THIRD QUARTER SEPTEMBER 2026
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The One Voice Newsletter is published quarterly with updates on our projects, industry insights and interviews of fellow colleagues!
Do you have a story that you think we should cover in the next issue? Contact us! marketing@vccusa.com
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THE MARKETING DEPT
IN THIS ISSUE
One Voice Newsletter:
Where VCC Comes Together KINDRED APARTMENTS San Diego, Caifornia
Southwick Commons | Page 9
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Page 10
Construction Outlook
Stay Tuned!
What the Industry is Signaling for 2026 - 2027
Growing with our clients across the country
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Page 12
2026 Awarded Projects
Behind the Build
Third Quarter
Featuring: Jeff Ondatje
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Recently Completed Publix at Neopolitan Way Plaza Southwick Commons Safeway at The Gilmore
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Welcome + Annis + Promotions +HR Announcements To all of our new team members WELCOME! Happy Workiversary to those celebrating in this quarter!
CONSTRUCTION
Outlook
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WHAT THE INDUSTRY IS SIGNALING FOR 2026-2027
THIRD QUARTER ISSUE
As we move through the second half of 2026, the construction industry continues to send a mixed message. There is still significant opportunity in the market, but growth is becoming more uneven across sectors, financing remains a challenge for many private developments, and labor and material pressures continue to shape how projects move forward. The latest forecasts from FMI, the American Institute of Architects, Associated General Contractors of America and other leading industry sources point to a market that is not necessarily shrinking across the board, but becoming much more selective. According to the AIA’s July 2026 Consensus Construction Forecast, overall nonresidential building spending is now expected to decline slightly by .3% in 2026 before returning to approximately 3% growth in 2027. That represents a softer near-term outlook than economists anticipated at the beginning of the year, but also signals greater optimism heading into next year. Not All Sectors Are Moving Together One of the clearest themes across current forecasts is the widening gap between stronger and weaker construction markets. Data centers remain the standout, with the AIA panel forecasting spending growth of roughly 33% in 2026 and another 25% in 2027. Healthcare and amusement/ recreation construction are also expected to remain relatively resilient. Amusement and recreation spending (which includes sports facilities, gyms, theaters and similar venues) is forecast to grow 7.1% in 2026 before moderating to 3% in 2027. Hotel construction is also projected to improve, with gains of 4.6% this year and 5.2% next year. Other sectors are facing a more difficult environment. Traditional office construction is expected to continue declining through 2027, while manufacturing construction has pulled back after several years of historically high investment. Warehouse construction is also expected to remain soft in 2026 before beginning a modest recovery next year. Retail sits somewhere in the middle. AIA’s current forecast calls for approximately 0.7% growth in retail
construction during 2026 followed by a stronger 2.7% increase in 2027. Importantly, the strength within retail is not uniform. Mixed-use, experiential concepts, grocery-anchored developments and redevelopment opportunities continue to move even as more traditional retail formats evolve. That aligns closely with what our teams are seeing in the market today. Financing Is Still Driving Decisions Interest rates, access to capital and overall economic uncertainty continue to influence whether projects move from planning into construction. The AIA Architecture Billings Index, which typically serves as a leading indicator for construction activity nine to 12 months ahead, has remained under pressure. At the same time, project inquiries have been relatively healthy. In other words, owners and developers are still exploring opportunities, but many are taking longer to commit once they evaluate financing, construction costs and overall project feasibility. That makes early involvement increasingly valuable. Owners need contractors who can help evaluate costs, phasing, constructability, procurement and value engineering before a project reaches the field. For our teams, that reinforces the importance of strong preconstruction and construction management capabilities. The earlier we can help owners understand the realities of a project, the better chance we have of helping them move it forward. Labor and Cost Pressures Are Not Going Away AGC’s 2026 Construction Hiring and Business Outlook also points to continued concerns around workforce availability, tariffs, project financing and broader economic uncertainty. Contractors remain particularly challenged by the availability of qualified craft workers and experienced construction professionals.
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Material pricing is another area to watch. Even when overall inflation moderates, tariffs, supply-chain disruptions and changing global conditions can quickly impact individual materials and equipment. That means planning ahead remains critical. Procurement schedules, early buyout, accurate leadtime information and strong relationships with trade partners can make a significant difference in keeping projects moving. What This Means for VCC The outlook for 2026 and 2027 is not simply “good” or “bad.” It is increasingly market-specific. Some sectors will continue to accelerate. Others will remain flat or pull back. And in many cases, the projects that move forward will be those with strong fundamentals, experienced teams and owners who have done the work early to make them financially viable. That creates opportunity for our team. Our current portfolio already reflects many of the areas where the market continues to show resilience: grocery-anchored retail, experiential entertainment, mixed-use development, multifamily, hospitality, selfstorage and redevelopment. It also reinforces why diversification matters. Having experience across multiple product sectors and markets gives us flexibility as conditions change. Looking toward 2027 The overall outlook becomes more encouraging, with economists expecting nonresidential activity to begin gaining momentum again. But the companies best positioned to benefit will be those that remain disciplined now. Building strong client relationships, understanding where investment is moving, planning projects carefully and continuing to execute at a high level is more important than ever. Construction activity may be uneven, but opportunity is still there. Our job is to understand where the market is going and make sure VCC is positioned to meet it.
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9/21/26, 6:03 PM
2026 Awarded Projects: Third Quarter Our teams continue to build momentum with new project awards across the country and across multiple product sectors. From grocery-anchored retail and big-box stores to self-storage, restaurants and tenant improvements, these awards demonstrate the diversity of our experience and the strength of the client relationships that continue to create new opportunities for VCC. We’re excited to get to work on these projects and continue delivering for both new and longtime clients. Together, these newly awarded projects represent more than $76 million in new work across eight projects and seven states. They also reflect the range of opportunities ahead for our company as we continue to grow our client relationships and expand our work across markets and product sectors.
Lulah Hills | Decatur, Georgia 6
THIRD QUARTER ISSUE
Ashley L
PROJECT VALUE COMPARISON
Ashley Landing Publix & Retail Shops – Charleston, SC Owner: EDENS Product Type: Grocery-Anchored Retail Contract Value: $12.5M
Ashley Landing Publix + Retail Shops
Kroger – Fate, TX
Owner: The Kroger Co. Product Type: Grocery Contract Value: $11.5M
Kroger
West Bottoms - Kansas City, MO Owner: Copaken Brooks Product Type: Retail 75,000,000
West Bottoms
DICK’S Sporting Goods – Metairie, LA
DSG
Owner: DICK’S Sporting Goods Product Type: Big-Box Retail Contract Value: $20M
Public Storage
Public Storage – Glendale, CA
Landing to get modernized Publix with curbside café & drive-through pharmacy
Owner: Public Storage Product Type: Self-Storage Contract Value: $23M
Gibson Garage 4/4
20M
40M
60M
Project Value (Millions USD)
80M
Gibson Garage – Las Vegas, NV
Owner: Gibson Guitar Product Type: Retail Tenant Improvement Contract Value: $9M Lulah Hills – EDENS Office TI – Decatur, GA Owner: EDENS Product Type: Office Tenant Improvement Contract Value: $600,000 Wolf Ranch – Machi Sushi Repairs – Georgetown, TX Owner: Pine Tree LLC Product Type: Restaurant Contract Value: $50,000
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BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS. DELIVERING RESULTS. Our teams continue to deliver exciting projects across the country, and this quarter we’re highlighting three recently completed projects that showcase the diversity of our work. From grocery-anchored retail and large-scale site development to much-needed multifamily housing, these projects demonstrate the experience our teams bring across product sectors and our ability to grow alongside our clients and partners. 8
THIRD QUARTER ISSUE
Apopka, FL
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SOUTHWICK COMMONS
es, F
Napl
AY PLAZA PUBLIX AT NEOPOLITAN W
Our Florida team recently completed Southwick Commons, a new affordable housing community in Apopka. The four-level, garden-style development encompasses 246,475 square feet and provides 192 new one-, twoand three-bedroom residences to the Central Florida community. The property also includes a clubhouse, maintenance building and a variety of resident amenities.
Our longstanding grocery and retail experience also continues to grow with the completion of Publix at Neapolitan Way Plaza in Naples, Florida. Our team delivered the new 48,600-square-foot grocery store as a turnkey project, including the complete tenant improvement and all associated sitework. The building features a brick and stucco exterior and incorporates the detailed coordination and specialized systems required to deliver a modern grocery environment.
Southwick Commons is particularly meaningful because of the need it helps address in the surrounding community. Central Florida continues to face a significant shortage of affordable rental housing, making the completion of these 192 homes an important addition to the area.
This project also represents another milestone in our growing relationship with Publix. Neapolitan Way Plaza is one of 11 Publix stores our teams have either completed or currently have under construction. As we continue building our grocery portfolio, repeat work like this speaks to the importance of delivering consistent results and building relationtionships that extend well beyond a single project. Congratulations to all of our project teams and trade partners who helped bring these projects across the finish line!
For our team, the project is another example of the breadth of our multifamily capabilities and the impact the projects we build can have beyond the jobsite. We’re proud to have played a role in bringing Southwick Commons from construction to a completed community that residents can now call home.
Gilbert, AZ ORE
SAFEWAY AT THE GILM
Our team recently celebrated the grand opening of the new Safeway at The Residences at The Gilmore in Gilbert, Arizona. The new grocery store serves as an anchor for the larger Gilmore development and brings a major new grocery option to the surrounding Gilbert community. Safeway is part of our larger work at The Shops at Gilmore for Thompson Thrift, where our team is delivering a 33-acre grocery and retail development. Our overall scope includes nine new retail shell buildings as well as extensive site development, including earthwork, paving, wet and dry utilities, site concrete, and landscaping. The opening of Safeway represents an exciting milestone as work continues across the remainder of the development. Projects like The Gilmore also highlight our extensive retail experience and ability to manage the infrastructure, individual buildings, tenant requirements, and coordination necessary to bring a large retail destination together.
GROWING WITH OUR CLIENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY Our teams continue to stay busy across the country, with projects underway in multiple markets and product sectors. Two areas we’re especially excited to highlight this quarter are our continued work with BRIDGE Housing in California and our growing relationship with DICK’S Sporting Goods. Both demonstrate the importance of strong client relationships and the opportunities that come from successfully delivering for our partners.
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SECOND QUARTER ISSUE
KINDRED APARTMENTS San Diego, Caifornia
GROWING OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH DICK’S SPORTING GOODS
Our team is making great progress on Kindred Apartments, an eight-story affordable housing development in San Diego’s Cortez Hill neighborhood and another project with our longtime client BRIDGE Housing.
Our retail portfolio also continues to expand through an exciting relationship with DICK’S Sporting Goods. Our teams currently have projects underway or preparing to start in Lowell, Arkansas; Timnath and Colorado Springs, Colorado; Norman, Oklahoma; and Gilbert, Arizona.
The 138,325-square-foot development is being constructed on a one-acre urban site and will provide 126 apartments, including affordable homes for families as well as permanent supportive housing for formerly homeless seniors. The project also includes 77 parking spaces and approximately 89,266 square feet of net rentable residential space. BRIDGE Housing describes Kindred as an intergenerational community designed to bring seniors and families together while providing residents with greater access to transportation, employment, schools and other resources.
The Gilbert project is especially exciting as our team will be delivering a DICK’S House of Sport, the retailer’s larger experiential concept that takes the traditional sporting goods store to another level. Plans for the Gilbert location call for approximately 120,000 square feet and interactive elements such as a climbing wall, golf simulators, batting cages and an outdoor field.
Working within a constrained downtown site adds another level of coordination to an already complex vertical multifamily project. As construction continues, Kindred is another great example of our team’s multifamily expertise and our continued ability to grow alongside repeat clients.
The growth of our work with DICK’S also ties directly into a trend we continue to see across retail: brands are creating destinations and experiences that give customers more reasons to visit a physical store. For our teams, having five projects with DICK’S across five different markets is an exciting opportunity to build consistency, strengthen the relationship and bring what we learn from each project to the next. These relationships are how we continue to grow. When our teams deliver a great experience on one project, it creates opportunities for the nex and allows VCC to grow alongside our clients as they expand across the country.
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BEHIND THE BUILD
featuring JEFF ONDATJE This quarter, we’re excited to spotlight Jeff Ondatje, Superintendent on our Publix project in Athens, Georgia. Jeff brings decades of construction experience to VCC, with a career that has taken him from working as a carpenter to leading complex projects across a variety of industries. Today, he brings that experience to the field every day, where his focus on quality, relationships and strong leadership helps deliver the experience our clients expect from VCC. We sat down with Jeff to learn more about his career, his current project and life outside of work.
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THIRD QUARTER ISSUE
What is one lesson from your career that influences how you lead today? Vision is everything. You need to have a clear picture of the final product and keep everyone focused on getting there. It’s easy to get lost in the daily details and demands of a project, but a leader has to keep the team focused on the bigger picture. You can’t lead if you don’t know where you’re going. What do you enjoy outside of work? Spending time with my family is most important to me. I also play guitar, enjoy scuba diving, skiing, surfing, hiking and traveling. I’ve visited 46 countries and love experiencing different cultures and ways of life. Life is short, and I believe in making the most of it. How did you get your start in construction, and what led you to becoming a Superintendent? I grew up with two older brothers in commercial construction and started designing and working on projects while I was still in high school. After graduating, I joined a union general contractor as an apprentice carpenter. Before I even completed the apprenticeship program, I was asked to step into a Superintendent role. From there, I had the opportunity to work on some incredible projects, including Universal Studios Hollywood and facilities for the company that would become DreamWorks. Those early experiences shaped the rest of my career. What makes the Publix Athens project unique? This is a very different Publix project. We’re building a podium structure with parking on the first level and the Publix store above it, all on an extremely tight site along a busy state highway. With limited staging space, prefabricated components, strict traffic and erosion-control requirements and another contractor sharing our access point, communication and coordination between every trade are critical. Our focus every day is delivering the quality our client expects while maintaining safety and schedule. As a Superintendent, what do you think creates a great project experience and keeps clients coming back to VCC? It starts with understanding the history and expectations of our clients and trade partners. Communication, integrity and understanding different perspectives are essential to building trust. I always remind myself that we are only as good as our last job, so we have to make every day and every project a success.
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The cornea is one of the only parts of the human body with no blood vessels. It gets oxygen directly from the air.
Asst. Superintendent
Francisco Arreola Richard Gilliland
HR & Payroll Specialist
Donna Huelsman IT Support Secialist
Miguel Velazquez Junior Estimator
Robert Leach
Anthony Brown
Superintendent
Chief Operating Officer
On-Site Project Engineer
Superintendent
Ralph Sagun Clayton Varner
Leonard Ellis William Galloway Leland Routt
Risk & Insurance Specialist
Job Site Assistant
Autumn McCown
Kennedy Perry Steven Carl
Sr. Superintendent
Charles McKinney
Jonathan Mead
VCC’S WELLNESS PROGRAM REWARDS YOU
for Investing in Your Health.
To qualify for discounted medical premiums in 2027, employees must complete the following steps by November 30, 2026:
Open enrollment: 11/9 to 11/22. Details to come in late October!
Complete an annual physical or well-woman visit Submit a completed biometric screening Earn 7,000 points on the Personify app
Dennis Haynes
Superintendent
Tiffany O’Brien
Sr. Marketing Manager
George Flores Project Engineer
Wes Gustin
Superintendent
Employees enrolled in the Health Savings Account can also earn a $500 employer contribution for completing an annual physical or wellwoman visit, with an additional $500 contribution available if a covered spouse also completes the requirement. One-on-One Help With Your 401(k) Virtual Guidance sessions. Unlimited 20-30 minute sessions to help you understand and navigate retirement. It’s a good fit if you’re asking:
Hunter Havel
On-Site Project 14 Manager
Garrison Stewart
On-Site Project Manage
Dawson Wallace
Superintendent
Gary Robertson
Sr. Superintendent
Am I saving the right amount for retirement? Am I making the right investment decisions? What should I do with my money when I change jobs or retire? Get started. Visit retireadvisers.com or call (417) 245-2045.
GrowI nG
careers At vcc As we move through another quarter, we want to once again recognize the team members who recently stepped into new roles across VCC. These promotions are worth celebrating not only for the individual accomplishments they represent, but also for what they say about the opportunities available within our company. At VCC, we want our people to be able to build careers here. For some, that means advancing
within their current department. For others, it means taking the knowledge and experience they have gained in one role and applying it to an entirely different area of the business. This group represents both paths, with several team members advancing within their departments and others moving between field operations, project management, project planning, technology and shared services.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Phillip Munson Systems Administrator → Systems Manager
OPERATIONS Pete Ellis Senior Superintendent → General Superintendent
Jesse White Systems Engineer → Software Implementation Analyst
Gary Robertson Superintendent → Senior Superintendent
PROJECT MANAGEMENT Bernardo Awoudi Assistant Project Manager → Onsite Project Manager
Sam Stilley Assistant Superintendent → Superintendent
Garrison Stewart Assistant Superintendent → Onsite Project Manager
Sam Miller Jobsite Assistant → Assistant Superintendent
Cole Bradshaw Project Engineer → Assistant Project Manager
Christian Castaneda Jobsite Assistant → Assistant Superintendent
Rony Hernandez Project Engineer → Onsite Project Manager
PROJECT PLANNING Tristan Bushell Project Engineer → Planning Engineer
SHARED SERVICES Al Malzewski Controller → Vice President of Accounting
Jordan Jones Assistant Superintendent → Planning Engineer
McKenna Montero Staff Accountant → Senior Staff Accountant
Preston Vondran Assistant Project Manager → Planning Engineer
Tiffany O’Brien Marketing Manager → Senior Marketing Manager
Jayden Guajardo Superintendent → Planning Engineer
One of the strengths of having so many different disciplines within VCC is the ability to create broader career paths for our people. Field experience can translate into project planning or project management. Technical expertise can lead to new opportunities as our systems evolve. Experience in one area of the business can bring an entirely new perspective to another. We want our team members to continue learning, taking on new challenges and having conversations about where they want their careers to go. As VCC grows, we want our people to grow with us. Congratulations again to everyone stepping into a new role. We’re excited to see what comes next.
Tara Mitchell Early Pay Manager → Business Operations Manager
ONE VOICE MAGAZINE
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WHERE VCC COMES
TOGETHER