In 2010, Barry Connor & Craig Gaskins established Connor & Gaskins Unlimited with the goal to achieve their vision of creating a construction company that was different from any other. Now, as CGU celebrates their 10-year anniversary, the Naples-based general contracting company commemorates the many relationships and projects that have developed since the start 10 years ago.
“We saw a window of opportunity for a construction company that not only built buildings, but one that also looked at each project with different architectural, functional and solution-based perspectives,” Connor said. “CGU ladders up from the functional demands of construction. Throughout the past 10 years we have strived to provide a level of service that goes beyond what someone would expect when building or renovating a project, and we are proud to deliver on this goal that we set in the very beginning of our journey.”
What started out as a two-man business in an 800-square-foot office space has developed into the 52-employee company and now encompasses over 20,000 square feet. A strong foundation of innovation and determination to seek opportunity led CGU to be the industry leader that it is today.
CGU has grown and developed with each new addition to the team and with every new project. From the Florida Keys Fairfield Inn & Suites to Hyatt Place in California, CGU has undertaken projects of all different scales and scopes. Recent Naples-based projects include 850 Central, Lulu’s Kitchen for the St. Matthew’s House organization, along with InTown Suites hotel renovations spanning across 28 states.
With a growing demand of residential projects, Connor and Gaskins brought on Jon Lawrence to lead the CGU Homes team in 2016. For the past four years, the residential team has used their knowledge in both commercial and home construction to strategically plan and execute home projects across Florida. With collaboration from individuals involved in the different realms of construction, CGU Homes brings a heightened layer of skill to the industry.
“It’s crazy to look back and see how CGU has evolved and diversified since 2010,” Gaskins said. “We have taken on new projects – especially in the last couple of years – that were only a vision before. It’s important to us to have a team of hard-working individuals who come from a variety of backgrounds, so that when we take on these varied projects, our team members bring a high-level of expertise regardless of what the project type may be.”
Perhaps the most rewarding aspect of Connor and Gaskins’ time of being business owners is the relationships they have created across the nation. Whether it is connections with clients, subcontractors, developers or their own employees, a commitment to transparency and trust runs through their veins of the company’s culture and is evident when working with the CGU Team.
As CGU continues to grow and develop, the team looks forward to building new relationships and adding new projects to their growing portfolio and upcoming projects including the Bayshore Wine Venue, the Naples Bay Club, multiple single-family homes construction projects and condo renovations.
“We are extremely proud of what CGU has accomplished through these past 10 years and are excited to watch the company grow and develop even more in the next coming years,” Gaskins said.
For more information, please visit our websites: www.www.cgunlimited.com and www.cguhomes.com
