The principals of Charles Perry Partners, Inc. are pictured at the construction site of Phase II of the Innovation Hub at the University of Florida. IN BACK, are Jason Morgan, Matt Webster and Vinnie Moreschi. IN FRONT, are Brian Leslie, John Carlson and Breck Weingart.
Charles Perry Partners, Inc. (CPPI) is constantly improving and growing, and now the construction company is taking a leap forward — by expanding its leadership team.
“We’re always looking to move to a higher bar, and as we looked to the future, a light went on,” said Chairman Breck Weingart. “We had younger people who had proven themselves who we wanted to include as owners.”
In January, CPPI added three new principals: Matt Webster, Vinnie Moreschi and Jason Morgan. All three have long track records with the company, ranging from 14 to 21 years.
Expanding the leadership team is part of CPPI’s new succession plan. As part of the plan, principal Brian Leslie moved to the position of president. John Carlson has reduced his time commitment and remains a principal working on specific projects.
Leslie joined the company in 1993, and he was chief operating officer before his promotion to president.
CPPI will enter its 50th year in 2018. “We wanted a strong foundation for the next 50 years,” Carlson said. “That includes opening doors for others.”
The succession plan is in keeping with the approach of founder Charles “Chuck” Perry, who treated employees like family — including expecting the best from them.
Perry, who died in 2005, hired Weingart in 1983 when Weingart was a graduate student in construction management at the University of Florida.
“Chuck was a wonderful mentor, friend and partner for over 22 years,” Weingart said. “He was a patient and calm person. He regarded a handshake agreement as good as gold. He was regarded throughout the community as an honest businessman who gave back to the community.”
Following this guiding philosophy, CPPI has become a premier construction company in the Southeast.
They have built many of the landmark buildings in Greater Gainesville – including many for the University of Florida, Santa Fe College, North Florida Regional Medical Center, UF Health, the City of Gainesville, Alachua County Government and private commercial clients.
The company also has offices in Orlando, Jacksonville, Tampa and Savannah, Georgia, that have constructed major projects throughout Florida and Georgia.
In addition, CPPI’s Diversified Projects Division works under continuing service contracts for state and private organizations to meet their ongoing needs for projects under a certain dollar amount – generally below $2 million.
“Many people in our community don’t realize that CPPI services projects less than $2 million,” Webster said. DPD has recently completed interior build-outs, tenant improvements and façade renovations. These projects include food service/restaurants, retail space, administrative offices and medical offices.
NEW PRINCIPALS’ ROLES
“The new principals are bound to succeed in their new roles,” Leslie said. “They came up through the ranks, and they understand the history of CPPI,” he stated. “Their hard work and dedication put them in a good position to carry on the legacy of Chuck Perry.”
Charles Perry Partners, Inc. and Nancy Perry are sponsoring the 100th anniversary of the Florida Museum of Natural History. “As the state’s natural history museum, we’re thrilled to have the support of such a successful, community-oriented organization that has contributed so significantly to the built environment throughout our state and of Nancy Perry,” said Museum Director Doug Jones. Nancy Perry is the widow of CPPI Founder Charles “Chuck” Perry.
As the museum celebrates its centennial, CPPI is approaching its 50th anniversary. “We believe this partnership between two long-standing organizations will focus attention on the potential harmony between the natural and built environments to the benefit of all citizens,” Jones said.
Charles Perry Partners, Inc. and Nancy Perry are sponsoring the 100th anniversary of the Florida Museum of Natural History. “As the state’s natural history museum, we’re thrilled to have the support of such a successful, community-oriented organization that has contributed so significantly to the built environment throughout our state and of Nancy Perry,” said Museum Director Doug Jones. Nancy Perry is the widow of CPPI Founder Charles “Chuck” Perry.
Webster led the Diversified Projects Division in the past. “Our contracts enable clients such as UF and Santa Fe to have a dependable vendor for smaller projects without having to bid each of them,” he said. DPD grew from a single contract in 1996 to over 15 separate contracts around the state.
Over the past two years, Webster has been learning the ropes of new business development under Carlson, and he now is the executive vice president. “Moving from operations to business development and preconstruction coordination has been a career change for me,” he said. “John has taught me that building relationships based on trust is just as important as performance.”
Moreschi continues as vice president of the company’s healthcare division. He assisted in planning and preconstruction of the George T. Harrell, M.D. Medical Education Building at UF, which opened in 2015.
Moreschi has been part of numerous expansions at North Florida Regional Medical Center as well. “Our involvement goes back more than 25 years,” he said. “Our long knowledge of the inner workings of the building makes us an extension of the maintenance staff.”
Morgan heads CPPI’s Orlando office. After spending one year in the Gainesville office, he has spent the past 13 years expanding the Orlando office from a small presence to become one of the leading construction operations in central Florida.
Some of CPPI’s longstanding clients in Orlando include the University of Central Florida, Orlando Health and Orange County Public Schools. In addition, the office is currently working with Lake-Sumter State College and Seminole State College.
The company is continuing Perry’s approach to nurturing the employees who now are working their way up the ladder. “Chuck was not a micromanager,” Leslie said. “He gave you the information you needed, tools for success and the opportunity to prove yourself. That remains our guiding philosophy.”
“CPPI’s succession planning is paving the way for its continued success for decades to come. Our continued commitment to our clients, design professionals and trade contractors remains unchanged and evolves around our core values (CITES): Commitment, Integrity, Teamwork, Excellence and Stewardship,” Weingart said.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN SLOAN AND PROVIDED BY CPPI
Senior Writer CHRIS EVERSOLE has been a keen observer of business, government and culture in the Greater Gainesville Area while living here over the past two decades. His experience includes work with the University of Florida and Alachua County Government. He also has been a journalist and public relations professional in the Tampa Bay and Sarasota- Bradenton areas, as well as in Michigan,
Ohio and New York.