A local community leader and entrepreneur took a leap of faith to start his own construction services company in the hopes of fulfilling personal ambition.
“You only live once, and this is something I felt I needed to do for myself and my family,” said Domenic Scorpio, president of D. E. Scorpio Corporation, as he explained the reasoning behind his new career path.
Scorpio precisely plans every detail of his life. His devotion to detail fit perfectly with his profession in building construction, but when he made the decision to leave Charles Perry Partners, Inc. (CPPI) — ranked among ENR top contractors in 2013 — without a plan, it seemed uncharacteristic of him. To Scorpio, it made perfect sense.
Scorpio worked at CPPI for decades before deciding it was time to start his own business.
“When I interviewed with Chuck Perry almost 20 years ago, he asked me what I wanted to achieve in my career. I told him that I wanted to learn the industry and eventually I wanted to own my own business,” he said. “Working with Chuck’s company, I was able to learn and grow professionally, but the time for me to take a chance in achieving my own goals had arrived.”
“Emotionally, it wasn’t an easy decision,” said Scorpio. “I had formed meaningful relationships with my previous business partners and employees.”
As a former partner of the local firm PPI Construction Management, Scorpio had a significant role merging sister companies PPI and CPC, solidifying CPPI’s legacy in the construction industry.
“We emerged stronger and capable of continuing company growth to compete in a larger geographic market as planned”, Scorpio said. “But, for me personally and professionally, it left me contemplating the next phase of my career. I suggested to my wife that it was time for me to move in the direction of having my own company.”
Scorpio saw an opportunity in the local marketplace to create a company with an experienced team and the financial strength to deliver a broad scale of projects at a competitive price.
“With the resources and experience we have, we can successfully compete with larger companies for bigger projects, and remain lean enough to win smaller projects as well.” Scorpio said. “This combination offers our clients an opportunity to put more of their project budget toward bricks and mortar, and less into a construction companies operating overhead without sacrificing quality of service”.
With the full support of his wife and family behind him, D.E. Scorpio Corporation was formed.
Building the Team
“Most business experts will tell you to keep business and personal relationships separate, and I believe I have the ability to do that,” Scorpio said. “But, when you enjoy the people surrounding you on a daily basis and you achieve business success together as a team, it’s special for everyone involved. I think the relationships naturally become personal.”
His new team of ten consists of six people whom he has known, worked with and trusted for years. His wife, Holly, joined him as the company’s marketing director, and two additional employees are new hires.
Rick Buxton, the general superintendent responsible for overseeing on-site construction activity, was with CPPI for nearly seventeen years before Scorpio arrived. They had an immediate connection and worked side-by-side for eighteen years, building a close bond while delivering quality projects and hiring, training and mentoring employees. Buxton’s decision to join Scorpio was an easy one.
“Domenic and I shared the same philosophy,” he said.
Buxton looks forward to growing the business together and contributing lasting structures to the Gainesville community.
“When we are done,” Buxton said, “we strive to leave with the client wanting us to do another job because we met their expectation and maybe more.”
Don Kellogg, senior project manager, and Aaron Rogers, senior superintendent, were hired by Scorpio to work at CPPI. When he made the decision to start D.E. Scorpio Corp., both men did not hesitate to join him.
“I believe our values and goals align perfectly with the company and team,” Kellogg said. “For me, this was the easiest decision of my professional life, and I look forward to a fun journey.”
The highly skilled, close-knit team offers clients the experience, knowledge and expertise of a larger company delivered with small-company values such as direct, face-to-face communication and collaboration.
“The company may be young in age, but the team is deeply experienced,” Kellogg said. “Our combined construction knowledge covers everything from interior renovations to major building projects. This results in a lean company that can compete with anyone, while providing owners a quality product and an enjoyable experience. Everyone is committed to the same results.”
Scorpio’s passion and pride for his work is evident: “It doesn’t matter how many times I walk through projects we’ve had a hand in building — I look around at the details and workmanship like the first day it was turned over to the client.”
In total, he estimates his team has had a hand in building over 100 major projects and countless minor projects valued at more than $2 Billion to date.
Some of the notable projects Scorpio’s team delivered while with CPPI include the University of Florida’s Visitor Welcome Center and Bookstore , the women’s lacrosse facility and Southwest Recreation Center phase three, as well as the most recent expansion of The Village Retirement Community, a major expansion and renovation to LifeSouth Community Blood Centers’ Newberry Road campus and countless minor projects for the University of Florida and Santa Fe College.
Building with Purpose 
“I’m energized by new challenges,” Scorpio said. “I’m always looking for improvements that challenge my team to find efficient or innovative ways of doing things — the status quo doesn’t exist in my vocabulary.”
Having earned a bachelor’s degree in architecture and a graduate degree in building construction from the University of Florida, Scorpio’s degrees serve him well as an industry professional.
Will Olinger, Scorpio’s financial advisor and a managing partner at Koss Olinger Financial Group, said that unlike most builders, Scorpio is able to streamline the process of architecture and construction together, adding that he can look at a design before it’s built and decide whether or not it’s a good idea.
“When Domenic tells you something, it’s a fact,” he said. “If there were words I could use to describe him it would be honest, extremely hard-working and extremely capable.”
Olinger said he met Scorpio eight years ago while he was still working with CPPI and came to know him as one of Perry’s finest builders. Scorpio recently renovated Olinger’s company office, which was originally built in 1988.
“He’ll be able to work better with a small company of his own,” he said. “It’s kind of like being able to maneuver a speed boat better than a big steam boat.”
The first projects Scorpio and his team worked on were for Trimark Properties. With Gainesville’s initiative to foster innovation in the local economy, he said that helping build Innovation Square, a place where entrepreneurs have the opportunity to incubate and grow their businesses, was exciting for him.
“What these companies are doing is something I can personally relate to,” Scorpio said.
John Fleming, managing partner of Trimark Properties, said Scorpio completed a project around six months ago for the company and is currently working on two more projects in the Innovation Square area.
The first project for Trimark Properties was expanding its corporate office. Fleming said the project was a difficult task because they were adding to the office, which had to remain open and viable for work.
“The difference is that you’re dealing with Domenic himself and his lead supervisor (Rick Buxton), so it’s more of a personal experience,” he said. “You don’t have to go through any red tape or be pushed off to someone else in the company.”
Other notable projects recently awarded to his firm are the annual continuing services contract for minor projects at Santa Fe College, and the construction of a 15,000 square foot state of the art expansion project for the Chi Institute of Chinese Veterinary Medicine, in Reddick, FL, located approximately 20 miles from Gainesville.
Scorpio was also recently picked by the Florida Farm Bureau Federation and Florida’s Future Farmers of America (FFA) to renovate the new FFA state headquarters.
The Florida FFA works to provide opportunities to high school students who are interested in agriculture. The organization teaches students how to be both industry leaders, and leaders within their communities.
“To have the state headquarters here in Gainesville, and us to be a part of that, is pretty exciting. We’re happy to build the project, but the purpose it will serve in our community makes it special.” Scorpio said.
Pillar in the Community
As a graduate of Leadership Gainesville 34, an executive committee member of the M.E. Rinker Sr. School of Construction Management, a member of the board of directors for Oak Hall School, the current chair of the board for the Boys and Girls Club of Alachua Countyand a part of the Gateway Bank Advisory Board, Scorpio is deeply involved within his community.
Keith Blanchard, president of the Boys and Girls Club of Alachua County, said Scorpio is creative and hard working.
“The man does professional, quality work, and he’s a quality-driven person, so it all ties together,” he said.
Since Scorpio has been involved with the Boys and Girls Club, Blanchard said the organization has continued to flourish. The club empowers youth of Alachua County to realize their full potential and become responsible, healthy, productive and successful citizens.
The club has won three consecutive awards from the Boys and Girls Clubs of America over the past three years and recently announced that it will receive a fourth award.
Scorpio continues to improve his community whether it’s for the benefit of the organizations he supports, his work family, or his own family. That’s what drives him to be the person he is today.
When asked if he had any advice for others considering starting a business, Scorpio said “You first have to ask yourself if you’re willing to risk everything and potentially lose everything.” he said. “Then, you have to be willing to take the leap.”