Building Beyond Bricks: Sheridan Construction

What does it take to build a construction company that thrives for over 75 years while maintaining a commitment to excellence, innovation and community? For Sheridan Construction, the answer lies in its people-first approach and visionary leadership. Christy Kovac, president and CEO of Sheridan Construction, recently joined Show Host and President of Denim Marketing Carol Morgan on the Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio podcast to share insights into how this 100% employee-owned firm continues to redefine leadership and innovation in commercial construction while staying true to its founding principles. From Estimator to CEO Kovac’s journey with Sheridan Construction is as impressive as it is inspiring. A Georgia Institute of Technology graduate with a building science and construction management degree, she was hired as Sheridan’s first full-time estimator after applying twice. Her persistence proved worthwhile as she grew the estimating department from a one-person operation to a team of three. As the company’s leadership began planning for transitions, Kovac expressed interest in taking on greater responsibility. She was promoted to executive vice president in an interim role before becoming president in 2016 and adding the CEO title in 2020. Throughout this progression, she benefited from mentorship by company leaders Chris Sheridan Jr. and Ronnie Williams. “The company was founded on three principles that were passed on to me and I continue to pass forward: taking care of the people who work for you, the people who give you the work and taking care of the community from where the work comes. When you do those three things well, the rest comes,” Kovac explained, revealing the straightforward yet powerful philosophy that has guided the company through decades of success. Employee Ownership: The Secret to Sustained Success What truly distinguishes Sheridan Construction from its competitors is its employee ownership structure. In 2016, the company became 100% employee-owned as part of a thoughtful succession plan developed by the previous owner, Chris Sheridan Jr. The employee stock option plan allowed for a smooth leadership transition while giving employees a direct stake in the company’s success. According to Kovac, this ownership model transformed how the team approaches its work. When everyone has skin in the game, the commitment to quality, client satisfaction and community impact naturally follows. Strategic Expansion Across Georgia While Sheridan Construction’s roots remain firmly planted in Middle Georgia, the company strategically expanded its footprint to better serve clients throughout the state. With established offices in West Georgia and Athens, the company has plans to expand into Augusta within the next two years. Additionally, Sheridan Construction holds contractor licenses in all states bordering Georgia, enabling them to follow loyal clients wherever projects lead. This expansion strategy helped the company develop and maintain multi-generational client relationships, with some partnerships spanning three generations of ownership and more than 50 years of collaboration. The Design-Build Advantage The design-build methodology is a significant component of Sheridan Construction’s service model. It offers clients a streamlined approach that eliminates the traditional fragmentation between design and construction phases. This integrated approach reduces miscommunication, accelerates project timelines and often leads to more innovative solutions as architects and builders collaborate from day one. “It gives the client one point of contact for the project,” Kovac explained. “The client hires the contractor, and the contractor hires the architect to work as a team. So, it makes communication a little bit smoother.” Community Involvement The company’s commitment to community service is evident in its decades-long partnership with Habitat for Humanity.