He specifically credited Mike Turner, one of the project managers in Knoxville, for his mentorship. “He’s just very selfless. He’ll drop everything he’s got to help me. I really appreciate everything he’s done. I’m also blessed to have my Dad and brother Cade in the business. They are always happy to answer questions as I work to expand my professional knowledge.”
Creating More Than Building
For Tate, construction is about more than erecting structures — it’s about building relationships and giving back to the community. During his time at Wake Forest, he participated in Santa’s Helpers. In this program, athletes wrapped and delivered presents to children in the Winston-Salem area who otherwise wouldn’t receive gifts at Christmas.
“That was just such a rewarding thing to do –- giving back to the less fortunate people of the area.”
Faith is also important to him. He’s active at Two Cities Church, which recently started a new Davie campus that meets at the local high school. In college, he regularly attended Athletes in Action, a Christian fellowship group led by the team chaplain. “All the athletes would get together and be able to have good, honest faith conversations.”
When he’s not working, Tate enjoys fishing, golfing, and — now that football is behind him — hunting. “I love being outdoors,” he says.
Looking Ahead
As Tate settles into his role in Knoxville, his goals are clear. “I definitely want to stay with Davie Construction. I think I’ll be a lifer,” he said. “I want to be as knowledgeable as possible about this industry. I want to be somebody that people can look to and ask questions and feel that they’ve got a real friend.”
Over the next year and a half, he’ll be working on apartment projects in Knoxville, learning from an experienced superintendent. It’s all part of his journey toward becoming the kind of mentor and resource for others that people like Mike Turner have been for him.
When asked what makes Davie Construction special, Tate didn’t hesitate. “I think it starts at the top. My dad is such an amazing father figure and someone to try and emulate. His influence on the company has trickled down, and I think people that we work with, and members of our community, clearly see how his honesty and integrity define our business philosophy.”
From running plays on the field to managing projects on job sites, Tate Carney has found his calling. And as he helps build Davie Construction’s reputation in Knoxville, he’s carrying forward the values that have made the company successful: quality work, genuine relationships, and an unwavering commitment to doing things right.
Welcome to the team, Tate. We can’t wait to see what you build next.