Alum Aims to Build Students’ Futures as Member of IEB

Now president of Shelby General Contractors, he has built an impressive career that traces back to co-starting a lawn business in his late teens and even launching a construction business while at Auburn. With deep expertise in both the building industry and building relationships, Shelby now joins the McWhorter School of Building Science (BSCI) Industry Executive Board (IEB) to help shape the future of BSCI students.

Advancing the Vision

Shelby believes the best builders understand the client’s goals, embrace the architect’s design intent and self-perform quality work with integrity.

“Understanding the origin of a project—the why—drives a deeper commitment to its delivery,” said Shelby. “The leadership approach that I use today stems in part from my experience in program management. My goal is to inspire my team to approach every project with a passion for discovering its purpose and gaining vision. Combining the ideas and goals of the client with the architect’s design intent allows us to overcome obstacles and deliver a quality end product. This is what it means to ‘Advance the Vision.’”

A Family-Focused Approach

Shelby’s company philosophy emphasizes hard work without sacrificing family values.

“The construction industry provides unique opportunities for people to better their lives and the lives of others,” he stated. “We all work hard to find balance in a demanding industry. Providing the opportunity for individuals to excel in their profession, provide for their families and be present in the daily lives of their loved ones became the structure around which Shelby General Contractors was built.”

Shelby ensures this vision by prioritizing local hiring and projects, creating opportunities for employees to thrive both professionally and personally.

“By building and hiring locally, we provide employees with the work-life balance I wanted for myself,” said Shelby, whose company opened a Chattanooga location in 2024 with plans to expand into two additional markets by 2032. “This focus has fostered a culture of quality people building quality projects. Our core values are Love Others. Be Passionate. Do What’s Right. Overcome.”

His entrepreneurial mindset started with family, too. Alongside his brother, Lance, he launched a lawn service business that introduced him to estimating costs, performing work and generating profit. Shelby carries with him a reminder of this formative experience—the company’s business card, still in his wallet.

While lawn care wasn’t the right fit, Shelby saw a similar model in construction.  A friend’s uncle—owner of a large construction company—advised him to earn a Building Science degree from Auburn. That guidance changed his trajectory.

From Student to Builder

Through Auburn’s BSCI program and several co-op opportunities with major general contractors, Shelby’s passion for commercial construction flourished.

“Getting my hands in the dirt reinforced my love of the industry,” he said. “During my co-op terms, I had the privilege of working alongside industry veterans who taught me the importance of building with uncompromising integrity and quality. I learned that identifying and overcoming hurdles allows a builder to truly own a project and deliver on a client’s vision. That experience also cemented my commitment to providing co-op opportunities for the next generation of builders.”

One defining moment came during a follow-up interview with a large general contractor in Atlanta.

“I was blown away by the scale of their projects and knew right then that I wanted to become a professional builder,” shared Shelby, who went on to work on the team that built the University of Alabama’s Bryant-Denny Stadium south end zone expansion.

While at Auburn, Shelby co-founded Sawtooth Construction with classmate and friend Garrett Deloney ‘07, building decks, fences and docks around Auburn, Lake Martin, and beyond.

“Garrett is one of the most detail-oriented and quality builders I have ever known. He taught me to pay attention to the details and execute with precision—a process I still use today. Construction is an industry rooted in hard work, accuracy and attention to detail.  These traits were reinforced both in the classroom and in the field during my time at Auburn.”

Shelby credits his BSCI professors and peers with shaping his career.

“We pushed each other—whether in grades, test speed or how we presented ourselves to faculty, such as Professor Sattineni,” he said. “The competitive drive to succeed and surround myself with motivated, like-minded individuals has stayed with me throughout my life and career.”

Professor Paul Holley, he recalls, embodied what it meant to be a professional project manager.

“We showed up to class on time and took every word and question to heart. We looked up to him. He transformed us from Carhartt-wearing kids into professionals who could think critically, solve problems and hold our own at the table.”

Giving Back Through the IEB

Shelby’s advice for current and prospective BSCI students? Get hands-on experience.

“It can be a formal internship or a job over a long weekend—any experience is valuable. Cross-training with your schoolwork makes you more developed than those who focus only on the classroom. In the early stages, all work teaches something valuable about being a productive team member, which is something every employer is looking for.”

Now, Shelby is stepping into a new role with the IEB, a group that advises BSCI faculty on industry trends and curriculum development.

“Joining the Industry Executive Board gives me the opportunity to ensure Auburn Building Science stays at the forefront. I want to be a voice for what mattered to me as a student and what I value now as an employer,” he said. “This program is vital to our industry and much bigger than any one company represented on the board. I’m proud and excited to help transform BSCI students into young adults ready to take on the industry.”