Hood Construction, Inc.

Mark began his career as an Civil Engineering major at The Citadel, which broadened into over three decades tenure in the commercial construction industry. Founding his own company in 1986, his business philosophies are best displayed by his focus on strategic analysis of the methods and means of the construction and project management process. Mark exemplifies strong professional values, and places client satisfaction and employee safety at the top of every list. He has excelled in creating long-term relationships by consistently working to build winning teams, focused on optimized cost and total quality measures. Mark’s “can do” approach, coupled with high standards in quality and process integrity, serves to facilitate project objectives to the best possible result.

Mark has a heart for community service, currently serving in leadership roles for Camp Cole, Hammond School, Citizens For Sound Conservation, The Oliver Gospel Mission, The Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Shandon Baptist Church, and many others. An active member of the Carolinas AGC, Marked has previously served as Executive Board Chairman, Executive Board Treasurer, Mechanical Contractors Joint Cooperative Committee member, Director-at-Large Board Member, Chairman of the Building Services Division as well as serving as Chairman for the Carolinas AGC/AIA Joint Committee. Mark and his wife Susan  are long-time members of Shandon Baptist Church, where they attend with their two children and three grandchildren. He has served on a number of Shandon Baptist Church’s boards and committees.

Amanda came to Hood Construction as a graduate of the University of South Carolina with a BS in Civil Engineering and over two years of successful construction experience. She commands strengths in AutoCAD, as well as estimating and scheduling software. Her previous experience providing support to multiple project managers and superintendents has allowed her to develop solid field management knowledge. Amanda’s keen eye for detail, coupled with excellent communication skills, brings a fresh perspective to the Hood Project Management team. Amanda also leads Hood Construction’s in-house Quality Assurance program, Fresh Eyes.

In her free time, Amanda enjoys coaching girls volleyball and serving as an active member of her community. She currently serves on the Young Professional Auxiliary Board of Junior Achievement Columbia, as well as the board of the National Association of Women in Construction – Columbia Chapter.

A 2012 graduate of The Citadel with a BA in Political Science – National Defense Policy as well as a Juris Doctor in 2016 from the University of South Carolina School of Law, Austin has been with Hood Construction for over 15 years and now works with the team as an Assistant Project Manager. Having grown up in the commercial construction industry working with his father, Austin has a diverse project background with a wide variety of facilities. Most recently, he has worked on projects in the utility/electric, healthcare, and K-12 sectors. These range from complex renovations to multi-story new construction projects.

Outside of work, Austin coaches the Hammond School Wrestling Team, was named 2019 SCISA Wrestling Coach of the Year, and is an active member of the NWCA and the current Head of the SCISA Wrestling Coaches Association. Austin and his wife Nicki are active members of Shandon Baptist Church with their daughter.

Brandon joined Hood Construction in 2016 as a Project Coordinator, gaining valuable experience on a variety of projects. He then began to focus on the K-12 sector, and his expertise in this market has grown over the years. In-turn, Brandon has become an Assistant Project Manager, assigned to several of Hood’s K-12 projects. He understands the needs of school districts and the specialized needs of public school facilities. Brandon is an excellent communicator with an upbeat, can-do attitude.

When not at Hood, Brandon enjoys spending time with his wife and two children, and cheering on the Florida Gators. He also has a background in coaching and has spent several years involved with youth baseball.

Charles joined Hood Construction in the fall of 2012, after living and working in Greenville, SC for six years. He has built extremely successful relationships with owners, architects, subcontractors and vendors throughout the state, fostering strong collaborative efforts, while maintaining the utmost professional and ethical standards. With a diverse background of successful projects, Charles has a friendly, detailed and proficient leadership style, focused on delivering full client satisfaction. He is an excellent communicator, who takes pride in exceeding owner expectations through detailed logistics & safety, focused cost objectives, quality finishes, and on-time delivery. Charles brings a fresh team approach to project management, with a clear and accurate vision for owner expectations and needs.

Additionally, Charles is a highly active member of the community, having recently graduated Leadership Columbia, where he currently serves on the advisory board. He was also named one of Columbia’s “Best and Brightest 35 & Under” by Columbia Business Monthly in 2017, and currently serves as the President of the Columbia Contractor’s Association. He and his wife attend Shandon Presbyterian Church in Columbia.

Dean joined Hood Construction’s leadership team in early 2013, bringing with him 17 years of successful management tenure with previous industry providers. A 1996 graduate of Clemson University with a BS in Civil Engineering, he is a dynamic project leader who prides himself in true client satisfaction. He possesses outstanding skills in the areas of project programming, site analysis, pre-construction planning, design assist, cost control, scope detailing, efficiency analysis, team selection/coordination, scheduling, on-time delivery, and total quality assurance. Dean is currently the Carolinas AGC Building Division Chair and an active Board Member.

Dean has been responsible for over $300M in construction projects across the state of South Carolina, to include facilities for education, healthcare, high-tech/data storage, worship centers, commercial office, and other client arenas.

Janet joined Hood Construction in 1996, as a solid anchor for our firm. Serving as Director of Administration, she has become a familiar face that both clients and vendors have come to know and depend on. An integral member of the Hood management team, Janet oversees an array of duties within the organization. Holding a Bachelor Degree in Business Administration from Georgia Southern University, with a Major in Human Resources and a Minor in Finance, Janet came well-prepared to successfully navigate a full range of fast-paced and detailed responsibilities.

Professional associations Janet is active in include the Society of Human Resource Management and the Construction Financial Management Association. She is also a past member of the Carolinas AGC Human Resources Committee. She and her family are active members of Swansea First Baptist Church, where she has served as Chairperson of the Personnel Committee — as well as roles on the Finance, History and Church Youth Committees.

Jeremy brings over two decades successful tenure in our industry. His professional affiliations include memberships in the Association of Independent Contractors, Constructors’ Guild, and Historic Columbia Palladium Society. Jeremy has taken many years of professional development training in the areas of Safety, Cost Control & Productivity, and Supervisory Skills, and holds certification as a Professional Construction Supervisor, as well as Quality Control Certification through the Army Corp. of Engineers.

John earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of South Carolina. He has over 35 years experience in construction, with a strong background in business management, project supervision, engineering, and quality assurance. John previously owned and operated a construction services company where he managed metal roofing and sheet metal contracting for commercial and industrial projects. He is a member of the Professional Construction Estimators Association and a graduate of the AGC Project Manager’s School. John and his family are members of First Presbyterian Church.

Ken joined Hood Construction in the summer of 2016, bringing with him three decades of experience in the construction industry. Having served as project manager on over fifty K-12 projects throughout South Carolina, his experience with CM-R educational project delivery is among the top in the state. From new athletic complexes, to greenfield construction of several elementary, middle, high schools, and career centers, Ken has worked extensively throughout all phases of construction to ensure each project was a success. His specialized understanding of the needs of today’s school districts, paired with his years of industry experience, make him an outstanding project leader for institutional projects.

Throughout his career, Ken has been involved as an Associate Member of the South Carolina School Board Association When not cheering on their Clemson Tigers, they also enjoy spending time with their three daughters, six grandchildren, and their black lab, Abby.

Ladd joined Hood Construction in 2016, bringing with him over 17 years of professional experience in the construction industry. Having a father who owned a plumbing company, Ladd grew up in the business – learning first hand to appreciate the hard work and dedication necessary to succeed in our industry.

After completing his degree in Advertising from the University of South Carolina, Ladd spent his early years owning and running his own marketing agency – before finally following his passion for construction. He smoothly transitioned as a business owner, becoming a highly successful custom home builder – producing years of outstanding high-end residential product. Having clients with home projects up to $1M, he worked extensively detailed scope elements, actively interacting and managing all aspects of the client’s design & building process. Ladd achieved the title of Certified Master Builder, and has developed a true talent for client communication, as well as a hands-on management style that strongly compliments his work in commercial construction today.

A native of North Myrtle beach, Ladd and his family moved to Columbia ten years ago. Here, he uses his talents to assist the Home Works of America organization. When he’s not cheering on his sons at high school sporting events, Ladd and his family enjoy boating and waterskiing on the numerous lakes in our area.

After interning with Hood for a year, Natalye Jackson joined the Hood Construction team in 2020. She began her path after graduating from Columbia College in 2011 with a Bachelor’s in History. Natalye worked in various industries around the state for a few years until she decided she wanted a career change. Her father, a draftsman with his own business in residential construction, inspired a lifelong passion for the industry within her, a passion which pushed her to pursue and complete a second degree in Architectural Engineering Technology at Midlands Technical College. As Hood’s first Virtual Design Construction Coordinator, Natalye uses an array of software, including Autodesk REVIT, Navisworks, AutoCAD, and Lumion. She uses these 3-D visualization and BIM modeling softwares to create models for the Hood team to allow for a unique & insightful look into each project, allowing for better, more-informed decisions to be made, all before the team even breaks ground. Natalye brings this inventive creativity to her personal life as well: she enjoys combining oil paints with original photography to create mixed media art pieces. She cares deeply for her family, both at home and at Hood, her eyewear and timepiece collection, and her bright personality is a shining star in the office.

Sam joined the Hood Project Management team mid-2014, bringing with him over seven years of successful construction experience in executive residential construction. Through his tenure in the industry, Sam has become talented in managing a large variety of highly-customized requirements, with focuses in healthcare and historic renovation. His expertise can be seen in projects throughout the state. Sam has excellent communication skills and a likable personality, possessing the smooth ability to work closely with clients and vendors to successfully maintain project schedules, while also keeping a keen eye on stylistic and budgetary concerns. He is actively involved as a member of the Carolinas AGC, and is on the Executive Leadership Team of the American Heart Association’s Hard Hats with Heart. During his personal time, Sam cheers on his Clemson Tigers and serves as an active volunteer with the 803 Student Ministry at Shandon Baptist Church, where he and his wife both attend.

Beverly has over 20 years of experience, with the beginning of her career as part of the BellSouth South Carolina Economic Development Team, which later led her to a role commercial real estate with a focus on industrial properties and land sales, as well as the Business Developer for two commercial general contractors and an architectural firm. Since joining Hood Construction in 2015, Beverly has brought her diverse experience to our team, which provides a deep understanding of commercial business and an acute awareness of client needs.

Beverly is actively involved in a number of organizations throughout the state, including the South Carolina Economic Developers Association (Past President), Urban Land Institute SC (Served on the Charleston Coastal Programs Committee), Rotary Club of Charleston Breakfast (Secretary 2020-2021), the Propeller Club of Charleston, Charleston Women International Trade, as well as a former South Carolina Ambassador for Economic Development/Colleton County, Charter Member and Past President Rotary Club of Blythewood, Board Member of Committee of 100 – Central Region, and Area Council President – Northeast Columbia for the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce.

Beverly also serves as Co-Chair of Merchandise Sales for the annual Surfers Healing – Folly Beach, Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry’s Bourbon, BBQ, and BOTS Fundraising Team, and a Reading Partners volunteer at Sanders Clyde Elementary School. During her leisure time, Beverly enjoys travel, boating, beaching and spending time with her family.

In her role as Director of Marketing, Julie brings her years of experience working with local and national brands, as well as background in the architecture/engineering/construction field, to support all in-house marketing goals at Hood Construction. She works closely with the Executive Team and other members of the Marketing and Business Development department on proposals, presentations, lead tracking, brochures, press releases, advertisements, the website and social media presence, and other marketing collateral to successfully promote the Hood brand.

A Florence, SC native, Julie is a 2009 cum laude graduate of the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design. Having made the Midlands her home, she is an active member of the Town of Lexington Virginia Hylton Park Committee, which is in the process of fundraising for an all-inclusive playground and other important park improvements, as well as the Town of Lexington Traffic Committee. She is also an avid equestrian and overall animal lover, and when not at Hood enjoys riding her horse, and enjoying time with her husband, daughter, and greyhound.

Darla joined Hood Construction in early 2007, bringing with her 13 years experience in human resources and customer relations. A graduate of the University of South Carolina’s College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management, she is originally from Surfside Beach but has lived in Columbia since her time in college and is proud to call South Carolina her home. Darla served as the 2016-2017 President of the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) Columbia Chapter, and is currently Chapter Parliamentarian. She has been heavily involved as a member of NAWIC for the past twelve years. This experience has garnered numerous relationships with women in construction across the country. Her strengths include developing long-term relationships with subcontractors and vendors, with special emphasis on inclusiveness of all SWMBE providers — working diligently to maintain and grow a diverse vendor/provider network of quality firms.

Darla and her husband enjoy time at the beach (any beach) with family and friends, and their Boston Terrier Rosie.

Ron Comes to Hood Construction with over 20 years of multi-faceted safety experience. Ron started his career in safety as an offshore safety officer in an oil and gas industry. Having worked in a vast array of different industries since, he has successfully promoted safe work environments within different cultures to ensure that safety is believably conveyed as Job One. His focus is on empowering all Hood employees, by a means of setting them up for success. As a skilled leader Ron possesses numerous credentials and certifications. He is a member of the Board of Certified Safety Professionals, American Society of Safety Engineers and National Safety Council. Ron is also our corporate OSHA outreach trainer, American Red Cross First Aid AED/CPR/First Responder and Trainer. His wide variety of safety experience compliments Hood Construction’s vision for safety and the future of our company, as well as reinforces our “2,000,000 Man Hour” safety milestone. An Irmo Native, Ron enjoys spending time with his family, travel, and is a bit of a foodie, and additionally enjoys playing the guitar.