WHO
WE ARE
a family-owned and operated business that has earned recognition for undertaking large, complex projects, fostering innovation, embracing emerging technologies, and making a difference for their clients, employees and community.
You can dream, create, design, and build the most wonderful place in the world. But it requires people to make the dream BECOME reality.
MEET THE TEAM
Brennon Smith, Sr.
President | Owner
Brennon is owner and President, a senior executive leader with 43 years of extensive experience in commercial, industrial, and retail construction development throughout the southeastern and mid-western U.S. He possesses 20+ years, direct field-site construction supervision and 28+ years of design-build delivery, estimation, property acquisition & development, property management and maintenance, leasing, and construction management experience. Involved with 1600+ construction projects since entering the industry in 1979, his expertise spans industry sectors. Studying Business, he attended Jacksonville State University and the University of Alabama. Brennon enjoys log fires, fine cigars and wine, and spending time with his grandchildren.
Brennon E. Smith, Jr. (Brent)
Chief Financial Officer | VP Operations
Brent grew up in construction and possesses 16+ years of project management and executive level staff experience in both private and federal sectors. His attention to detail and mission oriented focus have earned JBrennon the repute it carries today. Brent brought Lean 6 and systems based management to JBrennon, applying it to every aspect of the business including field operations. A Reserve Marine Lieutenant Colonel with 18 years of military service, Brent continues to bear the torch for American freedom. He is a graduate of the University of Georgia and holds two B.A.s in Political Science and History from the Honors College and possesses a M.S. in Information Management and Technologies. He enjoys waterfall hiking, functional fitness, running, and reading.
Shelby Smith
Chief Relationship Manager | Senior PM
Shelby began his journey in the construction industry as a laborer, similar to his older brothers, and found himself in the field as a Superintendent by 2018. Transitioning to project management and Client Relations in 2020, Shelby added tremendous value to the company's capabilities. Having traveled the world and worked abroad in Germany, England, and Bulgaria as a fashion brand sales and marketing representative, Shelby's depth of knowledge and experience has provided him a unique ability to negotiate many of the company's deals with both clients and subcontractors. Shelby is a graduate of Kennesaw State University and holds a degree in Psychology. He enjoys practicing yoga, traveling, the outdoors, cooking, and community building.
Larry Keller
Utility Projects Director
Larry Keller brings an impressive wealth of experience to JBrennon, with over four decades in water, wastewater, and heavy civil construction. He holds a Civil Engineering background from Southern Technical Institute and multiple general contractor licenses across Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, and Tennessee. As a Senior Construction Manager, he oversaw a $91 million project for the Richland Creek Water Treatment System, showcasing his expertise in delivering high-value, complex projects. With over 40 years of experience and over $1 billion in project management during his career in the water and wastewater construction sector, Larry leads JBrennon efforts in delivering complex water and wastewater treatment projects. Under his leadership, JBrennon will continue to build strong relationships and drive success in this vital municipal utility sector.
Andrew Welsh
Director of Quality / Project Manager
Andrew, a former Quality Director inside Volkswagen Chattanooga, provides critical management and support to all JBrennon projects and its the company's HR activites. His background in automotive design and production quality permitted a seamless transition to construction specification monitoring and implementation at the field Superintendent level. He is a former Marine and Iraq War veteran, an amateur artist, and competitive marathon and ultra marathon distance runner. Andrew has completed multiple long distance races including a 100-miler in West Virginia. Andrew graduated from Chattanooga State with a degree in Engineering, Mechatronics, and Production. He is highly skilled in root cause analysis, Lean Six Sigma, and technical drawing analysis. He enjoys camping, drawing, painting, fast cars, and of course, running.
Alex Paredes
Chief Information Officer
Alexander Paredes was an accomplished former Senior Systems Analyst at Church & Dwight, where he specialized in advanced analytics and automation, developing systems that boosted warehouse productivity by 40%. A Reserve Marine Corps Captain, he also serves as a Cyberspace Technologies Analyst, enhancing data quality and decision-making with advanced Power BI visualizations. Alex holds a BA in Economics from the University of Colorado; an MBA in Business Analytics from Case Western Reserve University and is pursuing an MS in Computer Science at UT Knoxville. His coursework covers deep learning, machine learning, and cloud architecture. Skilled in Python, SQL, Azure, and PowerShell, Alexander earned the 2023 DoD CIO Award for his machine learning innovations. With a commitment to leveraging technology for process optimization, he brings a unique blend of technical expertise and leadership to JBrennon.
Vinson Williams
Controller
A proud native of Houston, Texas, Vinson found his way to Dalton after graduating from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in 2020. Vinson studied corporate finance en route to becoming a Business Analyst and Accounting Manager at JBrennon. Throughout his childhood, Vinson demonstrated a knack for numbers and a notable curiosity for economics. He provides financial advice and service to the company enabling its CFO to focus on macroplanning and contract management. Vinson enjoys boxing and catfishing the Tennessee River.
Will Dickson
Pre-Construction Development / Project Manager
Will brings a wealth of knowledge spanning 20 years spent as a real estate Broker in Tennessee and Georgia. His experience in commercial real estate includes site selection with various hotel operators, national franchise QSR’s, retailers, shopping center developers and religious organizations. He is technically minded and holds an associate degree in electronic engineering from Sinclair Community College. Will enjoys spending time adventuring with his wife either on their jet ski, river kayaking trips, hiking, camping or riding their bikes exploring the Chattanooga and N. GA area trails.
Jeanne Powell
Accounting & Administrative Specialist
Jeanne grew up in and calls Alabama home but moved to South Carolina later in her adolescence. After graduating high-school, Jeane studied finance, became a finance manager, mortgage broker, and received appraiser and property management licenses. For over 15 years, she flipped homes, became a PMBIC for over 300 single and multi-family properties, and started a South Carolina based residential construction company. Later in life, she shifted gears and moved to Tennessee with a Quality company specializing in automotive manufacturing. There, she served as their office manager and Assistant Personnel Manager. Jeanne now provides administrative, financial, and personnel support to JBrennon's team. She is a die hard Alabama football Fan, enjoys being on the water, and seeing live music.
Chuck Booth
Project Manager
Born and raised in western NY, Chuck attended vocational school for auto-body where he won State awards for his industry knowledge and expertise. Thereafter, Chuck’s shifting interests led him to the custom furniture business. In this role, he became the lead for design and fabrication of custom spray booths and systems to improve ergonomics and material flow needs. Chuck’s omnipresent desire for specialized trades work later found him building and overhauling passenger trains and their light rail vehicle systems. During this time, Chuck became qualified to operate a nearly 100-year-old, 250 ton crane. Wanting a change, Chuck moved to Chattanooga and shifted career paths to become a Quality supervisor inside Volkswagen. After 2 years of leadership inside the plant Chuck, became a traveling Project leader, responsible for quality inspections and rework processes for large manufacturers including VW, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz. Now, Chuck is an assistant construction project manager, leading the preconstruction and field project management efforts. He enjoys loud music, his cat, and spending time with his girlfriend.
Steven Johnson
Senior Superintendent
Steven Johnson is a highly experienced Site Development Superintendent with a solid foundation in construction supervision and project management. With a proven track record at Multiplex LLC, he has managed complex, multi-million-dollar projects, demonstrating expertise in quality control, safety compliance, and effective team leadership. Steven's practical approach, combined with his strong decision-making skills, allows him to oversee subcontractors, ensure adherence to specifications, and maintain high client satisfaction. His career spans over two decades, including roles at Valley Mechanical and J&S Construction LLC, where he excelled in budget management, process optimization, and leading teams to achieve operational excellence. Steven holds a Certification in Construction Field Applications from Walker Tech, which complements his hands-on experience. His background in project planning, resource allocation, and safety enforcement makes him an invaluable asset to any construction team aiming for quality and efficiency.
Stanley Smith
Superintendent
A former pastor and preacher, Stanley 's life has always been the church, but he's worked in construction for his family since the 1980s. Stanley’s commercial and industrial construction experience comprises ground-ups and additions and renovations in both private and public sectors. A tradesman at heart, he specializes in drywall, millwork, plastering, stucco, and trim. His work experience extends to PEMB construction, underground wash stations, commercial office and dental center build-outs, and Federal laboratory work. Stanley holds a PhD in Ministry, a Masters of Theology and Ministry, and is a trained musician and music director. He enjoys his grandkids, ministerial work, dogs, and telling jokes.
Rance Smith
Assistant Project Manager
Born and raised in Calhoun, Georgia, Rance is an emerging construction professional. A dedicated student at Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC), he is pursuing a degree in Construction Management and on track to graduate in 2025. Rance is committed to continuing his professional journey with JBrennon post-graduation, where he aims to leverage his education and experience to further the company's success and his professional growth. His ambition and commitment to excellence mark him as a promising leader in the construction industry. In his free time Rance enjoys hunting, fishing, golfing and hanging out with his friends and family.
Open Position
Waste Water Superintendent
...
Herman "Bo" Pruitt
General Superintendent
Hailing from Rome, GA, Bo has worked in the construction industry since 1984. From single to multi-story medical facility, restaurant, government building, tilt-up, high rise, hotel, and airport construction, he has done it all. A qualified industrial safety professional, Bo has supervised the safety and operation of work for clients as large as Anheuser-Busch, McCormic Spice, Kellogg's, and Gatorade. Bo received a Bachelor's degree in Management from Shorter University and certificates as a Construction Safety Professional (CSP) and in industrial safety from Georgia Tech. He loves spending time with his sons fishing, kayaking, camping, hiking, and going to drag-car races.