Building Long-term Partnerships
Newton Construction Services, LLC earns trust—one project at a time
![Newton Construction Services, LLC President Paul Newton oversees construction of the indoor baseball training facility at UNC Charlotte.](storyassets/carolinas/feature_stories/S19_NC_FS5_Building_Long-Term_Partnerships/S19_NC_FS5_Interior1_530x370.jpg)
Newton Construction Services, LLC President Paul Newton oversees construction of the indoor baseball training facility at UNC Charlotte.
![Newton Construction Services, LLC completed this retail upfit for Massage Heights Jetton Village in Cornelius, North Carolina.](storyassets/carolinas/feature_stories/S19_NC_FS5_Building_Long-Term_Partnerships/S19_NC_FS5_Interior2_530x370.jpg)
Newton Construction Services, LLC completed this retail upfit for Massage Heights Jetton Village in Cornelius, North Carolina.
Building trust starts with that first handshake, according to Paul Newton, President of Newton Construction Services, LLC. “There are many who look at the construction industry as inherently untrustworthy,” Newton says. “I encourage clients to start with a small project. Get a feel for the integrity and moral compass of my business. After that, you’ll trust us with a larger project and even pass along our name to others.”
The general construction company, headquartered in Cornelius, North Carolina, takes pride in building long-term partnerships with clients. “We put our clients first and stand by our work. At the end of a project, we want clients to feel they made a good decision and use us for future projects,” he says.
Newton recently had a repeat client refuse to do business with anyone but Newton Construction Services. “During negotiations, the landlord initially wanted control over the selection of the general contractor,” he says. “Our client told us to ‘build him a great space.’ His confidence in our design and construction talents, as well as our budget consciousness, speaks volumes of the trust we’ve earned.”
Attention to Schedule
Since opening its doors in 2011, Newton Construction Services has been trusted with high-profile projects, including those at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNC Charlotte) and the Charlotte Convention Center. For UNC Charlotte, the company constructed a 6,500-square-foot indoor baseball training facility. In a $1 million project for the Charlotte Convention Center, Newton Construction Services renovated high-end offices and public restrooms.
The company was under a tight deadline at the convention center, with construction needing to be complete between Thanksgiving and New Year’s—in time for a January competition that attracts 15,000 cheerleaders from across the United States. “I have a background in schedule control and knew we’d knock this project out of the park,” Newton says. Calling on trusted subcontractors, the company managed the project closely each day, including weekends. “We had a full understanding of the complexity of a project like this and did a fantastic job, impressing the client. The project gave us stronger credibility and helped to build our reputation in the area.”
Focus on Work-Life Balance
With a college background in architecture and engineering, Newton brings to the table more than 40 years in the construction industry. Before forming Newton Construction Services in 2011, Newton was a senior manager for a large construction company, serving as a senior staff member on $300 million projects across Buffalo and Syracuse, New York. “I helped build great things across the Eastern Seaboard, but the hours were long and I spent a lot of time on the road,” he says. “When I relocated to North Carolina, I decided I wanted to craft a company that takes all the best of what I learned in three decades but focuses on creating a healthy work-life balance.”
Seeking that balance during a break from one of his early projects in the quaint downtown of Davidson, North Carolina, Newton spied a For Lease sign while enjoying a chocolate milkshake in a 1950s vintage soda shop. “Downtown Davidson is a beautiful, pedestrian-friendly, historic area of town. It is quintessential Americana,” he says. “At the time, I was renovating a local restaurant next door and was lucky enough to see the owner put that chalkboard sign out front. That space right above the soda shop became my first office.”
Newton’s love for the historic area led to new opportunities. “As the company grew, we relocated to Cornelius, however, I still came back to Davidson,” he says. “One day, I reached out to the owner of an historic building to let him know that I saw some excessive cracking on the brick façade. Shortly after, I received a call asking if I could head up the restoration project.” Working with an historic mason and a structural engineer, Newton Construction Services restored the two-story brick façade and replaced the foundation of the building, which was constructed in 1904. “Because this building is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, the restoration had to be perfect. We worked through the Christmas season, when the area was very busy with shoppers, and had to thread the needle and work cooperatively with many organizations to make sure the project was done on time, safely and in line with historic preservation requirements,” Newton says.
The client was so impressed with the outcome of the complicated and politically charged restoration project that he wrote of the company, “Paul Newton and his team were our heroes throughout this process.”
“The project was a labor of love, and one I’m very proud of,” Newton says.
Empowering Employees
Newton Construction Services has rapidly grown, experiencing 300 percent growth from 2017 to 2018. Its seven employees have all been carefully selected, according to Newton. “When hiring our chief financial officer, I went through more than 200 resumes. I’m not as worried about a person’s past experience. I can teach them the technical details of the job. Instead, I’m focused on finding the right person who fits with our company culture,” he says.
“What makes this company special is how Paul empowers his employees,” says Phillip Geiger, director of business development. “Those who are out in the field are trusted to make decisions and solve problems,” he says. “When employees are empowered to be decision makers, they have better job satisfaction and take an interest in the company’s success.”
Employees are also empowered to weigh in on whether a project is a good fit for the company. “When we have that first meet-and-greet with a potential client—before we ever talk about details and dollars—we take the time to learn about each other to see if a project is a good fit for both parties,” Newton says.
“We look for clients who have a passion for the project and clear expectations. If we have a similar vision, then we’re confident we’ll have a very successful partnership,” Geiger adds. Communication is key throughout the process, according to Newton. “Nine out of 10 times when there is a problem, there’s been a breakdown in communication. Good communication is absolutely everything in this business.”
That goes for the office, as well. “If an employee is starting to work long hours on a project, I want to know so we can get that person extra help,” Newton says. “We don’t accept projects that are more than one hour from the office, so employees don’t spend as much time on the road. I know it’s unusual in this industry, but I am very serious about keeping that work-life balance.
“At Newton Construction Services, family comes first,” Newton continues. “Your inbox will always be full. I want my employees to go to their child’s school presentation or have the time to volunteer in the community. It’s what makes this company special.”
![Susan Diemont-Conwell](storyassets/contributors/SusanDiemont-Conwell.jpg)