TRAFFIC CRAWLED along Lincoln Avenue, a backhoe leading the way, soon joined by a Fayetteville Police Department car’s flashing blue lights. The officer eased the machine over, clearing the way for frustrated drivers. As the cab door opened, preteens Chad Mullins and his brother, Jeff Mullins, stared back.
“He asked if our dad knew we were driving around on the backhoe. We said, ‘Yes, he’s waiting for us at Country Club Estates.’ They never went to check our story. Driving the backhoe around town was our driver’s ed,” laughed Chad.
In 1974, Jerry W. Mullins hammered his first nails as the owner of Jerry W. Mullins Construction. Soon, his sons worked alongside him, picking up trash on the job site and pulling wire from under the floors, although they were only 7 or 8 years old. Although they were experienced construction workers by the time they graduated high school, their father wanted more for them.
“College wasn’t optional for us; Dad expected us to go. I decided to study civil engineering — the closest I could get to construction in college. After graduation in 1994, I still wanted to build, so I started a spec house, and it went from there,” Chad explained. “I don’t think my dad was too happy about it. He just wanted a good life for me without all the struggles that come with owning your own business.”
With a college degree and his first spec house under his belt, Chad became a second-generation construction company owner. A combination of distance and degrees prompted him to add concrete as a specialty.
“In 2017, while working on a custom home on Crystal Ridge, I was frustrated with getting concrete to the job during the hot summer months. For a concrete truck loaded, it was nearly an hour’s drive to get to my job. That’s when I decided to do something about it and started the ready-mix plant.”
The company expanded again in early 2023 with the acquisition of Carter Septic and Concrete, which manufactures septic tanks, grease traps, and other concrete products.
As the business thrives, Chad looks to the future with optimism. His daughters, Carlie and Claire, are graduating from Middle Tennessee State University with degrees in concrete industry management this May, while his son, Will, graduated in 2023 with a degree in civil engineering.
“I was thrilled when they told me their career path,” Chad said. “I want them to learn from others first, but if they come back one day to help in the family business, that would be great.”
But hard work doesn’t stand in the way of date nights with his wife, Angie. The couple combines out-of-town pick-ups and deliveries, stopping for dinner along the way.
This blend of family and business reflects the core values that drive Chad’s success. He embodies a work ethic rooted in family values and commitment to quality.
“Being proud of something you have created is a great feeling,” he reflected. “Whether it’s a house or a septic tank that’s hopefully never seen again, you want it to look good and perform as it should.”
With such dedication and passion for his craft, Mullins Construction & Concrete will build a solid future, continuing the tradition started by Jerry W. Mullins. GN
Mullins Construction & Concrete, 310 Ardmore Hwy., Fayetteville. For more information, call (931) 438-8940 and follow the company on Facebook.
