“Allen exemplifies every component by which this award is measured. He has tirelessly contributed to the association since 2004 and has been with his company since 1979. Allen has engaged in every area of our association’s strategic plan, from governmental affairs to safety to workforce development, serving on every committee and even chairing the association.” — Jay Reed, president of ABC of Alabama

The ABC of Alabama awarded and congratulates Allen Harris, CEO of Bailey-Harris Construction, with the 2024 Cornerstone Award. Harris received the much-deserved award at the 35th Annual Excellence in Construction Awards Dinner, held on November 7 at The Finley Center in Hoover. The award is given each year to an individual who has made a noteworthy contribution to the Alabama construction industry, whether it’s through workforce development, immigration reform or a positive impact on the industry as a whole. “Allen exemplifies every component by which this award is measured,” explained Jay Reed, president of ABC of Alabama. “He has tirelessly contributed to the association since 2004 and has been with his company since 1979. Allen has engaged in every area of our association’s strategic plan, from governmental affairs to safety to workforce development, serving on every committee and even chairing the association.”

Harris has more than 50 years of experience in construction. He was born in Anniston, Alabama, and eventually graduated from Auburn University’s School of Architecture, Design and Construction. Upon graduating, Harris spent nine years working for an Auburn general contracting firm. From there, Harris and Jack Bailey formed Bailey-Harris Construction, which has been building throughout the Southeast for the last 45 years. The company has a strong focus on customer service, which has been a testament to its success. Harris said: “I continually tell our people that the most important thing we build is our name in the community. We understand we are a service organization, realizing we manufacture nothing but assemble everything.” Harris supervises field operations, oversees equipment maintenance and purchasing, and performs business development and marketing services.

In addition to his decades of work and founding of Bailey-Harris, Harris is also the founder and developer for The Springs of Mill Lakes, which is an award-winning 55-plus active adult community. He’s also the past president of the Foundation Board for the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind Talladega; a member and the committee head for the Alabama Workforce Council; past chair of the ABC of Alabama; and the founding chair of the ACT in Birmingham.

“As a lad of 14 entering the construction world, little thought was focused on awards,” said Harris. “In striving to build an organization, it became very important to build people so that they could build projects. It is our employees who bring honor to the profession and enjoy the sense of accomplishment on which I and many people thrive. Now, with this notable honor, it is a huge motivation for doing even more for the industry to which I have been married for many decades.”

Outside of his work, Harris enjoys spending time with his family, which includes five children, 10 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. He currently lives in Auburn with wife, Kay, and considers his family his “greatest blessing.” Harris and his wife are active members of Trinity Presbyterian Church, and Harris also loves fitness, hunting for relics, hiking and competitive ballroom dancing.

As a lad of 14 entering the construction world, little thought was focused on awards. In striving to build an organization, it became very important to build people so that they could build projects. It is our employees who bring honor to the profession and enjoy the sense of accomplishment on which I and many people thrive. Now, with this notable honor, it is a huge motivation for doing even more for the industry to which I have been married for many decades.” — Allen Harris, CEO of Bailey-Harris Construction

By Jessica Sears

PAST CORNERSTONE RECIPIENTS

John Harbert – Harbert Construction (1994)

Ted C. Kennedy – BE & K Inc. (1995)

Winton Blount – Blount Inc. (1996)

Houston Brice – Brice Building Company (1997)

M. Miller Gorrie – Brasfield & Gorrie LLC (1998)

Barry Morton – The Robins & Morton Group (1999)

Bobby Keith – Hoar Construction LLC (2000)

John E. Swindal – Masonry Arts (2001)

T. Michael Goodrich – BE & K Inc. (2002)

John P. Darnall III – Brasfield & Gorrie LLC (2003)

John Caddell – Caddell Construction (2004)

Thomas E. Doster III – Doster Construction (2005)

Gary C. Wyatt – Gary C. Wyatt GC LLC (2006)

Bill L. Harbert – BL Harbert International (2007)

Larry Argo – Marathon Electrical Contractors (2008)

Charles McCrary – Alabama Power (2009)

James S.M. French – Dunn Investment Company (2010)

Rob Burton – Hoar Construction LLC (2011)

Jim Rein – BL Harbert International (2012)

Danny Rodgers – Dunn Investment Company (2013)

Jim Gorrie – Brasfield & Gorrie LLC (2014)

Mike Thompson – Thompson Tractor Company (2015)

Gerald Acker – Acker Electric (2016)

Jim Early – Early Services (2016)

Bill Morton – Robins & Morton (2017)

Jimmy Ard & Garry Ard – Ard Contracting Inc. (2018)

Jim Cooper – Jim Cooper Construction (2019)

Jeff Stone – Brasfield & Gorrie (2022)

Robin Savage – Robins & Morton (2023)

On April 1, 2024, Bailey-Harris Construction Company celebrated the completion and opening of their new Huntsville office space with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The company has been increasing its reach in the North Alabama market, and is invested in the community there, according to Bailey-Harris President, Russell Harris.

“When we made the decision in 2015 to expand to the Huntsville market, we didn’t want to just come up here and complete a few construction projects,” said Harris. “We wanted to become ingrained into the fabric of this city; to make a lasting impact on the community. Being able to plant our roots in a place that we can call our own is a true reward for our investment in the North Alabama community.”

Renovations began in late November of 2023 and were completed this March.

According to Real Estate U.S. News, Huntsville was ranked the #1 place to live in the U.S. in 2022-2023, and is the fastest growing city in Alabama.

“As we approach our ninth year in Huntsville, we now have a place to call home,” said Tom Birchfield, Regional Manager of the Bailey-Harris Huntsville office.

With yet another successful project under their belt, the Huntsville team continues to make it clear that Bailey-Harris is dedicated to being part of the city’s growth and development.

Congratulations to Bailey-Harris CEO Allen Harris for being named the 2024 Cornerstone Recipient by the Alabama chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors.

In 1994 the ABC of Alabama started recognizing one person a year that has given their life’s commitment to better construction. The Cornerstone Award is given to someone who has made a noteworthy contribution to the Alabama construction industry by positively impacting workforce development, immigration reform, and the industry as a whole.

“As a lad of 14 entering the construction world, little thought was focused on awards,” said Harris. “In striving to build an organization, it became very important to build people, so that they could build projects. It is our employees who bring honor to the profession and enjoy the sense of accomplishment on which I and many people thrive. Now with this notable honor, it is a huge motivation for doing even more for the industry to which I have been married for many decades.”

As he announced the award to Bailey-Harris employees, President Reed touted Harris’ steadfastness and impartiality as the key to his success: “I’ve had the pleasure of working with Allen for years. One thing that he has always done is the right thing. Years ago, when Allen was board chairman of the state association, so much of his leadership could have been self-centered; but never once did he get in the grays. In the industry it’s sometimes easy to do that, but he always kept it in the middle. He asked me a hundred times, ‘What’s best? What’s best for everyone and we’ll do it,’ and that’s the main thing I remember about how he led that year.”

Tim hightower, ABC’s state PAC chair and President of Southern Carpet, Hardwood and Tile, and also a good friend of Harris, was there during the award announcement.   “In all my years, I’ve never known anybody that brings a passion for what they do like he does. He always kept me on point and still does. This award is well-deserved, and I thank him for all he’s done,” said Hightower.

Allen Harris is a cornerstone of ABC’s Alabama chapter, not to mention the industry of construction itself, and joins other pillars in the community that have given of themselves to better construction.

“The shock of being a recipient has not worn off,” said Harris. “Disbelief, unworthiness, and what the award stands for just blows my mind. To be in the same fraternity with the many extraordinary past recipients is beyond any words I can pen in this moment; it is truly an incredibly high honor.”