Chandlee & Sons Construction

James “Jim” Wood Chandlee has been a developer and contractor for most of his adult life. He was born and raised in Greenville, South Carolina where his father, J.R. Chandlee, Jr., was Vice President of Ballenger Paving Company. As a very successful concrete paving company Ballenger paved much of the Interstate Highway system in the southeastern United States. Under the supervision of his father, Jim began developing his talents and it was not long before he was out on his own expanding his experience with each new job. 

Throughout his career, Jim developed and built numerous subdivisions, condominiums, convenience stores and gas stations for RaceTrack and RaceWay in the southeast. He is thoroughly experienced in every phase of real estate and land development, project management and negotiations. Jim is a seasoned general contractor grounded in demolition, ground-up, retail, commercial and industrial construction.

Some of Jim’s northeast Georgia projects include the Highlands and Shenandoah condominiums in Athens; Joshua’s Landing passive solar condominiums in Woodstock; the Springfield, Planter’s Ridge and Broadwell Trace subdivisions in Alpharetta, gas stations and innumerable custom projects.

Late in 2005, his son, Seth, convinced him to combine their varied experience to form Chandlee Construction Company. The first large project they undertook together was the Bethany Bend Village Office Park on Highway 9 in north Alpharetta. This was followed by tenant

finish projects for Alpha Spine Center, SIMOS Insourcing and Crabapple Financial.in John Weil and’s Braeburn Village; the Alpharetta Convention and Visitor’s Bureau; and a variety of offices and retail businesses in the Alpharetta area.

Jim and Seth also worked together on several television shows filmed in the Atlanta area. One was for the A&E network with designer Daniel Kucan, construction expert Charlie Frattini, and host Tanya Memme on two episodes of Sell This House:Extreme, and later for Spike TV’s Bar Rescue with Jon Taffer These productions fined tuned their fast-track building experience.

Jim and Seth worked together on the Evolation Yoga demo and design-build project in Midtown and the Big Sky Buckhead bar demo and ground-up project. Then Jim undertook the Silver Dollar Pawn and eight white box suites at Town Brookhaven.

As Seth continues to grow the company, Jim applies his expertise in contract negotiation on every project while providing professional site management on many local projects. Jim is an invaluable member of the growing team at Chandlee Construction. He shares the goal of growing the company successfully through a concentrated effort on expediting projects efficiently and giving every client the best service in the industry.

Seth Wallace Chandlee was born into a family of commercial contactors. His paternal grandfather, James Rush Chandlee, received the contract from President Eisenhower to pave Interstate 85 through his company, Ballenger. His uncle founded the Turner Construction Company in New York that built Madison Square Gardens, assisted with the construction of the subway system along with many other large projects. Seth’s Dad, James Wood ‘Jim’ Chandlee, worked his early years for Ballenger, founded Sun Earth Energy Concepts and joined Seth in forming Chandlee Construction Company.

Seth formed his first company, Chandlee Flooring, to work for Reynold’s Plantation at Lake Oconee and other local companies. He expanded the company through a partnership with Gary Bryant, then President of Johnson & Johnson, to become Chandlee & Bryant, broadening the knowledge, products and scope of their projects.

Upon moving to the Atlanta area, Seth attended DeVry University to study project management while establishing his reputation in the construction markets. While at DeVry he learned of a DOW Chemicals’ product that mechanically kills microbs, viruses and bacteria. To market the new technology he formed Bioprogressive, Inc. selling his services to residential and commercial markets – he even assisted in disaster relief after Hurricane Katrina hit.

In 2005 Seth set aside product technology to pursue his passion for property development and commercial construction convincing his father to join him as co-founder and co-owner of Chandlee Construction Company. Their first projects included Bethany Bend Village Office Park, three projects in John Weiland’s Braeburn Village, the Alpharetta Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, and a variety of offices and retail businesses in the Alpharetta area.

While enjoying another shared passion with his father (buying and selling antiques) Seth made cameo appearances on the Discovery Channel’s Auction Kings. This exposure caught the eye of the producers of A&E’s Drill Team whose host and designer, Lauren Makk, hired Chandlee Construction for a kitchen remodel. This led to working with construction expert

Charlie Frattini, designer Daniel Kucan, and host Tanya Memme on two episodes of A&E’s Sell This House: Extreme and a fast-track construction project on Spike TV’s Bar Rescue with Jon Taffer.

Seth and the Chandlee Construction team applied fast-track methods during the ground-up construction of the Big Sky Buckhead Bar and Restaurant. This was followed by the complete transformation of an old mill in Atlanta’s Fourth Ward district into the Ladybird Grove and Mess Hall restaurant. Each of these projects made top Eater.com lists.

Chandlee Construction continues to grow with an impressive variety of projects like the over-the-top Alter Ego Salon; an assortment of retail stores; restaurants like Chad Thai Urban Asian Kitchen, Basil’s, Urban Cookhouse, Uncle Jack’s Meat House, and Burger FI; along with multiple corporate contracts for several Tuesday Morning stores and Enterprise Rental locations.

Seth expanded Chandlee Construction to include concept and design services through partnerships with architects, engineers and designers. He is proficient in applying his knowledge of technological advancements, green construction, fast-track construction, value engineering, and lease negotiations.

In 2016, Seth further expanded the Chandlee brand by forming Chandlee Holding, LLC as a parent company and he assumed the position as Chief Executive Officer. He also formed an electric services company, Chandlee Electric, to sub for Chandlee projects and service other commercial contractors as well. Seth also formed Chandlee Rental as an investment to lease both small and large construction equipment for projects by Chandlee Construction and Chandlee Electric. The expansion of the Chandlee brand has brought on board new personnel to develop the different companies. Chandlee Construction continues to be a fast-growing commercial general contracting and design/build firm that serves the Atlanta metro area. In the one year Chandlee Electric has been in operation the company has added personnel and their projects have grown in number and size.

Seth’s goals for Chandlee Holdings in 2019 include establishing a staff incentive program that ties all employees directly to the success of the company. He created an incentive training program at Chandlee Electric for interested employees last year. The charitable giving budget has been doubled for the new year. In 2017, Chandlee Holdings place #561 on INC’s 5000 list. The goal for 2019 is to get off the 5000 list and make it onto the 500 list, hoping for a ranking of 485 or less!

Chandlee Construction introduces Carey Hughes who is our Project Manager and expert builder. Carey’s experience in custom build-out and ground-up construction, his skills with electrical and plumbing work, and his expertise in framing and tile installation add greatly to the quality of work our company offers.

Carey was born in Columbus and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. He began his career in construction after attending DeKalb Junior College. Carey took his first management position in 1982 as an Assistant Supervisor with Post Properties – a multi-family development company. During his ten years with Post he managed the construction of 18,000 units in nineteen different developments.

In 1992 Carey started his own company, LDK Enterprises, to build single family homes and remodel and build-out custom-designed basements in the Atlanta metro area. Carey was part of the team that developed the Silver Oaks neighborhood in Acworth in 2006. He was responsible for the trim and tile work, built-in components and fireplace construction for each new home whose prices ranged from $800,000 to $1.5 million.

Seth Chandlee and Jim Chandlee met Carey on the Big Sky Buckhead project. Carey was the subcontractor hired for the extensive specialty millwork that was an important part of the restaurant’s rustic design. This project was the beginning of their professional relationship and opened the door to a great opportunity for Carey. The Chandlee team says, “We are so glad you’re on board!”

For the past twenty-five years Carey has lived in Lilburn with his wife, Linda, and several beloved pets. Carey and Linda have two children, Daniel and Katie, and two grandchildren, Eva and James. When it is time to relax Carey spends time with his family at their property on Lake Hartwell in northeast Georgia.

Chuck Fatheree was born and grew up in Pensacola, Florida. Living in a coastal town he enjoyed sailing, water skiing and participating in most water sports.

In 1969 he joined the U.S. Army. Chuck successfully completed helicopter flight training and was commissioned a Warrant Officer. He also served in Vietnam as a combat helicopter pilot. After being discharged from the Army he returned to college and received a BA Degree in accounting.

Chuck moved to Atlanta in 1973 where he joined Price Waterhouse as a CPA. He specialized in the real estate and construction industries. After leaving Price Waterhouse he spent several years in the consulting and accounting field with emphasis in the oil and gas, real estate syndications and construction markets.

By the year 2000 Chuck had formed a residential remodeling company in the Alpharetta area. Being in the construction business he crossed paths with Jim Chandlee early on and has known him for over fifteen years. Jim invited Chuck to join the firm. With his extensive background in finance, his well honed knowledge of real estate and his experience in construction Chuck is a tremendous contributor to Chandlee Construction Company.

Chuck lives in Alpharetta – he is single and a father to one daughter who lives with him while she completes the Physicians Assistant’s program at Mercer University. In his spare time he enjoys woodworking, gardening and photography.

Everyone with the Chandlee companies say, “Welcome aboard, Chuck!”

Chandlee and Sons Construction Company welcomes Ken Rybnikar to our team as a Senior Project Manager. He brings to the table thirty plus years of commercial construction experience as a Georgia d Commercial General Contractor.

Ken was born and raised in vale, New Jersey, a suburb of New York City. He showed an entrepreneurial inclination from an early age beginning a full commercial landscaping while in high school that he operated for seven years. Ken provided lawn maintenance s and heavy landscape construction while utilizing his expertise in new design.

This was the foundation of his experience in operating heavy equipment – through the years he has gained extensive experience operating excavators, backhoes, loaders and dump trucks. Ken also maintains his CDL Class A driver’s . Simon & Schuster, S.C. Johnson Wax and Esselte Pendaflex are just a sampling of his corporate accounts during this time.

For the next eight years Ken worked as the Operations Manager for one of the largest asbestos abatement firms in the New York City area. He supervised a crew that averaged 40 members while directing the work of the general contractors and sub-contractors including carpenters, electricians, plumbers and HVAC workmen

Mike is the only child of R. Pete McCall, a champion trap shooter, and Patricia Davis, a retired Federal warden. His parents divorced when he was only five years old. Living with his mother afforded him the opportunity to grow up all over the country, but did not allow him to put down roots anywhere. That is until his junior year of high school.

It was at this time he and his mom moved to Georgia. This is where he met his wife. They have two sons, Garen and Joshua. Unfortunately, Michael and she divorced after thirteen years. Mike is now the proud ‘Pop Pop’ to five grandchildren that keep life interesting, to say the least.

Mike’s first grownup job was working in the maintenance department for the Clayton County Board of Education at the age of nineteen. Seven years later he changed jobs to sell manufactured homes along with doing electrical work, and constructing porches and decks. Mike expanded his work into renovation, remodel and new home construction. He also learned wood working along the way.

For a while he even held various positions in the private sector, but soon returned to his passion of renovating houses built in the 1920’s around the Atlanta area.

Mike met Seth Chandlee through a local celebrity who is friends with them both. This friend introduced Mike to Seth who tried a few times to get Mike to come to work for him. And with each invitation Mike had too many commitments to fulfill. Finally, a few months back, Seth called again, and it was at a perfect time. Mike says it has been rewarding to take on a ‘big boy’ job and be responsible to so many team members and clients. He finds it amazing to be a part of such a large ‘extended family’ while gaining knowledge and experience working with them. Everyone at the Chandlee companies appreciates Mike’s humility and enthusiasm.