Graycor hires construction vet to lead Southwest division

Graycor Construction has hired 30-year industry veteran Brett Helm as general manager of its Southwest Division, the Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois-based firm announced in an April 15 LinkedIn post.

Based out of the company’s Phoenix office, Helm will support the firm’s warehouse and distribution portfolio while seeking new opportunities in advanced manufacturing, semiconductors and retail, according to a news release shared with Construction Dive.

He will also focus on strategic portfolio growth in the data center space and semiconductor projects, alongside talent management.

Before joining Graycor, Helm spent more than two decades as a project executive for Redwood City, California-based DPR Construction, followed by leadership roles in the Phoenix offices of Falls Church, Virginia-based HITT Contracting; Providence, Rhode Island-based Gilbane Building Co.; Chicago-based Clayco; and Swedish builder Skanska.

“Brett is an exceptional addition to our team, bringing tremendous market expertise and a stellar reputation among his network of clients, subcontractors and colleagues,” said Tim Hanifin, Graycor president, in the release.

Advanced manufacturing projects have been a big focus in the region, and some construction firms have established separate units for the sector, including Skanska and Edmonton, Alberta-based PCL, which has U.S. headquarters in Denver.

Graycor sees Phoenix and the Southwest region as particularly ripe for data center expansion due to the relatively lower cost of power and the decreased threat of natural disasters, per the news release.

Some of Graycor’s notable projects in the area include:

• The Elliot Gateway industrial park in Mesa, Arizona. 
• Rinchem chemical warehouses in Chandler and Surprise, Arizona. 
• The 1.25 million-square-foot G303 manufacturing and distribution facility for Mlily in Glendale, Arizona.
• A Unified Cargo Processing facility, encompassing approximately 635,000 square feet within the SkyBridge Arizona master plan in Mesa.