Central Carolina Community College, Lee County Schools, Western Harnett High School, Grace Christian, Ascend Leadership Academy, Central Carolina Academy, ApprenticeshipNC, and Carolinas AGC for their partnership. Their continued support has helped connect students with real-world career opportunities while building a stronger pipeline of future construction professionals.

This recognition reflects a shared commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for students and strengthening the future workforce in our communities.

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Training sessions and safety discussions were held across multiple divisions throughout the week, reinforcing the importance of preparation, accountability, and ongoing communication on all active jobsites. Daily jobsite huddles also included additional reminders and conversations centered around the special topic of fall protection and related safe work practices.

Sanford Contractors appreciates the support of industry and community partners who helped lead this year’s training efforts, including Sunstate Equipment’s Trench Safety Division, Travelers Insurance, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, and Certified Safety Experts.

Construction Safety Week serves as an annual opportunity for companies across the industry to reinforce the habits and responsibilities that support safe operations year-round. At Sanford Contractors, safety remains a shared responsibility and a daily commitment across every jobsite.

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Awarded to SCI in January 2025 by the NCDOT, these projects are now moving into construction, with crews beginning work in April 2026. These reconstruction projects represent an important step in restoring access for local residents and reconnecting key routes throughout the Burnsville community.

Sanford Contractors will replace three bridges:

Bridges 62 and 100 will be constructed in phases to help maintain access for nearby residents throughout construction. The original structures at both locations were washed away during the storm, and temporary railcar crossings were installed to provide interim access until permanent replacements can be built.

At Bridge 97, the previous structure was also destroyed, and the crossing has remained inaccessible since the storm. This location serves as a critical connection across the South Toe River, and restoring this crossing will provide an important benefit to the surrounding community.

Rebuilding after major storms takes coordination and strong partners. Sanford Contractors is proud to support these efforts by delivering structures that will serve Yancey County for years to come.

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Sanford Contractors was proud to partner with Samet Corporation to deliver the new main Lee County Library to our community. The nearly 34,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility was designed by Vines Architecture to serve as a modern, accessible space for learning, connection, and community engagement. Projects like this come together through strong partnerships and a shared commitment to creating spaces that serve people for generations.

During the ribbon cutting ceremony, Lisa Minter noted that the new library had been included in the County’s capital improvement planning as early as 1993, describing it as a vision more than 30 years in the making. Beth List shared that the library reflects Lee County’s commitment to putting people first, describing it as “not just a place for books, but a place for people… a true third place where everyone belongs.” Sanford Area Growth Alliance also discussed how investments in quality-of-life infrastructure like the new Lee County Library and the Lee County Athletic Park play an important role in supporting continued economic and workforce development across the region.

More than just a place to read, the library offers expanded resources and flexible spaces for a wide range of uses. The facility includes areas for public meetings, dedicated programming for children, teens, and adults, rentable rooms, outdoor gathering spaces, computer access, and convenient drive-up book return and pickup.

One of the most anticipated features is the new makerspace, equipped with 3D printers and creative tools made possible through the support of Kyowa Kirin. This addition reflects the library’s expanded role as a hub for innovation and hands-on learning across Lee County.

As Commercial Building Vice President Blake Baur shared, it is incredibly rewarding to see the impact our projects can have on the community. Hundreds attended the grand opening celebrations, with families, library staff, and local leaders gathering throughout the day, all brimming with excitement about the new facility.

From groundbreaking in November 2024 to delivering this facility this spring, Sanford Contractors is proud to have played a role in bringing this new library to life. We look forward to seeing how it supports learning, connection, and growth across Lee County in the years ahead.

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This milestone marks the beginning of a new chapter for a long-standing commercial site that has served the Sanford community since the 1980s. For decades, Riverbirch has been a place for shopping and connection. This redevelopment represents an opportunity to reinvest in the site and reintroduce it as a modern retail destination that reflects the needs of the community today.

The approximately 42-acre redevelopment will be anchored by Target and will introduce a new-to-market grocery store, along with additional retail offerings. Plans for the site include updated infrastructure, improved access, and a more functional layout designed to better serve both tenants and visitors.

The Riverbirch redevelopment is being led by CASTO in partnership with the City of Sanford, Lee County, and local economic development partners, working together to support continued investment in a key commercial corridor.

Sanford Contractors’ team is mobilizing on site at Riverbirch to begin demolition and site development, marking the start of construction activity. Work will be completed in phases to align with the overall development plan and support continued progress across the project.

Projects like Riverbirch reflect the value of strong partnerships. We are proud to work alongside CASTO and the broader team to help bring this project to life for the Sanford community.

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The Women in Business Awards program recognizes Triangle women who demonstrate outstanding leadership and a strong record of accomplishment in business and community impact. The Inspiration category honors individuals whose careers and leadership have made a meaningful and lasting impact on those around them. This year’s honorees were selected from more than 100 nominees.

Barbara Angell’s career reflects a remarkable legacy of dedication, growth, and leadership within the construction industry. She began her career with Sanford Contractors more than 40 years ago and steadily advanced through the organization, earning respect through her work ethic, integrity, and financial expertise.

As President Donnie Oldham has shared, Barbara is “a living testament that if you’re smart and work extremely hard, you can accomplish great things.”

During her tenure, Sanford Contractors has grown from a team of 35 employees to more than 270, with annual volume increasing significantly over that time. Throughout this growth, Barbara has played a critical role in supporting the company’s financial strength and guiding long-term planning. She has served as Chief Financial Officer for more than 15 years.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Barbara’s impact is reflected in the example she sets. Her consistency, humility, and commitment to doing what is right have influenced generations of team members and leaders across the company. Her career stands as a meaningful example of what is possible through dedication and perseverance, particularly for women building long-term careers in the construction industry.

Barbara accepted the award on March 26 at a reception hosted at the Angus Barn in Raleigh, surrounded by members of the Sanford Contractors leadership team and her family.

Read her Triangle Business Journal profile here (subscription required): https://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/c/tbj-2026-women-in-business-awards-winners/42731/barbara-angell.html

We are proud to celebrate Barbara’s well-earned recognition and grateful for her leadership and the example she sets each day.

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Our team is delivering two private hangars and preparing to begin concurrent construction of the new TTA Corporate Hangar. Work within active airfield environments requires careful phasing, close coordination with airport operations, and disciplined execution to maintain safety while minimizing disruption to daily activity.

While these projects focus on vertical construction, they reflect a broader aviation capability that integrates both building and infrastructure expertise.

Sanford Contractors supports aviation clients through multiple divisions. Our Commercial Building Division delivers hangars, terminal facilities, and supporting aviation structures through hard bid, design-build assist, and full design-build delivery methods. Preconstruction services play an important role in this work, allowing our team to provide early cost analysis, constructability reviews, and detailed scheduling that help airport owners make informed decisions and maintain project budgets.

At the same time, our Site Development Division has completed complex infrastructure improvements that support airport expansion and modernization. By self-performing key site and utility scopes, Sanford Contractors maintains greater control over coordination, schedule, and quality. That integrated approach allows our teams to deliver aviation projects efficiently while maintaining the operational awareness required within active airport environments.

Across the state, Sanford Contractors has built a reputation as a dependable partner to public agencies. Our leadership remains engaged, communication is direct, and our teams understand the importance of maintaining safe, uninterrupted operations while construction is underway.

Aviation projects require more than construction expertise. They require careful coordination, regulatory awareness, and a disciplined approach to planning and execution.

Sanford Contractors is proud to contribute to the infrastructure that supports North Carolina’s aviation network and the communities these airports serve.

Pictured above are some of Sanford Contractors’ previous projects at Raleigh Executive Jetport, including the first REJ Corporate Hangar and the REJ Terminal building – the first design-build project undertaken by the NC Department of Aviation.

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Different partners take turns leading the safety discussion, reinforcing a core principle on every job: safety is a shared responsibility. Recently, Sanford Contractors led the project-wide conversation, focusing on cold weather construction and the additional risks that come with fluctuating winter temperatures.

Thalle Construction Company is serving as the project’s general contractor, with Sanford Contractors’ Building Division constructing key structural components. With multiple trades working simultaneously, consistent communication is one of the most effective safety tools on site. The morning huddle allows teams to address real-time conditions, reinforce expectations, and start the day aligned.

During the discussion, our team emphasized practical precautions including proper layering, monitoring walking and working surfaces for ice and moisture, and recognizing early signs of cold stress. Reduced dexterity, fatigue, and slippery conditions can slow reaction time and impact performance. While winter conditions are not new to the industry, reminders and proactive planning help ensure small oversights do not turn into larger issues.

The Sanford Water Filtration Facility expansion will increase capacity from 12 million gallons per day to 30 million gallons per day, strengthening long-term water infrastructure for the region. Projects of this scale demand technical coordination, as well as trust, accountability, and open communication across every company on site. Rotating leadership of daily safety talks keeps engagement high and reinforces consistent standards across all trades.

At Sanford Contractors, we believe safety is strengthened through partnership. When every team member takes ownership of the day’s conditions, safe operations become the standard rather than the exception.

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Throughout the day, team members stepped away from their day-to-day responsibilities to connect in person and reflect on the principles that guide our work. Planning and preparation, clear communication, accountability, and living out our values remain foundational to delivering safe, consistent, high-quality work and Building with Trust.

Teams participated in interactive table discussions centered on getting back to basics. Live polling encouraged honest conversation around our non-negotiables, what doing work the right way truly means at Sanford Contractors, and why partners continue to choose us. Across divisions, shared priorities emerged, including safety, integrity, accountability, quality, professionalism, and pride in workmanship. The discussions also reinforced the importance of maintaining focus in areas where consistent execution makes the greatest impact, including clear communication, planning and follow-through, and jobsite organization.

Building on the table discussions, division-wide breakout sessions gave teams the opportunity to translate shared values into action. Each division focused on what “back to basics” looks like in their specific work and identified practical steps to strengthen execution moving forward. Teams left with clear direction to carry these fundamentals back to their jobsites and daily responsibilities. After reconvening from the breakout sessions, company leadership offered reflections on 2025 and shared their goals for 2026.

The Summit also provided time to recognize and celebrate our people. Team members celebrating years of service milestones, ranging from one year to more than 40 years, were honored for their dedication and commitment. Safety remained a central focus, highlighted by the introduction of Sanford Contractors’ new safety training video.

One of the most meaningful moments of the day was the presentation of the Brent Sloan Safety Award to Ricky Womack. This award recognizes an individual who consistently demonstrates leadership, accountability, and a strong commitment to safety. Congratulations are also extended to Brent Sloan Safety Award finalists Jason Manning, David Marlowe, Felipe Vitela, and Guillermo Solorzano for modeling exceptional safety commitment each day.

Leadership Summit 2026 concluded with the Second Annual SCI Equipment Rodeo, where teams from across the company came together in friendly competition. The Rodeo highlighted skill, preparation, teamwork, and pride in our work. Congratulations to the winning team, The Groundbreakers from the Site Division: Richard Hendricks, Ryan Garner, and DJ Bryant.

As we move through 2026, Sanford Contractors team members will continue to focus on the fundamentals that matter most, strengthening our culture, our work, and the relationships that drive our success.

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At Sanford Contractors, we believe there’s no better way to start the year than with a renewed focus on safety.

Each December and January, we pause active work across our operations to hold our annual Safety Stand Downs. This intentional reset closes one year and opens the next with a shared focus on what matters most: keeping our people safe.

A Safety Stand Down is more than a meeting. It’s a companywide commitment to slow down, come together, and reinforce the standards that guide how we work every day. During these sessions, our teams review best practices, discuss real jobsite hazards, share lessons learned, and align on expectations for the year ahead. These conversations strengthen planning, sharpen awareness, and reinforce personal accountability at every level of our organization.

While the Stand Downs help set the tone, they don’t stand alone. They build on the daily safety conversations happening across our jobsites through tailgate meetings, pre-task planning, field leadership discussions, ongoing hazard mitigation efforts and more. Safety at Sanford Contractors is continuous, not seasonal.

Protecting our people is a responsibility we all share, and it’s a standard that shapes our culture, our planning, and our performance throughout the year.

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