Since 2000, GCG Construction has built a strong and diverse portfolio around Southwest Florida and beyond. The Fort Myers–based construction company has worked on a wide variety of projects in the marine, industrial, commercial, health care, retail and hospitality industries and is recognized for its commitment to customer service and quality craftsmanship.
But it reached a point, as many small businesses do, when it became difficult to keep growing while also handling the back-office tasks that go along with running a business, like accounting, human resources and payroll. So, when GCG Construction got the chance to enter into a partnership with Kentucky-based Abel Construction Company in 2025, the timing couldn’t have been better.
“From our first meeting, we knew they were people we wanted to work with,” says Lerin Byrd, president and co-owner of GCG Construction alongside her husband, Teely Byrd. “They aligned closely with our core values and with how we treat our clients, subcontractors and employees. The partnership has allowed us to step back from some of the in-house administrative responsibilities and focus more fully on our clients and on what we do best.”
Bill Abel Jr., owner and CEO of Abel Construction Company, has spent time in Southwest Florida for years, so he was well aware of the opportunities in the market. “Our company has been growing a lot in the last 10 years, and with me spending more time down here, it just became apparent that having a more formal business enterprise in this market would make sense,” he says.
The shared philosophies of both companies made joining forces a smart move. “Lerin and Teely have cultivated a strong client base and built lasting, trusted relationships over the years they’ve been in business,” says Abel. “They’ve built up a really nice following of people who trust them and rely on them to help them through their construction needs. But they were at a spot where they were sort of stuck from a growth perspective. Our partnership will offer them a lot of support and the kind of resources they didn’t have before, which allows them to focus on taking care of clients.”
While GCG Construction is now part of the Abel Family of Businesses, the company has retained its existing leadership team, staff and office location. “This is a true partnership,” says Teely Byrd. “We’re still here, and we still have a voice. Putting our clients first has always been our priority, and that isn’t changing. Abel shares that same mindset. We don’t shy away from tough situations; we do whatever it takes to support the client. That commitment is here to stay.”
What has changed is the access GCG now has to resources like human resources and accounting services, as well as the eight decades of experience Abel Construction Company brings to the table. “We have a lot of experience, and in construction, that’s everything,” says Abel. “GCG now has a much deeper bench of people and experience that they can pull from.”
The partnership will help GCG capitalize on growth opportunities. “With our resources, they can be more for their existing clients,” says Abel. “They can do more; they can do bigger projects. It gives them greater reach and capabilities to serve the network of customers they have now.”
The partnership may also create opportunities to connect with new clients. “If some of Abel’s national clients are looking to enter the Florida market, we are well positioned to support them,” says Lerin Byrd. “Our philosophy has always been ‘slow and steady wins the race,’ and Abel shares that approach. Having the backing of a larger organization gives us greater confidence in pursuing larger projects, knowing we have the staff and resources in place to serve those clients well.”
The two companies now have a jointly branded office in Naples. “I think through our partnership, GCG now has more of a regional footprint stretching from Southwest Florida all the way to the Midwest,” says Abel. “Now if they have a client based in the Florida market that might want to do a project in Nashville or Indianapolis, they don’t have to call anyone else. They can call GCG and get that done for them.”
“Having those relationships means it’s kind of the easy button,” he continues. “They can call the same people they’ve always dealt with and know they’ll get the same level of quality and service they’ve always had.”
GETTING THE JOB DONE
GCG’s focus on client relationships and quality work means the company has a lot of repeat clients. The firm builds trust with clients from the first meeting and then throughout the process with a high level of ownership involvement in each project.
“We generally don’t hard-bid a large portion of our work,” says Teely Byrd. “Instead, we focus on negotiated projects or open-book arrangements, so we’re involved from the very beginning. While many general contractors take a similar approach, what sets us apart is our level of detail, hands-on involvement and genuine care for our clients. We work to advise them clearly, share the information that truly matters and be transparent and upfront about schedules and costs.”
GCG recently completed the MarineMax Fort Myers Yacht Sales & Service Center, a state-of-the-art waterfront amenity set on 20 acres. The development features a 30,000sf hybrid sales and service facility with 40-foot-high service bays capable of accommodating a wide range of vessels, along with 276 rack storage spaces, 128 wet slips, a fuel station, a member’s lounge and a full-service waterside restaurant.
“That project was a true design-build effort, with our team working closely with the architects and engineers upfront,” says Teely Byrd. “We invested significant time coming up with value engineering and design solutions to accommodate the client’s budget. Delivering a project of that scale within those financial parameters required creativity and collaboration across the entire team. By working closely with the designers and subcontractors, we were able to deliver a facility that is both beautiful and functional to meet our client’s needs.”
Another notable recent project for GCG is the completion of the Marketplace at Coconut Point, a retail and dining destination in Estero. The 11-acre development includes pad-ready sites for McDonald’s and Miller’s Ale House, along with three separate retail shell buildings totaling more than 30,000sf.
That project was the first time Jeffrey J. Williams, chief development officer for Konover South, had worked with GCG Construction. “They were an exceptional contracting company; they were very organized and very efficient,” he says. “They had the very rare combination of an excellent superintendent, project manager and ownership. It’s very hard to find all three of those on a project that are excellent and work in step with each other, and all three of those were excellent with them. GCG would absolutely be our first call for any other project we did in Southwest Florida.”
Williams also recognized the skills Lerin Byrd brought to the table, especially as a woman in the male-dominated construction industry. “Lerin was phenomenal,” he says. “She was very tough, very fair, and very accessible and on hand and involved in the project where she needed to be. We had great communication with her, and she helped us work through a ton of problems on a very difficult project in a very difficult municipality. GCG was essential to our success.”
“That project presented significant challenges, and we were able to overcome all of them,” says Lerin Byrd. “It’s a strong testament to our ability to support our clients, navigate numerous complex issues and guide them successfully through the entire process.”
Taking care of clients will always remain central to GCG Construction, even as the company transitions into its new partnership with Abel Construction Company. “We knew that if we were going to grow, we didn’t want to do it alone,” says Teely Byrd. “Partnering with a larger, well-established company gives us the support we need to grow thoughtfully, while continuing to take on work we know we can deliver exceptionally well. That’s how we’ve always operated.”
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