From his early years, driving around in the back seat with his three siblings in the back of his parents’ Ford Explorer, visiting job sites on Saturday mornings for their fledgling construction company, Cade Carney’s future as the next generation of leadership was inevitable. However, his path was far from streamlined, and preparation for his role is ongoing.
“I realize now what a fantastic job my parents did shielding us from the stresses and harsh realities of building a business from nothing with four young children, and everything on the line. They were juggling so much, and we just experienced the fun part of helping out, meeting clients, and team members. To this day, I am impressed and try to emulate how my Dad (Carl) can give his complete attention to the family, but if he gets a phone call he needs to address, he can compartmentalize and give that issue his full concentration, then go right back to focusing on us. How to successfully balance family and business obligations is one of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned, “said Cade.
After school, weekends, and summers, when he wasn’t training or playing football, Cade was a fixture on the Davie jobsites. “I was always a ‘neck down’ worker,” he laughed. My job was not to think, but if there was a messy, high-pressure, close-deadline situation, you can be sure, I’d get called on to bring some muscle and sweat. And I wasn’t alone! Several children and grandchildren of original team members were also on that “need ’em now, tough job” list. Like me, they grew up in the business and are now expanding their parents’ legacies through careers with Davie Construction. We often kid about our early experiences and how they helped shape our construction careers.”
Cade’s undergraduate academic curriculum at Wake Forest prepared him specifically for the time management and marketing skills required for business managers. Two nights a week, from 6 to 9:30 pm, he takes classes at the University’s School of Business, expanding his management education through one of the most rigorous MBA programs in the country.
Cade believes his two years’ experience as a team captain and four years as a Demon Deacon football running back significantly impacted his commitment to teamwork. “Representing a team of 100 players, speaking for them to the coaches, and watching how the quality of teamwork in any situation can result in a win or a loss, was an invaluable lesson in being an effective leader. The awareness of who we are, who we aren’t, and the ability to see the big picture above the field are skills that have served me well in every aspect of my career. Construction is a team sport!”
Upon graduation, Cade felt compelled to experience an environment where his last name would not automatically tie him to Carl or all the positive and negative stereotypes associated with being ‘the boss’ kid.’ “It was important to me to strike out on my own, in a larger market where the Carney last name wouldn’t be synonymous with Davie Construction Co. A terrific opportunity came to me with a position as a Field Coordinator with Rodgers Construction in Charlotte. “I started my career with almost two years at a large, high-level firm with sophisticated systems working on extensive multi-year projects with huge teams. I worked hard to establish a reputation for a strong work ethic, enthusiasm to learn, take on any task, and commitment to team building. I had been honest about my plans to return to Davie Construction during the hiring process, so after I proposed to my wife, Victoria, in 2020, we planned to come home in the fall of 2021.”
It would have been easy for the newlyweds to start their lives together in Winston-Salem, where Victoria, a Wake Forest University graduate, was a Facilities Operations Coordinator. However, Cade wanted to take on a project that would provide an opportunity to prove himself within the family company, without the benefit of Carl’s proximity. Once established as a competent superintendent, he shifted to the role of project manager and key company representative in the new market of Knoxville, TN. “It was a daunting challenge,” Cade admitted, “We were new to the area, I was new to this level of leadership, and this was a newly developing owner relationship. In retrospect, I consider the experience like earning a degree in Construction, given all I had to learn and the high stakes of failure. The Davie Construction Co. brand was unknown, and the Carney name was insignificant. The reputation we built would be a direct result of how we all committed ourselves to exceeding expectations on this first project in Knoxville.”
Not surprisingly, given Cade’s leadership, the quality of the teammates that joined him on the project, and the relationships built with trade partners, community leaders, and owners, the initial project, Burlington Commons, an affordable housing, multi-family community, was completed on time and on budget, and to everyone’s complete satisfaction. The most obvious testament to the impact Cade and his team made in establishing the Davie brand in the city four years ago is the subsequent projects, which include Ammons at Asheville Hwy, Central Terrace Apartments, and Inskip Flats. Cade and team have broken ground on project number five, anticipates many more to come.
“It wasn’t easy for us to be the pioneers with that first project. There were growing pains, many late nights onsite, some tough phone calls with owners, my own mistakes made, and solutions developed to correct them. You could call it a trial by fire, but our guiding principle was the same philosophy that guides my family and this company. ‘Always make your no be no and yes be yes.’ If you commit to something, focus 100% on doing your best, and if you say no because it isn’t right, don’t change your mind. This approach to life and business requires rigorous honesty. It’s not always pretty, but you will achieve your goals with truth and trust. Our company history and growth exemplify this.”
As a Project Manager, Cade continues to guide several projects, including those in Knoxville. He gives credit for the ongoing success there to the team on the ground, a strong Project Superintendent, and a loyal, hardworking office support system who enhance the Davie reputation with every new job. He’s also responsible for some night projects with teams that begin working at 6 pm. Cade admits his schedule is hectic, starting work at 7 am, often continuing through the night shift, studying for his MBA, and helping Victoria launch her new business, The Rosie Boutique, an online fashion collection of feminine and functional styles. They work out regularly to manage stress and stay healthy, and their favorite pastime is visiting with their families.
As for the future of Davie Construction, Cade sees competition driving the need for continual, well-managed growth, resulting in opportunities to take on larger and more complex projects. While the company’s size will inevitably expand, he knows the values that built the company will never change. “The Lord has been good to us, and we must be stewards of those gifts by continuing to make a positive difference in the lives of our team, communities, and owners. We will always be the company that answers the phone, stands by our work, and goes the extra step. The buildings we create will continue to be a source of pride and long-lasting evidence of the excellence we have achieved together throughout the years.”