Gillis Gilkerson Celebrates its 40th Anniversary

SALISBURY, MARYLAND – August 15, 2023 – The principals of Gillis Gilkerson (GGI) proudly celebrated the firm’s 40th anniversary with a Business After Hours event hosted in conjunction with the Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce.  Held at the historic Riverview Commons building in Downtown Salisbury, the event was filled with fun, refreshments, networking, and nostalgia as supporters gathered to mark the milestone. Looking back on the company’s history, the principals expressed gratitude for past and present clients, the Delmarva community, and most importantly, their team – from the founders to office and field staff.

Gillis Gilkerson has grown to become one of the largest, most trusted, and versatile firms of its kind on the Delmarva Peninsula. Founded by Palmer Gillis in 1983, the firm was soon joined by Co-Founder Tony Gilkerson, paving the way for the company’s early success. For nearly 20-years (2004-2022), GGI was led by Dwight Miller, now Executive Consultant, who spearheaded much of the firm’s growth over the past two decades. In January 2023, GGI announced the promotion of Tyler Barnes from Vice President to President of construction operations. 

Rounding out Gillis Gilkerson’s leadership team are Principals Brad Gillis, Joey Gilkerson and Chris Gilkerson, sons of founders Palmer Gillis and Tony Gilkerson. As second generation leaders, the trio have a lifetime of involvement in real estate development and investing. Widely recognized by some of their more notable projects, including The Powell Building, 600 Glen Avenue (home to Pure Fitness, CubeSmart and more), Riverview Commons, and the Salisbury Fire Headquarters (former home to Headquarters Live and the Daily Times), Brad, Chris and Joey have a knack for community revitalization.

“Over the course of our 40-years, we have been lucky to work with a great number of quality people. From our first-generation leadership team to the subcontractors, architects, and engineers we collaborate with, Gillis Gilkerson has employed and formed relationships with the best of the best on the Delmarva Peninsula,” said Barnes. “As we celebrate a huge milestone and refocus on the future ahead, we find ourselves more grateful than ever for these relationships. We wouldn’t have made it to 40-years without the backing of an incredible team. Entering our fifth decade in business, we are now more committed than ever to honoring and celebrating all who share in our mission to build community for generations.”

Gillis Gilkerson will share highlights and photos from the event and curated anniversary content throughout the year, as well as highlights on newly awarded jobs, completed projects, and other company news. To follow along and engage, GGI invites you to like and follow their Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn pages. More information on the firm’s history and portfolio can be found on their website: www.ggibuilds.com.

About Gillis Gilkerson

As award-winning Gillis Gilkerson enters its fifth decade in business on Delmarva, the firm has established a reputation as one of the most trusted and stable construction management, general contracting, and real estate development firms on the Peninsula. The team offers a broad and deep understanding of all commercial asset types, including medical, general office, industrial, hospitality, mercantile, restaurants, retail and more. As a collective of creative problem solvers, Gillis Gilkerson is capable of stepping beyond the call of duty of traditional contractor to assist with more in-depth development tasks, including land purchase, building program development and turnkey project and property management. The team works in conjunction with architects, government planners, engineers, surveyors, inspectors, and leasing agents to manage the process of both development and construction from concept to completion.