who we are
Uniting Industry Experts Across the Delmarva Peninsula
who we are
Uniting Industry Experts Across the Delmarva Peninsula

Meet The Team

Tyler Barnes

President | Principal

Joey Gilkerson

Principal | Development

Chris Gilkerson

Principal | Development

Brad Gillis

Principal | Development

Kevin Dorman

Chief Financial Officer

Daniel Ash

Assistant Project Manager | Estimator

Linda Beauchamp

Office Manager

Kelly D’Armi

Superintendent

Chris Deinlein

Superintendent

Greg Ennis

Project Manager

David Erickson

Superintendent

Matt Esham

Project Manager

Greg Fitzpatrick

Superintendent

Shelby Gillis

Development Associate

Jamie Heater

Marketing Director

Jamie Heath

Superintendent

Rich Hertzog

Project Manager

Ivan Jackson

Superintendent

Daria Kirienko

Financial Analyst

Jared King

Project Manager

Brian Mason

Superintendent

Robert Meilhammer

Superintendent

Charlie Morris

Superintendent

Jim Morris

Superintendent

Danny Munoz

Facilities Manager

Don Murray

Project Manager

Wayne Porter

Operations Manager | Construction

Chris Powell

Superintendent

Kevin Reeder

Senior Estimator

Dale Reinhold

Superintendent

Brian Revel

Superintendent

Bill Schiavo

Superintendent

Kathy Shubert

Development Associate

Eva Seichepine

Accounting Manager - Human Resources

Robin Steininger

Project Manager

Mike Sullivan

General Counsel

Mike Truitt

Project Manager

Bruce West

Superintendent

Crystal White

Property Operations Manager

Drake

Greeter

Building our community
since 1983

Legacy Leadership

Palmer Gillis

Founder

Tony Gilkerson

Co-Founder

Dwight Miller

Executive Consultant

1983
In his Printing Plus office building in Downtown Salisbury, Palmer Gillis drafted a business plan for what would become Gillis Builders. That August, the company was formed and broke ground on its inaugural projects in Ocean City, Maryland.
1984
Gillis Builders acquires and redevelops the “Synagogue Building” on Main Street in Downtown Salisbury. Shortly after moving into the new space, Tony Gilkerson came onboard as an associate.
1985
Gillis Builders gains credibility as a major construction firm after winning bids to construct a poultry processing plant in Mifflintown, Pennsylvania and the Sheraton Hotel (now LaQuinta) in Salisbury. Dwight Miller and JB Barnes are hired as project managers.
1986-1987
Palmer and Tony handwrite an estimate on the back of a business card while having lunch at Fager’s Island in Ocean City. They called the client, then CEO of Hamburger Hamlet’s, on the spot and won the job!
1989
Tony Gilkerson becomes a partner in the business and Gillis Gilkerson is formed. We also got our first fax machine around this time!
1990
Gillis Gilkerson develops Salisbury’s first office condominium, Power Professional Center, now owned by Salisbury University. At the same time, the firm renovated Salisbury University’s Holloway Hall and began the first of many projects for repeat client, TidalHealth.
1990
The “Bennett Boys” get to destroy “WiHi”… as graduates of Bennett High, Palmer and Tony were all too happy to win a bid that involved demolishing their old rival, Wicomico High. The satisfaction of a job well done paled in comparison to what they felt while bringing it to the ground!
1994
Gillis Gilkerson reaches a milestone! With over 100 field and office staff members, the company outgrew their office at the Synagogue Building. Palmer and Tony acquired and renovated what is now the Gallery Building and moved the team up Main Street.
2000
Brad Gillis, Tyler Barnes, and Joey and Chris Gilkerson begin working as summertime laborers, assisting project managers and superintendents on local job sites. Today, all four will tell you this is where their passion for the industry was sparked.
2004 - 2005
Tony Gilkerson retires and Dwight Miller is promoted to President of Gillis Gilkerson. At this time, Palmer was still active in the firm, leading its development efforts.
2010
Brad, Joey and Chris form DEVRECO (Development Real Estate Company), an entity used to brand their development projects. At the same time, Tyler accepted a superintendent position in Washington, D.C. In the years following, they gained the knowledge and experience now required to lead the firm.
2015
Palmer and Tony generously donate the Gallery Building to the Salisbury University Foundation, a gift valued at some $4.4 million. Palmer and Tony are pictured with their wives, Sandy and Donna, alongside University personnel.
2016
The redevelopment of Riverview Commons is completed and Gillis Gilkerson moves its office to the second floor where it remains headquartered to this day. Tyler returns to Delmarva, rejoining the team as a project manager and estimator.
2018
Gillis Gilkerson aligns with DEVRECO, fully embracing development as a public service offering. The development team is located on the first floor of Riverview Commons and has grown to include an investment and in-house property management arm.
2023
Tyler Barnes is named the President of construction operations and Dwight Miller assumes the role of Executive Consultant. In August, the firm celebrates 40-years in the construction and development industry!

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

A local approach

We have grown to become one of the largest, most trusted and versatile firms on the Shore with an extensive portfolio varying in scope, scale, and location.