14 Mar 2022

General contractor EDIFICE names new CEO, expands leadership team

Charlotte-based, regional general contracting firm, EDIFICE, LLC, has named Gary Creed as its new CEO. Owner, N. Eric Laster, has transitioned to chairman of the board. 

Edifice is a privately-held, general contracting firm headquartered in Charlotte with an office in Charleston, South Carolina. Since its inception in 1978, Edifice has grown to become one of the leading commercial contractors in the Southeast and is an Engineering News-Record (ENR) top 400 U.S. general contractor.

Creed has been chief operating officer at the firm since 2005. 

Creed and four additional senior leaders are now co-owners of the firm. Tod Creech, chief financial officer; Michael A. Carlisto, executive vice president; Bryan R. Knupp, executive vice president; and Kyle Hanrahan, executive vice president, comprise the new ownership team.

The expansion of Edifice’s ownership team ensures that the general contractor remains locally owned. The five new partners of Edifice have been with the company for an average of 20 years.

“As we open new markets, we have reorganized the office in Charlotte and put long-time senior leaders in an ownership role while we expand our southeast footprint,” Laster said. “Doing so allows us to continue to deliver the value, innovation and customer service that has always been identified with Edifice.

As chairman of the board, Laster remains involved in the leadership of the company he joined in 1987 and soon purchased. In recent years, Laster has focused on building Edifice’s Charleston office, its first office outside of Charlotte.

Laster remains involved in the success of Edifice with an elevated role in the day-to-day operations while maintaining overall leadership of the company.

“This ensures that Edifice remains the same company with the same sound principles and strong culture that Eric built over three decades,” Creed said. “Edifice continues to provide the level of service and exceptional experience that our customers, employees, design partners and subcontractors have come to expect from us and why we have so many long lasting relationships.”

Edifice has a diverse portfolio of K-12, higher education, municipal, industrial, faith-based, medical office, senior living, office, corporate interiors, and entertainment projects. With an outstanding performance record, Edifice has been recognized by numerous industry associations for excellence in construction, a strong commitment to quality, and above all else, client satisfaction.

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