Willis A. Smith Construction, Inc.
Willis A. Smith Construction, Inc. is a privately held Sarasota, Florida-based construction management and general contracting firm, founded in 1972, delivering commercial, institutional, municipal, healthcare, and sustainable building projects across Southwest Florida's Sarasota and Manatee counties.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1972
- HeadquartersSarasota, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Willis A. Smith Construction, Inc. does
Willis A. Smith Construction, Inc. is a privately held commercial construction management and general contracting firm headquartered at 5001 Lakewood Ranch Blvd N, Suite 100, in the Lakewood Ranch area of Sarasota, Florida, with operations concentrated in Sarasota and Manatee counties in Southwest Florida. Founded in 1972, the firm provides construction management, preconstruction consulting, design-build delivery, and LEED-certified sustainable building services, serving education, municipal/government, healthcare, cultural/community, hospitality, industrial, commercial/mixed-use, and custom residential clients. Project scale ranges from custom homes to large public-sector builds such as the $200 million Wellen Park High School for Sarasota County Schools and the $132 million Mote Marine Science & Education Aquarium (SEA) joint venture with Whiting-Turner Contracting Company.
The firm operates a vertical-segmented, relationship-driven go-to-market motion, targeting public procurement processes (competitive bidding for government, county, and school district work) and negotiated contracts for private institutional clients. Its marketing presence is regional and reputation-led, combining earned media coverage in outlets such as SRQ Magazine, Business Observer, and the Herald Tribune with active organic social channels (LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook) and community involvement through local chambers and the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance. Project delivery is supported by a deep local subcontractor network, a recurring ecosystem of regional architecture firms (Zyscovich, TVS Design, SweetSparkman, Fawley Bryant), and preferred-supplier relationships with specialty vendors such as Butler Manufacturing Company for pre-engineered metal building systems.
Revenue is generated through project-based construction management fees and general contracting mark-ups on individual construction projects, with the firm reportedly growing from approximately $10 million annually to approximately $143 million annually as of 2024, an expansion that coincides with its relocation from Sarasota to Lakewood Ranch. The firm is closely held with no external private equity or venture capital ownership disclosed, and is led by Chairman David Sessions and President & CEO John LaCivita, with VP/Project Executive David Otterness serving as a senior operator and 2024 board chair of the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance.
Willis A. Smith Construction, Inc. firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Willis A. Smith Construction, Inc.
- Legal name
- Willis A. Smith Construction, Inc.
- Website
- https://willissmith.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1972
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Willis A. Smith Construction, Inc. is a privately held Sarasota, Florida-based construction management and general contracting firm, founded in 1972, delivering commercial, institutional, municipal, healthcare, and sustainable building projects across Southwest Florida's Sarasota and Manatee counties.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Willis A. Smith Construction, Inc. industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Commercial Construction Services
- NAICS
- Commercial and Institutional Building Construction (23622), Nonresidential Building Construction (2362)
- SIC
- General Bldg Contractors - Nonresidential Bldgs (1540)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Retail & Mixed-Use Commercial Construction (IMAFACAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Office & Corporate Building Construction (IMAFACAA), Healthcare Facility Construction (Hospitals, Clinics, Labs) (IMAFACAD), Justice & Corrections Facility Construction (IMAFACAG)
Keywords
Where Willis A. Smith Construction, Inc. is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sarasota
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Willis A. Smith Construction, Inc. business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Construction Management Services: The company generates revenue through construction management fees, general contracting services, and design-build project delivery for commercial, institutional, and municipal clients. Projects are typically one-time engagements with budgets ranging from thousands to hundreds of millions of dollars.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
Willis A. Smith Construction, Inc. product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Willis A. Smith Construction provides commercial construction management, preconstruction planning, design-build, and general contracting services for institutional, municipal, healthcare, educational, cultural, and commercial clients in Southwest Florida. The firm delivers end-to-end project execution with specialized expertise in LEED-certified sustainable building, historic restoration, and phased construction in occupied facilities. Projects range from multi-million-dollar municipal facilities to $200 million educational campuses, primarily in Sarasota and Manatee counties.
Product overview
Willis A. Smith Construction, Inc. is a privately held construction management firm based in Sarasota, Florida, providing comprehensive construction services since 1972. The company operates as a single, unified construction management service offering rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. Core services include Construction Management, Preconstruction Services, and Design/Build Services, with specialized expertise in sustainable/green building (LEED-certified projects). The company serves diverse market sectors including Education, Healthcare, Municipal/Government, Cultural/Community, Hospitality, Industrial, Commercial/Mixed-Use, Custom Homes, and Special Projects throughout Sarasota and Manatee counties in Southwest Florida.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Construction Management Services
- Preconstruction Services
- Design/Build Services
- Sustainable/Green Building Services
Quantifiable outcome
- Multiple testimonials confirm projects delivered on time and within budget
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Willis A. Smith Construction, Inc.
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Willis A. Smith Construction, Inc. technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Willis A. Smith Construction, Inc. partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered major/joint venture, project-specific and preferred supplier.
- Whiting-Turner Contracting Companymajor/joint venturePartnership with Whiting-Turner Contracting Company for the Mote Marine Laboratory Science & Education Aquarium (SEA) project. This is a joint venture arrangement for a major $132 million aquarium construction project at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota, FL.
- Zyscovich Architectsproject-specificArchitecture firm designing the Wellen Park High School project. Zyscovich is the design architect for this 300,000+ square foot high school project.
- TVS Designproject-specificArchitecture firm for the Mote Marine Science Education Aquarium project in partnership with builders Willis Smith Construction and Whiting-Turner.
- Butler Manufacturing Companypreferred supplierPreferred building system partner for pre-engineered metal buildings. Used for multiple projects including warehouses, churches, and commercial facilities. Includes MR-24 standing seam roof systems and various Butler building solutions.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Willis A. Smith Construction, Inc. competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Brasfield & Gorrie: Top-30 U.S. general contractor with significant Florida presence in commercial, healthcare, education, and public sector projects. Comparable in delivery model and project types, though larger in scale and geographic reach.
- Whiting-Turner Contracting Company: National ENR Top 20 general contractor with broad commercial, institutional, and healthcare portfolio. Joint venture partner with Willis Smith on the $132M Mote Marine SEA project, making it the most directly comparable in terms of delivery model, customer base, and mega-project capability.
- The Haskell Company: Jacksonville, FL-based design-build firm with strong commercial, healthcare, and cultural/institutional portfolio. Comparable in Florida presence, integrated design-build delivery, and emphasis on large institutional projects.
Direct peers
- Robins & Morton: Top-ranked healthcare and commercial general contractor with significant Florida operations. Closely comparable in healthcare (hospitals, medical office) and institutional delivery, with overlapping LEED/sustainability expertise.
- Welbro Building Corporation: Florida-based commercial general contractor with expertise in education, healthcare, hospitality, and cultural projects. Direct competitor in the Florida institutional and commercial construction market with similar mid-size regional profile.
- Hoar Construction: Mid-size commercial construction firm specializing in healthcare, higher education, and civic projects. Comparable in size, project types, and relationship-driven institutional business model.
- Charles Perry Partners, Inc. (CPPI): Gainesville, FL-based construction management firm serving education, healthcare, and commercial clients. Comparable in customer mix (universities, schools, healthcare) and CM-at-risk delivery model across Florida.
- AJAX Building Company: Florida-based general contractor serving education, healthcare, commercial, and government clients across the state. Comparable in customer segments (K-12, higher education, public sector) and project delivery model (CM-at-risk, design-build).
- Moss & Associates: Fort Lauderdale-based commercial construction management firm specializing in commercial, hospitality, education, and cultural projects across Florida. Most directly comparable Florida-headquartered competitor with similar vertical mix and project scale.
- Kast Construction: Florida-headquartered construction management firm with strong presence in commercial, hospitality, healthcare, and cultural sectors. Similar scale, Florida geographic focus, and preconstruction/design-build delivery approach.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Willis A. Smith Construction, Inc. social profiles
Digital presenceWillis A. Smith Construction, Inc. compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance12 records
Willis A. Smith Construction, Inc. financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Willis A. Smith Construction, Inc. leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Willis A. Smith Construction, Inc. funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Willis A. Smith Construction, Inc. M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Willis A. Smith Construction, Inc.
What does Willis A. Smith Construction, Inc. do?
Willis A. Smith Construction provides commercial construction management, preconstruction planning, design-build, and general contracting services for institutional, municipal, healthcare, educational, cultural, and commercial clients in Southwest Florida. The firm delivers end-to-end project execution with specialized expertise in LEED-certified sustainable building, historic restoration, and phased construction in occupied facilities. Projects range from multi-million-dollar municipal facilities to $200 million educational campuses, primarily in Sarasota and Manatee counties.
Is Willis A. Smith Construction, Inc. a public or private company?
Willis A. Smith Construction, Inc. is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Willis A. Smith Construction, Inc. founded?
Willis A. Smith Construction, Inc. was founded in 1972. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Willis A. Smith Construction, Inc. based?
Willis A. Smith Construction, Inc. is headquartered in Sarasota, United States, in the North America region.
How does Willis A. Smith Construction, Inc. make money?
One revenue line is on record: construction Management Services.
Who are Willis A. Smith Construction, Inc.'s main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Brasfield & Gorrie, Whiting-Turner Contracting Company and The Haskell Company. Direct peers are Robins & Morton, Welbro Building Corporation, Hoar Construction, Charles Perry Partners, Inc. (CPPI), AJAX Building Company, Moss & Associates and Kast Construction.
Does Willis A. Smith Construction, Inc. have an API?
No public API is recorded for Willis A. Smith Construction, Inc..
What industry is Willis A. Smith Construction, Inc. in?
Willis A. Smith Construction, Inc.'s product category is Commercial Construction Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAFACAB, Retail & Mixed-Use Commercial Construction, with a secondary code of IMAFACAA, Office & Corporate Building Construction. Its NAICS code is 23622 and its SIC code is 1540.