Chief Financial Officer
John Fallaw
Davie Construction Co.
John Fallaw was promoted to the position of Chief Financial Officer earlier this year alongside the promotion of Janet Sheppard to President. There was no doubt among his colleagues that he was the right fit for the position. With his extensive experience in construction at a public accounting firm, he brings his in-depth industry knowledge and experience to Davie Construction. While he is tasked with filling some big shoes, his colleagues know he will guide the company to continued success.
Ready to Lead
John proved his value to the Davie Family by serving as their Controller for two years, seamlessly stepping into the position. His educational background and professional experience qualified him as the perfect candidate. John graduated from Presbyterian College in South Carolina with a double major in business administration and economics and earned his Master of Accountancy at Clemson University. As an accredited NC licensed CPA, John worked with the public accounting firm Dixon Hughes Goodman where he specialized in providing assurance and consulting services to clients in the construction industry.
Behind-the-Scenes Support
In his C-suite position, John leads the accounting, human resources, risk management, and IT teams. He collaborates with company leaders to determine and achieve strategic objectives to support growth while enhancing client satisfaction and team engagement.
“Here at Davie, we all strive to provide a premium experience for our owners. While our field personnel and project managers have constant contact with our clients and are on the ground performing our construction work, my team, while not as visible, is crucial in creating and maintaining the highest quality of service.
Many of our owners require assistance in obtaining financing for their projects. This is an integral step in getting the projects off the ground. My team and I pride ourselves in helping to make this process as painless as possible. We diligently communicate with the owners’ financial institutions to ensure they obtain the information needed to secure their financing. Our department is also responsible for taking the necessary steps to provide our owners with a clean project upon completion.
Davie Construction also has an amazing culture that cultivates the development of their employees, while also providing them with top-of-the-line benefits packages. Our senior management team and HR department work diligently to improve our company culture and cultivate a strong team-oriented atmosphere.” – John Fallaw
Overcoming Day to Day Challenges
There are several duties assigned to a present-day CFO that include the management of day-to-day financial needs such as cash flow management, building financial models, and risk management, but there are other areas that many don’t directly associate with a financial role (IT, HR, etc.). Each provides their own unique challenges.
IT Consideration – The constant evolution of the IT environment in the construction industry requires companies to be diligent in evaluating and implementing advancements, as necessary. John and his team are constantly evaluating technological developments. They implement those that will increase efficiency and benefit their company, employees, and clients.
HR – As many know in the construction industry, good personnel are hard to find and keep. John and his team work to cultivate a team-oriented atmosphere while providing strong employee benefit options to employees. John and his team take an intentional approach to retain their employees by investing in their people while striving to provide opportunities to make them successful. A rising tide lifts all boats.
Financial – In the ever-changing financial atmosphere of present-day market, a CFO must manage their company’s cash flows through collections, payments, and investments to capitalize on market swings and mitigate downfalls. With his background, John is well equipped to ensure Davie’s success.
The Davie Difference
During John’s first interaction with Janet and Carl in 2022, it was evident that he was dealing with a construction company markedly different from others he’d known from his past.
“It was clear from the start that the Davie culture honors family, teamwork, individual growth, and focuses on building long-lasting relationships with clients built on trust, ethics, and integrity. I am grateful to be a part of that culture and honored to take on the responsibility of upholding it.” – John Fallaw
John believes that the collective effort to deliver a quality work product and make owner experiences exceptional is reflected in our clients’ positive feedback and repeat business.
Looking Ahead
John understands the importance of the responsible and calculated growth of a company. Whether it be in their building process, accounting procedures, or employee interactive technologies, a company must be in tune with technological advancements to improve the quality of their product as well as their efficiency in execution.
“The use of AI, as it is responsibly developed, will provide greater capability for data analytics for various aspects of our business and will allow the finance department to analyze greater amounts of historical and market data to assist in propelling Davie Construction past our perceived limitations through the development of optimal project mixes, personnel, market pricing, and much more.
Companies are now starting to embrace the need for data analytics in decision-making. AI will help, but the combination of AI opportunities, sound data accumulation, and understanding of financial concepts and operational factors lend itself to propelling us into smart growth by being able to determine our strengths and lean into those while becoming more efficient in all areas of the business. My goal is to use all the tools available and motivate all my team members to contribute to the company’s progression and continue to enhance the culture that has proven so successful for the past 31 years.” – John Fallaw