From the very start, he was hooked.

“I enjoy every part of the business,” he says. “Every day is different, and I’m constantly learning.”

Kirksey, 33, brings his extensive experience and his enthusiasm for the construction industry to ABES Contracting, joining the Memphis team in late June.

“We’re excited to welcome James,” says ABES Contracting President Emmanuel Tuombe. “He has a lot of great experience and brings so much to the team, including an enthusiasm for the work. This is an exciting time for ABES Contracting and we know that James will help us reach the next level.”

ABES Contracting Vice President Brad Davis agrees, adding that bringing Kirksey aboard made perfect sense for the company. “We are growing at a rapid rate and having James as part of the team means we can continue to bring the very best to the table on every project,” he says.

Kirksey grew up in Tipton County, TN. His father worked as a general superintendent for a construction company, doing renovations on hotels, apartment complexes and on other projects. Kirksey began working for his father as a teenager, “doing grunt work, labor, laying tile … whatever was needed.”

At 19, he decided to step out on his own, working with various construction companies before landing with the California-based company, Jade-Ex. For six years, Kirksey traveled the country, working on projects ranging from a casino in Las Vegas to an apartment complex in New York. He lived in Las Vegas for eight months, in Florida for nine months and in New York for two years while working on projects.

From the very beginning of his career, Kirksey made a commitment to excellence. “I take pride in what I do, and when I say I’m going to do something, I do it. I don’t do anything halfway,” he says. The result has been long-term connections with clients all over the country, some who keep in touch with him years after a project is complete. “It’s just having a good reputation. Doing the work the right way and building a network of people who trust you. That’s important.”

While Kirksey was building his career, he was also building a family. And his family led to his decision to step away from Jade-Ex and return to Memphis full-time.

“I have two daughters, 8-year-old Sutton and 11-year-old Isabella,” he says. “I decided to stop traveling for my kids.”

He returned to Memphis in 2022 and reconnected with the construction community there. One of those connections was Dylan Whitmore, who currently works for ABES Contracting. “I’ve known Dylan since I was 17,” he says. Whitmore encouraged Kirksey to take a look at ABES Contracting and to meet with Tuombe and Davis. Kirksey says he was impressed with what he heard and saw.

He loved the idea of helping a relatively new company grow and adding his connections and expertise. He also appreciated the diversity of both ABES Contracting and ABES Engineering, companies that have employees from around the world, including Africa, Hong Kong and Canada.

“I love it,” he says. “It’s a different perspective on life and work. Plus meeting new people is always fun.”

Kirksey hopes his connections and his work ethic will help ABES Contracting continue to grow, and he’s thrilled to be back in Memphis where he’s able to be with his daughters. “I don’t miss the traveling,” he says. “I’m more of a dad now. Since I’m in Memphis, I get to spend more time with them.”

When Kirksey isn’t working, he likes to spend time with his daughters and his fiance Jessie and stepson Dawson doing things such as kayaking, hiking, “chasing waterfalls” and riding motorcycles.

As for what the future holds professionally, Kirksey is looking forward to a bright future. “I hope to stay with ABES and bring to the table what I can and watch the company succeed. It’s an exciting time.”

One of the ways we do this is by holding an annual company retreat where we come together to grow, learn and connect with one another. “I think it’s critical that we have an annual retreat where we can learn from each other and from our speakers and reconnect as a team,” says ABES Engineering CEO Emmanuel Tuombe. “These retreats are an important investment in our team and our company.”

The 2025 ABES retreat in Memphis was filled with plenty of learning, but it was also full of laughter and fun. Here’s a peek at what our week looked like:

Monday, May 5

The first day of the retreat featured video interviews conducted by Sam Coates. Each year, we document our journey with these interviews – sharing our experiences, our vision and our goals for the future. It’s an exciting opportunity to hear from everyone on the ABES Engineering and ABES Contracting teams.

Tuesday, May 6

On day two of our retreat, the teams met with leaders from Shelby County to share the growth and progress of both ABES Engineering and ABES Contracting. We’re grateful for the trust the County has placed in us and the support they’ve shown since the very beginning.

It was especially meaningful for the County team to meet many of our staff—most of whom are actively working on Shelby County projects. They expressed their appreciation and praised the impact our team is making in the community.

Day two also included a site visit to Shelby County projects that ABES is working on.

The second day of the retreat ended with a social event at Wiseacre Brewing Company in Memphis, a time for us to reconnect with our clients, partners and friends. The social gave us a perfect opportunity for our team to show off some of their non-engineering skills. Three members of our team, Grace Souder, Brad Davis and Nick Wong, even performed with the band!

At the social, the team also celebrated 10 years in business for ABES Engineering and three years for ABES Contracting. It was a fantastic evening of connection, celebration and community.

Wednesday, May 7

Day three of our annual retreat included a very special meeting with the City of Memphis

As we celebrated 10 years of ABES Engineering and three years of ABES Contracting, we never forget that the City has been in our corner from the very beginning. They have given us meaningful opportunities to contribute to our community and entrusted us with projects that make lasting impacts. To hear their positive feedback about our contributions was gratifying and gave us new fuel for the growth to come.

On the evening of day three, we gathered at a team-only cookout where team members showed off their BBQ and grilling chops.

Thursday, May 8

Day four of the ABES Retreat was all about building bridges and memories. The ABES team spent the day connecting with the community and with each other in powerful ways.

They started by visiting Orange Mound, an important project ABES Engineering designed with purpose and pride. It was a proud moment to see our work shaping the community and enhancing lives—proof that engineering is not just about structures, but about people.

From there, the team shifted gears and embraced the beauty of nature, kayaking at Hyde Lake in Shelby Farms. It was the perfect way to build relationships, strengthen teamwork, and simply enjoy each other’s company outside of the office.

Friday, May 9

The ABES teams finished the week with a guided discussion on the book “The Ideal Team Player,” led by Shad Berry of Edmundson Berry Group. We also heard from Rick Gafford from Fisher Arnold.

Under Berry’s guidance, the team explored their strengths and weaknesses. They examined ways in which they can stay smart, hungry and humble, concepts outlined in “The Ideal Team Player.”

The discussion was impactful, as everyone engaged in activities that build trust and communication.

Following the workshop on “The Ideal Team Player,” Gafford shared his engineering journey, challenging our team to keep exploring new opportunities, and reminding us of the importance of building a strong, values-driven company culture. We’re grateful for the long-standing partnership between ABES Engineering and Fisher Arnold!

Although the 2025 retreat is in the books, we are continuing to study the concepts we explored, including becoming ideal team players. We look forward to the 2026 retreat and can’t wait to see how our team will grow and learn in the coming year.

He’s an artist, a mushroom gardener, an explorer of Chinese culture and language and the latest addition to the ABES Contracting team.

“If only we were living in the renaissance period,” Brown jokes when asked about his wide-ranging interests.

Brown joined ABES Contracting in February, bringing with him years of experience in the construction field and a life story full of unexpected turns.

Originally from Mississippi, Brown’s early life was shaped by travel. With a stepfather in the military, his family moved frequently. Eventually, they settled in Memphis, the city Brown still calls home today.

An avid artist and sculptor, Brown moved to Detroit after high school where he studied at the College for Creative Studies. After two years, however, Brown was forced to step away from school to work. His plan was to earn enough tuition money to return. Then life happened. “It took me 20 years to realize I dropped out of college,” he says.

A career in construction with a twist

After leaving school, Brown began working in construction, finding a similarity to art in the contracting work. “Each job is somewhat unique. You’re building relationships and troubleshooting problems as they arise and trying to figure out ways to do things better. It’s the same skill set at the end of the day.”

In 2008, his life took a drastic turn when he earned a scholarship to the Confucius Institute, a nonprofit educational institute with an aim of promoting Chinese language and culture. “A friend of mine who is a professor suggested it to me,” he says. For the next five years, Brown lived in China, studying the culture and learning the language. “It was kind of a humbling experience,” he says. “You learn to be adaptable.”

In 2014, he returned to the U.S. with the ability to speak “functional Chinese” and a newfound appreciation of the culture.

The path to ABES Contracting

Back home, Brown returned to construction, working with various companies over the years. Eventually he landed a job with a home remodeling company, and that’s where fate stepped in.

The company he worked for was hired to remodel the home of Brad Davis, Vice President of ABES Contracting.

During the construction, the two men talked frequently. Davis grew to not only appreciate Brown’s contracting skills, but his ability to communicate effectively about the work. “You only have to talk to Terance for about five minutes to understand that he’s a smart and humble guy. He has a very diverse background and range of experience which makes for very fun and enlightening conversation,” Davis says. “His communication style is clear and to the point, but he’s also interesting. He was doing work for me at my house, but my wife and I found ourselves just talking to him and hanging out. He’s a pleasure to be around and he’s a free-thinking problem-solver for sure.”

When work was completed, Davis made a bold decision. He offered Brown a chance to join ABES Contracting. “It was obvious to me that Terance cares about his work and works hard. He’s a learner who likes to be challenged. That skill set, and his ability to be a team player, fit very well in the culture we are building at ABES Contracting. I’m excited to work with Terance as we both grow and learn.”

Brown says the move from home remodeling to large-scale contracting has been a big change, requiring him to learn new things, including operating heavy equipment. But overall, it’s been an easy transition. “It’s new, but you pick things up. It’s all a matter of scale,” he says.

ABES Contracting President Emmanuel Tuombe is excited to welcome Terry to the team. “When I met Terry and heard about his life experience, I was amazed, and I felt like he would be a great addition to our team. It’s incredible the talent we are finding as we grow the company. My goal is to make sure that we can be a great team to Terry and give him opportunities to bring out his talents as we make an impact in our communities.”

From mushrooms to sculpture

When Brown isn’t working with the ABES Contracting team, he continues to sculpt and draw. But he’s also picked up another hobby – growing gourmet mushrooms. “I read a book about them, and it was interesting,” he says. He grows mainly lion’s mane, wine cap and oyster mushrooms. “I enjoy it. It’s something different.”

Whether it’s building a structure, sculpting a form, speaking another language or growing unique mushrooms, Brown approaches life with an open mind, always willing to explore new experiences and use his talents to create. He’s happy to be a part of the ABES Contracting team and looks forward to what the future holds for both him and the company.

“It’s definitely a change in direction for me,” he says. “But I’m really enjoying it and I’m glad I made the decision to join the ABES team.”

The Memphis Flyway is just one of those projects.

“We‘re very excited to be part of the Flyway project because it’s a public facility that everyone in Memphis can use and benefit from. These park-type projects help unify our city and move us forward,” says ABES Contracting Vice President Brad Davis.

Proposed by Memphis River Parks Partnership, the $2.5 million Flyway in Tom Lee Park will be the only free and ADA-accessible observation deck on the Mississippi River. The concept for Flyway began in 2024 when the City of Memphis completed an extensive renovation to Tom Lee Park on the banks of the Mississippi River. The Flyway is designed as a supplement to the new facility.

So what is the Flyway? It’s a ground-supported canopy boardwalk supported by three steel mast column bundles. It is located at the southern end of the Park. The boardwalk extends out over the Mississippi River in a southeast-northwest direction for a total length of approximately 218 feet.

ABES Contracting is responsible for the site/civil portion of the work including demolition, clearing, earthwork, grading and erosion control. Montgomery Martin Contractors are the project manager. Acuff Enterprises is a subcontractor providing earthwork, building a 28’-wide rocked access road, scour protection for the piers and crane pad foundations. Michael Hatcher is installing the landscaping as a subconsultant to ABES Contracting. The Flyway was designed by Studio Gang and SCAPE, companies that also oversaw the renovation of Tom Lee Park.

Davis says this project is providing “valuable experience to ABES both as a general contractor managing subcontractors and as a self-performing site/civil contractor.”

He gives much credit to Montgomery Martin Contractors for their guidance. “Montgomery Martin Contractors has been a great mentor for ABES Contracting, not only on the Memphis Flyway project but on several other City of Memphis projects.”

The Flyway is set to be completed in 2025. It’s funded by the Tennessee Heritage Conservation Trust Fund, the U.S. Economic Development Administration, the Tennessee Department of Transportation, and an anonymous donor.

“I think that my experience and the relationships I’ve built with people in the business will help us continue to grow ABES Contracting. And I really look forward to being a part of that,” says Whitmore, who joined the ABES Contracting team in November.

“I’m very excited to have Dylan join our team,” says ABES Contracting President Emmanuel Tuombe. “I’m looking forward to what Dylan brings to our team and what we can bring to him as a person and on a professional level as well.”

In his new position, Whitmore will manage ongoing projects and procure new projects for the company. He also might find himself, like he did recently, behind the wheel of an excavator. And that suits him just fine. “I like to hit the ground running,” he says. “I don’t want to be stuck in one spot. I like going out, meeting people and being on the job sites.”

Whitmore, 33, grew up in Tipton County, about 30 miles north of Memphis. From an early age, he loved working. “When I was 14, I started working on a farm. Then I started working at Tractor Supply in high school,” he says. “I was the only freshman in high school working 40 hours a week and going to school.”

Following high school graduation, Whitmore jumped into a career in construction, working for various companies in the Memphis area. Over the years, he’s also gained experience in a variety of areas, including bridge work, wastewater treatment plants, fire protection and inspection, welding and more.

Whitmore met ABES Contracting Project Manager Domenic Pironcello while both men were bidding on a project. That’s when he first learned about ABES Contracting. He was impressed with what he saw. Eventually, he reached out to ABES about a possible position. “I like that it’s a growing company,” he says of his decision. “I also like the culture and the people.”

It didn’t take long for both Tuombe and ABES Contracting Vice President Brad Davis to recognize Whitmore as a perfect fit for ABES.

“Dylan was born and raised just outside Memphis and has deep roots here,” says Davis. “He’s been working in construction in the Memphis area for his entire career, so he understands the projects, the workforce and the clients. He’s been steadily working his way up through trades and wants to continue growing as an estimator and project manager. And ABES Contracting is growing! We need Dylan’s experience, drive, connections and desire to learn as we seek to reach the next level of self-performing work.”

Tuombe heartily agrees. “As we continue to grow, we’re always looking for great people to join the team because we recognize that business is about people. With his experience in the Memphis market, I think Dylan is going to place us in a very good position for further growth,” he says. “Plus, he has a skillset that has prepared him to work in multiple areas. When you have a small business, you tend to wear different hats and Dylan brings that skill.”

Davis adds, “We think he is a great match for our vision and culture as he is a team player and is willing to fill various roles as we grow as a young company. He can work in the office doing estimates and bids, but then also go jump on a piece of heavy equipment and operate when needed. It’s really nice when you find a fit that is great for the company and the employee, too.”

When Whitmore isn’t working, he spends most of his time with his two daughters, Matalynn, 8, and Rylee, 5. He enjoys coaching his daughters in softball. “It’s fun. They both play softball, and I love that,” he says. “I’ve coached Matty since she was 4.” Whitmore also enjoys riding his motorcycles. “I ride a lot. It’s something I really enjoy,” he says.

As for his new position with ABES, he’s optimistic about the future and ready to take things to the next level. “I’ve got a lot of contacts and resources that I feel are going to help us out a lot,” he says. “I look forward to seeing ABES grow. I think the future is bright.”

Domenic Pirroncello joined the team in May, moving with his wife and six children from their home in Toronto, Canada, to Memphis.

Pirroncello says his family had been planning to move to the United States for some time, exploring different states before choosing Tennessee. They purchased a home outside of Memphis two years ago, befriending neighbors and getting to know the ups and downs of obtaining a visa.

When a neighbor introduced Pirroncello to ABES Contracting Vice President Brad Davis, things started to come together.

“Then Brad introduced me to Emmanuel (Tuombe, ABES Contracting President), and it looked like a really good fit for everyone. The rest is history,” he says.

Tuombe and Davis launched ABES Contracting two years ago, expanding upon the foundation built by ABES Engineering. They’ve worked since to grow the new business. Bringing Pirroncello aboard is just one more step in the right direction.

“As an entrepreneur, I’ve learned that the true strength of any endeavor lies in the quality of its people,” Tuombe says. “Over the last nine years, I’ve focused on nurturing ABES Engineering, understanding the intricate relationship between design and construction. While engineering laid the foundation, I yearned to delve into construction, recognizing its unique challenges. Collaborating with Brad, we forged a path to expand into construction, culminating in the inception of ABES Contracting in 2022, with $3 million already under contract.”

Tuombe says as the business grew, it was obvious that it needed experienced staff to take it to the next level. “To propel us forward, we sought a key individual with invaluable construction expertise. Enter Domenic, with 25 years of industry experience. His joining marks a pivotal moment for ABES Contracting, ensuring our journey towards building a robust construction company in Memphis. With Domenic on board, I’m confident in our collective ability to elevate ABES Contracting to new heights.”

Davis agrees, noting that Pirroncello brings not only the core values the company is looking for, but the experience in construction. “Because Domenic ran his own construction business for several years, he understands both the office side and the field side. He understands how to find subs and put together bids as well as how to operate equipment and get the work done.” says Davis. “His depth and breadth of experience will serve our young construction company well. His overall approach to work and his core values are in alignment with what we’ve built at ABES. I believe that his experience and character are exactly what ABES needs as we continue to grow our construction business to the next level.”

Throughout his career, Pirroncello has worked on a variety of projects including buildings, railyards, a ski hill and chalet and a water park. “I’ve done a little bit of everything,” he says. That breadth of knowledge and experience gives him a unique opportunity to help build and grow ABES Contracting. “Brad took me on a tour of some of the projects they’re working on. It’s very interesting and I’m excited. I think we’ll make a great team together.”

As for moving his family to Tennessee, he’s confident it was the right decision. “They always say Canadians are the nicest people you’ll ever meet, but I think Southerners are some of the nicest,” he says. “Everyone we’ve met in Memphis has been really kind and sweet. We’re excited to be here.”