Shelly Samuel and Eric DeSimone
After spending 25 years in commercial real estate building and scaling two contracting firms in New York and South Florida, both of which are still active, and delivering over $2B in construction projects, Eric DeSimone is building something for himself and his team.
In February 2025, he launched DeSimone Builders, a general contractor that combines the approach of a contracting firm with the mindset of an owner, DeSimone says.
“I’ve had a successful career generating hundreds of millions of dollars for others,” DeSimone said. “Now I’m taking everything I’ve learned and applying my winning formula to create a better, smarter, more efficient construction company from the ground up.”
DeSimone’s varied CRE career has given him a 360-degree view of what works and what doesn’t, he said. A South Florida-based general contracting firm that DeSimone helped start while still in his twenties continues to thrive since his exit in 2007, generating over $150M in annual revenue.
In 2007, DeSimone returned to his hometown of New York City and spent twelve years in project management roles at CBRE, JLL and Savanna. At Savanna, after managing the execution of over $1B in Manhattan development and construction projects, he established SavCon, the company's in-house construction management firm, in 2018.
To date, SavCon has delivered over $600M in projects spanning commercial, hospitality, office interiors and ground-up developments in New York and South Florida.
“After 12 years of being on the project management side, I know the challenges owners face, from navigating budget constraints to maximizing asset value,” DeSimone said. “And I understand why so many GCs end up disappointing clients – insufficient communication and a transactional mindset.”
At DeSimone Builders, the team treats every client dollar as if it were their own, with every decision made with the client’s best interest in mind, he said.
‘Big Table’ Ownership Model
DeSimone Builders is launching with a unique approach to talent recruitment and retention.
“Most founders build companies for an acquisition or IPO exit,” DeSimone said. “That’s not what I’m here to do.”
In the future, the firm will allow workers to share in the company’s financial success through an employee stock ownership plan, or ESOP, he said.
"Ultimately, we want the employees who are helping us build this company to share in its success,” said Shelly Samuel, business operations manager at DeSimone Builders, who has worked alongside DeSimone for the past seven years, and is the company’s first hire. “We’re creating a big table, and it’s important to us that everyone has a seat and shares in the rewards of what we’re building together.”
‘The Winning Team’
During their time at SavCon, DeSimone and Samuel organized a company outing that illustrates DeSimone’s leadership style. They invited the entire team to participate in a paintball match — an event that, while lighthearted, revealed much about the dynamics of the team, Samuel said.
“Even in a casual setting, everyone wanted to be on Eric’s team,” she said. “There is a deep level of trust in his leadership, whether on the field or in business, and a shared confidence that he will guide the team to success.”
That reputation for leadership has played a significant role in generating excitement around the launch of DeSimone Builders.
“When it became known that Eric was starting a new venture, the response was overwhelmingly positive,” Samuel said. “There was a genuine eagerness to see him succeed, and many expressed interest in contributing to what we are building. We’re beginning from a position of strength.”
Showing Up For Each Other
DeSimone Builders aims to set itself apart through its culture, Samuel said. In addition to the ESOP program, the firm is prioritizing professional development, mentorship and genuine personal connection.
“We make it a priority to check in on our people,” Samuel said. “I hold one-on-one meetings with every member of the team to stay connected. When someone is facing personal challenges, we’re there to support them. Not just in the workplace, but beyond it as well.”
Eric DeSimone and Shelly Samuel
Samuel said it’s the kind of mentorship she wishes she had received when she got started in the industry.
“Construction is a challenging industry to break into for anyone, but even more so for women and women of color,” said Samuel, who is Black and of Trinidadian descent. “I’ve worked hard to reach this point and now my focus is on opening doors for others. It’s important to me to lead by example, mentor the next generation and ensure they have the support and opportunities to thrive.”
If employees aren’t genuinely happy, they won’t perform at the level the company needs, no matter how much you pay them, Samuel said.
“But when you take the time to dig deeper, understand the challenges they’re facing and actively work with them to find solutions, you build a team-first culture that can withstand any headwinds in the commercial real estate industry,” she added. “That’s exactly what we’re fostering at DeSimone Builders.”
In coming years, the talent gap in construction is set to widen as seasoned professionals are set to retire, DeSimone added.
“The industry is failing to create career pathways for the next generation of leaders,” he said.
That’s why DeSimone Builders is doubling down on mentoring early and mid-career talent to ensure industry knowledge isn’t lost but rather transferred and built upon, DeSimone said.
Revenue Goals
The goal of DeSimone Builders’ founder and CEO is for the company to generate $250M in revenue by 2030, he said.
“We have deep industry relationships, immediate access to repeat clients and strong referral networks, and an ability to scale in a market that is primed for disruption,” DeSimone said. “Our people strategy is also geared towards future growth.”
The firm’s offerings will include commercial, institutional, healthcare, hospitality, residential, retail and ground-up construction from preconstruction to completion.
“The industry is changing,” DeSimone said. “Demand is shifting with hospitality-inspired repositioning projects on the rise. We are strategically positioned to fill the gap between boutique construction firms and large corporate contractors, combining the agility and client focus of a niche firm with the capabilities and resources of a larger player.”
This article was produced in collaboration between DeSimone Builders and Studio B. Bisnow news staff was not involved in the production of this content.
Studio B is Bisnow’s in-house content and design studio. To learn more about how Studio B can help your team, reach out to studio@bisnow.com.
