Dive into Seretta Construction’s inspiring journey as a tilt-wall specialist in the commercial and industrial building sectors
In the bustling commercial construction industry, Seretta Construction (Seretta) stands out for its excellence in the field of tilt-wall construction and specialty slabs. Its offices in Orlando, Florida and Charlotte, North Carolina cater to the needs of the commercial and industrial building sector across the Mid-Atlantic, Southeastern, Gulf Coast, and on particular occasions, the Northeastern and Western regions of the US. Seretta offers turnkey concrete packages for tilt-wall projects of varying sizes, performing large foundation slab on grade packages or paving packages. Additionally, the company produces projects requiring high tolerance floors or heavy industrial floors with toppings such as trap rock, quartz, or iron. Whether it is constructing insulated multi-story, radius, or heavily detailed architectural tilt-wall structures, Seretta prides itself on its skilled craftsmen, knowledge, experience and financial stability, ensuring the success of every project it undertakes.
As a renowned specialist in tilt-up construction, Seretta is highly selective when it comes to the type of projects it undertakes. While it isn’t the primary general or
full contractor on projects, the company operates as a concrete subcontractor specializing in foundations, tilt-up construction and slab-on-grade. Tilt-up construction is similar to precast construction, but there are significant differences. One notable difference is where the wall panels are created. In precast construction, the manufacturing of wall panels is done off-site at a plant, and the panels are subsequently transported to the construction site for assembly. On the other hand, in Tilt-up construction, the wall panels are built on-site. The panels are constructed horizontally on top of the foundation slab on grade and then tilted upright into position using a crane – hence the name “tilt-up construction”. Additionally, Seretta handles all concrete-related tasks within the building footprint, such as flatwork for upper floors or mezzanines. Nevertheless, the business exclusively stays in that lane and refrains from venturing into public or residential work; focusing entirely on private projects. Seretta also steers clear of heavy formed concrete projects, such as those seen in downtown high-rise buildings with concrete decks; its specialization lies solely in concrete work, with a scope primarily encompassing footers, slabs, walls, paving, and sidewalks.
Growth story
Recently, the company underwent a transition in its leadership team. Scott Hosking, President, talks us through the company’s history, covering major milestones. “Richard McPherson, P.E, an engineer by trade, founded Seretta in 1987. Prior to that, he ran a general contracting business that offered a variety of trades, ranging from millwork to concrete, in Houston, Texas. In the 1980s, when Texas faced the oil glut and the savings and loan crisis, the economy went terribly awry, leading Richard to move to a different place. As he wanted to specialize in concrete in a location conducive to year-round work, he chose Orlando, Florida, where he established Seretta. During Seretta’s first year, he focused on connecting with as many people as possible to secure jobs, eventually landing his first project after nearly a year. At that time, Seretta had no employees apart from Richard, so he scrambled to find his first crew, to perform the work. In 1989, his son Andrew McPherson, FTCA, joined the company, and he began overseeing its day-to-day operations. I joined Seretta in 1993. I’ve always admired Andrew’s ability to grow the business while upholding the same family values instilled by his father, even after Richard’s departure in 2007. In 2001, tilt up concrete business was booming and we wanted to expand our services to different regions. We opened our second office in Charlotte and I relocated to run the Mid-Atlantic office. Fast forward to last year, I was promoted to President and Seretta became a 100 percent employee-owned company.”
The decision to become an employee-owned company was a strategic move and the driving force was the McPherson’s determination to secure the future of the company, its employees, and its legacy. Scott explains what that transitional process entailed, “Richard is retired, and Andrew is ready to move on to his next phase in life and eventually retirement. Andrew’s original plan was to sell to a private buyer. In his search, he was exceptionally particular. He wanted to avoid having a larger corporation acquire the business because they tend to rebrand their acquisitions and downsize the workforce. He wanted to continue operating with the strong management team, employees and company culture that makes Seretta so special. With that in mind, Andrew and Richard explored alternative ways to preserve the company’s legacy, honor the employees who have worked for us for a long time and uphold the core values and quality we are known for.
“On July 1, 2024, the McPhersons made the decision to transition Seretta from a family-owned company to an employee-owned company. That date marked the beginning of an exciting journey, revealing new opportunities and roles within the company. Despite this transition, Seretta continued to deliver the same exceptional quality and customer service that its clients are used to.
“The transition to an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) has been a learning process, as its regulations are similar to a profit-sharing 401K plan. Nevertheless, our team is excited about the possibilities it offers. Each employee now has a stake in the company, with ownership shares reflected by their tenure and responsibilities. This shift is significant because it boosts employee motivation and it strengthens the ability of Seretta employees to manage and grow the company, all while honoring the McPhersons’ commitment to the people who have helped build Seretta. As we pay off the initial purchase debt of starting the ESOP and continue to grow, the value of each employee’s share will continue to rise. This creates immense opportunities, especially for our employees who are early in their careers, who can look forward to securing a comfortable retirement by staying with Seretta long-term. Although the McPhersons probably could have made more money and received their funds all at once by finding a private buyer, rather than in phases as with the current employee ownership mode, it was more important for them to share the success of Seretta with the people who have played a pivotal role in its achievements,” Scott elaborates.
With almost four decades of expertise in tilt-wall solutions, a new leadership team and a skilled, dedicated workforce, Seretta is positioned for even greater success as a leading tilt-up contractor.