In short, what do you do?
As CEO of Eclipse Constructors, I manage day to day operations. Eclipse Constructors is a small business that is MBE and DBE certified. The business specializes in general contracting and self performs in NAICS code 238320. Eclipse Constructors has a strategic, yet aggressive, growth plan to expand into the mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection areas to achieve its goal of $5M revenue by the end of 2018. We build the future and restore the past.
What is your perspective on progress in MBE/WBE participation and workforce inclusion in the construction industry?
 There are people who push progress, but there is not enough. The construction industry has not changed much over the past 40 years as it pertains to MBE participation. A few years back, I attended a Better Family Life Family Week event that had three of the past four mayors of the City of St. Louis and the St. Louis County Executive. As I heard each of them speak, Mayor Slay summed it up when he said that the City of St. Louis is simply not doing enough to satisfy the MBE requirements of Mayors Executive Order No. 28. This is what sparked me to start my own construction company. There is not enough training nor capacity building programs to help foster new start ups. One of my mentors, Sandra Marks (Clayco Vice President, Marks & Associates), has been a great agent of change. She linked me up with her brother, Arthur Porter, who enrolled me in his capacity building course. I am a valedictorian alumnus of her Minority Youth Entrepreneurship Program that she ran in conjunction with the Minority Youth In Construction program at Washington University.Â
How did you become interested in owning your own firm? Did you have an entrepreneurial mentor or receive any helpful guidance?
I became interested simply to create a legacy. I have two business partners, Roy Harris (CPO) & William Tart (COO). I am blessed to be around such a positive group of men. Both of them are smarter than I am. Roy has two masters degrees and is pursuing a 3rd. William, a former US Marine, has been involved with construction for over 15 years. Roy owns a non-profit organization and William is also a previous business owner. My background is engineering and entrepreneurship. My fiancée, Jessica Cross, is my backbone. She and I do event planning and have hosted some of the biggest events in St. Louis over the years with one of my other companies. She is a serial entrepreneur and told me that Roy and William were the perfect business partners for my vision. Most MBE’s that fail, typically fail because you have a tradesman who is not a businessman or a businessman that does not know the trades. Eclipse Constructors was carefully constructed to satisfy both of those needs. Â
