Kelly Brothers

What Kelly Brothers does

Kelly Brothers, Inc. (KBI) is a Fort Myers, Florida-based commercial marine construction company founded in 1980 by Danny Kelly and his brother Tim. The firm is now in its second generation of family ownership, led by Dane Kelly (President and Licensed General Contractor) and Travis Kelly (Vice President and General Superintendent). KBI delivers a comprehensive suite of twelve in-water construction service lines including artificial reef deployment, bridges, boardwalks and piers, boat ramps, fixed and floating docks, mechanical dredging, full marina construction, vessel salvage, seawalls and bulkheads, shoreline stabilization, and specialized services such as commercial diving and subaqueous cable/pipe crossings. The firm operates from its headquarters on Pine Ridge Road in Fort Myers and an industrial waterfront yard on Fort Myers Beach that supports barge and yard rental operations in addition to project staging.

The company's underlying technology base is specialized marine construction equipment — barges, cranes, heavy marine vessels, and commercial diving capability — combined with proprietary know-how in value engineering, hurricane response, and environmentally sensitive in-water construction techniques. KBI is a Licensed General Contractor (CGC1519780) with FDOT prequalification, and it maintains a deeply experienced workforce where management and site superintendents collectively hold over 200 years of industry experience. The firm has executed landmark projects including the Naples Pier restoration, the Sanibel Causeway fender system, the Wharf at Mallory Square in Key West, and the Chokoloskee Island bridge replacement.

Kelly Brothers generates revenue primarily through fixed-price project contracts won via competitive bidding as either prime contractor or subcontractor. Customers are predominantly Florida public-sector entities (FDOT, Lee County, Collier County, Charlotte County, City of Naples, City of Key West) with secondary private-sector exposure to marina and yacht club operators (Marina Jack Sarasota, Diversified Yacht). Project sizes range from under $500,000 to over $11 million. Ancillary revenue is earned from barge and yard usage fees at the Fort Myers Beach waterfront property. The go-to-market motion is enterprise field sales through direct bidding, repeat-client relationships, and engineering-firm referral channels rather than digital marketing or product distribution.

Name

Kelly Brothers

Legal name

Kelly Brothers, Inc.

Website

https://kellybros.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Kelly Brothers is a Fort Myers, Florida-based commercial marine construction firm, family-owned since 1980, delivering bridges, marinas, dredging, seawalls, piers, and shoreline stabilization to Florida government agencies and private marina operators under fixed-price project contracts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Marine Construction Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Water Transportation (4883)

SIC

Construction - Special Trade Contractors (1700)

akta.pro primary industry

Port & Harbor Construction (Quays, Wharves, Berths) (IMAFAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Port Rehabilitation, Maintenance & Asset Renewal (Repairs, Strengthening) (IMAFAJAL), Subsea & Nearshore Civil Works (Trenching, Rock Placement, Mattressing) (IMAFAJAI)

Keywords

• Marine construction services
• Bridge construction
• Marina development
• Waterway dredging
• Shoreline stabilization

Headquarters

HQ city

Fort Myers

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Marine Construction Services: Project-based commercial marine construction services including artificial reefs, boardwalks/piers, boat ramps, bridges, docks, dredging, marinas, salvage, seawalls/bulkheads, and shoreline stabilization. Revenue is earned through fixed-price contracts (prime or subcontractor) on public and private projects. Additional revenue streams include barge and yard usage fees at their waterfront property, and commercial diving services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Kelly Brothers, Inc. is a commercial marine construction firm that delivers fixed-price project-based construction services for waterfront and marine infrastructure. The company provides twelve integrated service lines — artificial reefs, barge usage, boardwalks/piers, boat ramps, bridges, fixed and floating docks, mechanical dredging, marinas, vessel salvage, seawalls/bulkheads, shoreline stabilization, and additional specialized services (commercial diving, underwater inspections, subaqueous crossings). Revenue is earned through competitive bidding as prime contractor or subcontractor on public-sector contracts (FDOT, county, municipal) and private commercial projects across Florida.

Product overview

Kelly Brothers, Inc. (KBI) is a commercial marine construction company offering a comprehensive suite of construction services for waterfront and marine infrastructure projects. The company operates as a single unified service offering centered around 12 core service lines: Artificial Reefs, Barge Usage/Work, Boardwalks/Piers, Boat Ramps, Bridges, Docks (Fixed/Floating), Dredging, Marinas, Salvage, Seawalls/Bulkheads, Shoreline Stabilization, and Additional Services (including commercial diving and subaqueous crossings). These services are delivered through an integrated approach where projects often combine multiple service capabilities, such as marina projects that include docks, dredging, and seawall work together. The company serves both public sector clients (cities, counties, FDOT) and private/commercial customers throughout Southwest Florida and the broader state.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Artificial Reefs

Quantifiable outcome

• Multi-million dollar projects completed on time and under budget (e.g., City Dock Naples)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Turrell, Hall & AssociatescoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 February 2018Repeatedly engaged engineering firm for multiple Naples projects including City Dock reconstruction. Appears as engineer of record on multiple high-profile projects.
• Dewberry Bowyer SingletonminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 July 2017Engineering firm for Arcadia Bridge FDOT project.
• Conalvias USA, LLCminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 July 2017Prime contractor for Arcadia Bridge FDOT project with KBI as subcontractor for pile installation.
• Coastal Engineering Consultants, Inc.coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 December 2016Engineering partner on multiple Lee County projects including Punta Rassa Boat Ramp and Pine Island Marina. Recurring project engineering relationship.
• Johnson EngineeringminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 August 2014Engineering firm for Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) boardwalk project.
• Wright ConstructionminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 August 2014Prime contractor for FGCU boardwalk project with Kelly Brothers as subcontractor.
• Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc.minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2014Engineering partner for Nathan Benderson Park pedestrian bridges project in Sarasota County.
• Lee County Department of Natural ResourcesminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 July 2012Government owner for Mohawk artificial reef veterans memorial project.
• Boh Brothers Construction Co., LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2008Kelly Brothers worked as subcontractor to Boh Brothers Construction on the Sanibel Causeway fender system and bulkhead installation project. Project initial scope exceeded $4,000,000, expanding to over $11,000,000 due to KBI's demonstrated quality and efficiency.
• Jacobs Construction ServicesminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnered on Sanibel Causeway bridge project as part of the project team.
• Hans Wilson & AssociatesminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEngineering consultant for Diversified Yacht marina renovation project.
• Bellingham MarinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesign-build contractor partner on marina projects including Marathon Marina renovation. Bellingham Marine is a leading marina dock manufacturer. KBI has worked on multiple projects as their marine construction partner.
• Brooks & Freund, LLCminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConstruction partner for Diversified Yacht project.
• Reefmakers, LLCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for USS Mohawk Veterans' Memorial Reef deployment off Sanibel Island. KBI provided moorage and deployment assistance for the 165' WWII ship.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Orion Marine Group (Orion Group Holdings): National heavy marine contractor providing marine construction, dredging, and specialty services to government and private clients. Significantly larger than Kelly Brothers and the dominant publicly-traded marine construction platform, but directly comparable in service scope (bridges, piers, dredging, shoreline).
• Manson Construction Co. Established heavy marine and dredging contractor with national footprint doing bridges, piers, bulkheads, dredging, and shoreline stabilization for federal, state, and private clients. Overlaps with Kelly Brothers across the majority of its service lines but at a much larger scale.
• Kokosing Industrial (Kokosing Construction): Midwest-headquartered heavy civil and marine contractor with a marine division executing bridges, piers, dams, and waterway infrastructure. Comparable marine service lines but part of a much larger diversified construction platform.
• Vecellio Group (Ranger Construction / Vecellio & Grogan): Florida-headquartered heavy civil and marine contractor with bridge, marine, and pile driving capabilities serving FDOT and Florida public sector. Larger and more diversified than Kelly Brothers, but competes directly on FDOT bridge and marine work in the state.

Direct peers

• R.E. Staite Engineering: Family-owned San Diego-based marine construction firm performing dredging, pier and wharf construction, pile driving, salvage, and marina work for ports, Navy, municipalities, and private waterfront clients. Closely comparable in business model, service mix, and mid-size family-operated profile.
• Poseidon Dredge & Marine (Brundage-Bone): Specialty marine and dredging contractor performing mechanical and hydraulic dredging, shoreline restoration, and marine infrastructure for public and private clients. Strongly comparable to Kelly Brothers' dredging and shoreline stabilization services.
• Bellingham Marine: Leading global marina design-build firm and floating dock manufacturer with a U.S. marina construction arm. Already a partner of Kelly Brothers on marina projects, and directly comparable on marina construction delivery and design-build model.
• Shoreline Foundation Inc. Southeast U.S. marine contractor specializing in bulkheads, seawalls, pile driving, and shoreline stabilization for residential and commercial clients. Comparable in service mix (seawalls, docks, shoreline) and mid-size contractor profile.

Regional players

• Hal Jones Contractor: Florida-based heavy marine contractor specializing in bridges, piers, bulkheads, and marine infrastructure for FDOT, port authorities, and municipalities. Most direct regional competitor to Kelly Brothers within Florida's marine construction market.
• Atlantic & Gulf Marine, Inc. Florida-based marine construction firm providing dock and seawall construction, boat lifts, dredging, and shoreline services. Direct regional competitor for Kelly Brothers' private marina, residential dock, and seawall work in Florida.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kelley-brothers-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Kelly Brothers