Edison Foard

What Edison Foard does

Edison Foard Construction Company is a third-generation, family-owned diversified general contractor and construction manager headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. Founded in 1939 by Edison Glenn Foard (with roots traceable to J.D. Foard's construction work in the late 1800s) and currently led by grandson Edison Cassels as President & CEO since 2009, the firm has operated continuously for 87+ years and is now in its third generation of family leadership. It delivers projects across the Carolinas and broader Southeast United States through a portfolio of delivery methods including preconstruction services, construction management, construction management at risk (CMAR), design-build, and design-bid-build, applied across transportation/aviation, education, government, municipal, healthcare, community/recreation, warehouse/industrial, and restaurant/retail market sectors.

The company's offering is service- and relationship-based rather than technology-based: it provides cost estimating, scheduling, project oversight, and trade-partner coordination, leaning on a lean internal team of 11-50 employees and an external network of subcontractors and joint-venture partners to execute work. Differentiators documented in the record include 30+ year continuous engagement with Charlotte Douglas International Airport, participation in marquee regional projects (the ~$500M CLT Terminal Lobby Expansion as JV partner, the $126.9M Charlotte Convention Center expansion, and the $30.9M Hilton Head Island Airport Terminal Improvements), MWSBE participation goals exceeded on more than 90% of projects, and an unusually long-tenured workforce in a high-turnover industry.

Revenue is generated on a project-by-project basis through competitive public bidding (government/municipal/aviation) and direct negotiation (private commercial/institutional), with pricing quoted per project and no published pricing tiers. The business has no external investors, no parent company, no disclosed funding rounds, and no acquisitions — it is entirely founder-family-controlled with headquarters at 3900 Rose Lake Drive, Charlotte, NC. Marketing and pipeline development run through a Director of Business Development (David McConnell), a VP of Preconstruction (Mike Hill), and an EVP of Operations (Mark Kolb), supplemented by LinkedIn presence, website case studies, blog content, and earned media via Carolinas AGC, City of Charlotte, and Charlotte Business Journal recognition.

Name

Edison Foard

Legal name

Edison Foard Construction

Website

https://edisonfoard.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1939

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Edison Foard is a third-generation, family-owned Charlotte-based general contractor and construction manager delivering preconstruction, CM, CMAR, and design-build services across aviation, government, education, healthcare, and commercial sectors in the Carolinas and Southeast US.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Charlotte

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Construction Services: Edison Foard generates revenue through providing comprehensive construction services including preconstruction, construction management, construction management at risk (CMAR), design-build, and design-bid-build services across transportation/aviation, education, government, municipal, healthcare, office, warehouse/industrial and retail markets. Revenue is project-based, generated from contracts with government agencies, private companies, and institutional clients throughout the Southeast.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Edison Foard is a diversified general contractor and construction manager providing preconstruction, construction management, CMAR, design-build, and design-bid-build delivery across transportation/aviation, education, government, municipal, healthcare, industrial, and retail markets throughout the Southeast US.

Product overview

Edison Foard is a diversified general contractor and construction manager offering a unified portfolio of construction services. The core offerings include Preconstruction Services, Construction Management, Construction Management at Risk (CMAR), Design-Build, and Design-Bid-Build delivery methods. These services are applied across multiple market sectors including Transportation/Aviation, Education, Government, Municipal, Community/Recreation, Healthcare, Warehouse/Industrial, and Retail. The company serves clients throughout the Southeast region, providing comprehensive construction solutions from early planning through project completion.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Preconstruction Services Collaborative early-stage planning including detailed cost estimating, scheduling, and project planning to ensure smooth construction processes for project owners.
• Construction Management Full-service project oversight ensuring timely delivery, budget control, and maintenance of quality standards throughout construction.
• Construction Management at Risk (CMAR) Collaborative delivery method where Edison Foard acts as construction manager while assuming risk of delivering the project within a guaranteed maximum price (GMP).
• Design-Build Services Integrated design and construction services streamlining projects from concept to completion with efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
• Design-Bid-Build Services Traditional project delivery method with separate design and construction phases under coordinated management.
• Transportation and Aviation Construction Construction of aviation facilities and transportation infrastructure including airport terminals and transit stations vital to growth, safety, and connectivity of the Carolinas.
• Municipal Construction Government infrastructure projects prioritizing safety, compliance, and cost-effectiveness to serve communities.
• Warehouse and Industrial Construction Construction of logistics, manufacturing, and distribution facilities optimized for workflow, storage, and operational efficiency.
• Restaurant and Retail Construction Construction of retail spaces from standalone stores to large shopping centers, accounting for market trends, brand identity, and consumer experience.

Quantifiable outcome

• Exceeds MWSBE goals on more than 90% of projects
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Holder ConstructioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture partnership (Holder-Edison Foard-R.J. Leeper) for the $500 million Charlotte Douglas International Airport Terminal Lobby Expansion, the largest passenger-facing construction project in CLT history. Holder served as managing partner.
• The Wilson GroupmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership on the $30.9 million Hilton Head Island Airport Terminal Improvements Project. The Wilson Group worked alongside Edison Foard on this FAA and SC Aeronautics funded project.
• Wharton-Smith, IncminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMentioned as a trusted partner on the Northern Regional Recreation Center project. Wharton-Smith is a construction management firm.
• R.J. LeepercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the joint venture (Holder-Edison Foard-R.J. Leeper) for the Charlotte Douglas International Airport Terminal Lobby Expansion project.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Rodgers Builders: Charlotte, NC-based general contractor with comparable service offerings across healthcare, education, aviation, and commercial sectors in the Carolinas. Similar size and regional focus make Rodgers a directly comparable peer in Edison Foard's home market.
• Wharton-Smith, Inc. Florida-based general contractor and construction manager with comparable aviation, education, commercial, and recreation sector expertise. Mentioned as a trusted partner on Edison Foard's Northern Regional Recreation Center project.
• Brasfield & Gorrie: Birmingham-based general contractor operating across the Southeast with comparable aviation, healthcare, education, and commercial project portfolios. Similar relationship-driven regional model and multi-sector focus make them a directly comparable peer.
• Choate Construction Company: Atlanta-based Southeast regional general contractor with strong aviation, healthcare, education, and commercial portfolios. Comparable size, regional scope, and project delivery methods (CMAR, design-build) make Choate a directly comparable peer.
• R.J. Leeper Construction: Carolinas-based general contractor that partnered with Edison Foard on the $500M CLT Terminal Lobby Expansion joint venture. Operates in similar aviation, commercial, and institutional sectors in the Carolinas market.
• Holder Construction: Atlanta-based national general contractor and construction manager with deep aviation, commercial, and mission-critical expertise. Edison Foard partnered with Holder (as managing partner) on the $500M CLT Terminal Lobby Expansion, making them a directly comparable peer and direct collaborator.
• The Wilson Group: Construction management firm that partnered with Edison Foard on the $30.9M Hilton Head Island Airport Terminal Improvements project. Operates in similar FAA-funded aviation infrastructure and Carolinas public sector work.

Broad incumbents

• Gilbane Building Company: Large national construction management firm with deep public-sector, education, healthcare, and aviation expertise. Significantly larger scale and broader geographic reach make Gilbane a broad incumbent peer.
• Barton Malow: Michigan-based national general contractor with broad sector coverage including aviation, healthcare, education, and sports. Larger scale and broader geographic footprint make it a broad incumbent peer rather than a direct regional competitor.

Regional players

• Frank L. Blum Construction: Winston-Salem, NC-based general contractor with comparable Carolinas focus in commercial, education, healthcare, and industrial construction. Similar regional scope but different primary geography within the Carolinas.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/edison-foard-construction
• Xx.com/edisonfoard

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Edison Foard