Phillip W. Smith General Contr., Inc.

Bill Payzant joined the team after decades in the construction industry. Bill began building homes in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. After moving to Mount Pleasant, he continued building homes on Sullivan’s Island, Isle of Palms, and throughout Charleston.  In 2010 he started Nautilus Home Management after seeing the need to watch after and maintain vacation homes in the Charleston area. The experience maintaining coastal homes led to a focus on how to properly build low maintenance, high-performance homes. In 2018, Bill and Phil partnered, joining their two companies with the goal of creating a team dedicated to building and maintaining homes that are “built to last” for generations.

Phillip Smith started his construction business in Charleston, South Carolina in 1990 with his wife, Cathy. A licensed General Contractor, Phillip has built homes throughout the Lowcountry of South Carolina, multiple locations in the Southeast and most recently expanded internationally with projects in Christophe Harbour, St. Kitts. Focusing on quality custom homes and remodeling projects, Phillip has earned a highly respected reputation during his years of building in the Charleston area.

Phillip W. Smith General Contractor, Inc. handles on average six projects per year, allowing Phillip to be directly involved from the start and provide personal service to all of our homeowners. With direct involvement, Phillip is able to lend his knowledge and experience early in the design phase to build a home that will hopefully exceed expectations. Currently, Phillip W. Smith GC, Inc. consists of a six person team, which includes one project manager, one superintendent, an estimator and an office manager; all of whom are committed to providing an enjoyable experience to all of our homeowners.

Jennifer has been a key part of the success of our company. She started in 1998 as our company was growing. She helped manage the increasing number of accounts and office needs. Today, one of Jennifer’s main roles is project estimating. Jennifer works hard to make sure the clients have accurate pricing starting at the bid phase. She also works closely with the whole Phillip Smith team throughout the building process. Jennifer loves working with such a great team. She spends her free time making memories with family and friends and visiting new places whenever she can.       

BJ started with Phillip Smith General Contractor in 2005. BJ works as a Project Manager, working closely with the entire design-build team and the clients. BJ has always been interested in the construction field and has a background in drafting and carpentry. He developed an interest in fine home building while expanding his skill set in carpentry. BJ loves the challenge that comes with his job. When asked which is his favorite project he simply replies, “My current project is always my favorite!”

With over 18 years of experience in high-end residential, commercial, and civil construction projects, Newell Shanklin is a Project Manager for Phillip Smith General Contractor. With a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke and certificates in carpentry and masonry, Newell brings hands-on experience to his role at Phillip Smith. A licensed South Carolina residential builder, Newell enjoys using his knowledge of the various construction trades to ensure a high attention to detail for his clients.

Lori joined Phillip Smith General Contractor part-time in 2018. She has a bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering from Georgia Tech and an MBA from UNC-Chapel Hill. Lori worked in commercial construction before entering graduate school. After graduate school, Lori went to work for Procter and Gamble as an assistant brand manager. After taking some time off for family, Lori re-entered the workforce. In her current position, Lori is able to use her construction background and marketing degree, the best of both worlds.

Cathy has been with the company since it was founded in 1990.  During this time, she has worked in all areas of the business - job site clean up, estimating, client coordinating to accounting.  When Phillip and Cathy started the business it was just the two of them handling everything.  Over the years the company has grown into a fantastic team of individuals who help the jobs and the company run smoothly and efficiently.  While Cathy is no longer cleaning up job sites, she is still actively involved in the management of the company.  

Jodi graduated from the College of Charleston with a degree in accounting. She worked for 17 years for Publix as a department manager and then switched to the government sector working in accounting for the College of Charleston. When the opportunity to return to the private sector presented itself, Jodi embraced the chance to continue to grow in her career. At Phillip Smith General Contractor, Jodi is responsible for handling administrative tasks and assisting with accounting. She loves learning and is excited to embrace new opportunities for growth.

Russell has been working in the construction field since he was 15 years old. During this time, he has worked in both the commercial and residential sectors, and has worked on both new home construction and renovation projects. After graduating from the College of Charleston with a degree in Urban Studies, Russell decided to pursue his love of custom home building. As a superintendent for Phillip Smith General Contractor, Russell loves that he is able to work directly on the homes to help clients get exactly what they want in their home.