Sean Buck, Senior Vice President & Nashville Market Leader, JE Dunn Construction

Sean Buck, senior vice president and Nashville market leader of JE Dunn, said the broader economic picture has affected the region’s real estate market. “Truly good projects and strong real estate deals are still moving forward, but the process has become more difficult,” Buck told Invest:, emphasizing the need for strategic client partnerships while addressing workforce and other challenges for the construction industry.

What changes over the past year have most impacted the organization, and in what ways?

There have been many moving parts and pieces in this market and across the country as a whole. From a positive perspective, we are still seeing momentum in our region. We have continued to see growth and thoughtful development, and investment throughout Middle Tennessee. However, the broader economic picture has certainly had an impact. Between rising interest rates, tariffs, and market instability, we have not been immune to these challenges. While Nashville and Middle Tennessee have performed much better than many other areas of the country, our region has still felt the effects. Here in Nashville, this means ensuring we are working with trusted clients and focusing on the right projects. Truly good projects and strong real estate deals are still moving forward, but the process has become more difficult. Projects that were marginal or did not make much sense are no longer viable. We are being thoughtful about how we help our clients discern which opportunities are worth pursuing and how we can collaborate to make those projects successful.

How are you leveraging the company’s national perspective in shaping your local approach to innovation, delivery models, or practices in Nashville?

We are very fortunate in that regard, as our national scale provides significant benefits. Some of these advantages are intangible, relating to how we operate, while others involve bringing specialized expertise to clients with unique needs. For example, we are finishing a new pre-fabrication facility in Nashville, which will be in full operation by the end of June 2025. Through the use of this new pre-fabrication facility, we will continue to leverage our expertise in self-perform work, unitizing systems, and various product types, resulting in more efficient projects for our clients. This has a measurable impact on cost and schedule.

Additionally, Nashville is still home to remarkably complex construction projects. For example, our work with LG Chemical involves a large-scale manufacturing facility, unlike anything previously built in the United States. To ensure its success, it has drawn upon the best talent from across the country and around the world. Our national scale enables us to do this effectively. Another example is the Vanderbilt Stevenson Center 6 Laboratory project, which is highly complex and technical in nature. To execute this project to the best of our ability, we will engage and rely on our nationwide experience with similar projects across the country.  The more we can leverage our national experts, the better positioned our projects will be for success.  

Which sectors are driving the most demand for your work right now, or what defines the right deals that can be made right now?

We continue to see multi-family projects with high-quality, differentiated products, whereas merchant-built or fringe developments are struggling. Hospitality remains a strong sector for Nashville due to the ongoing need for hotel rooms and tourism. We are seeing more hospitality projects here than in many other regions due to the growth of the city.

Office spaces present a more challenging dynamic. While the market has not seen widespread defaults, it remains tougher than expected. However, those who look beyond the current turbulence may recognize this as an opportunity. In approximately 24 to 30 months, there will be no new office products available unless construction resumes. Projects like the Neuhoff Mixed-Use Development, one of the more significant developments in Nashville over the past 20 years, have performed exceptionally well. Future phases of such developments will likely succeed, and when market conditions stabilize, Nashville’s office sector may rebound faster than elsewhere. Investors who recognize this now stand to benefit greatly.

What role does technology play in utilizing systems to improve efficiency for clients?

Technology can be leveraged in multiple ways. For us, it is about building smarter, more efficiently, and with higher quality while concurrently solving complex problems. Technology for its own sake is not effective, but when applied to these three areas, it becomes invaluable.

Currently, we are investing significant effort into our pre-construction systems and related technologies. We believe that a project that is set up correctly has the highest chance of success. Additionally, we are focusing on economic data analysis, as the sourcing and procurement of materials have become more critical than ever. Tariffs are a major topic, but broader economic factors also influence where and how we source products. This trend began during the pandemic and continues to evolve.

To navigate these challenges, we must utilize technology, market data, and expertise to help our clients make informed decisions. Technology is an essential component of this process, enabling us to address complexities and deliver better outcomes.

What are some of the challenges you are facing in workforce recruitment and retention, and what strategies are you using to attract and retain skilled talent?

Nashville has been a tight labor market for quite some time, and that remains the case. While certain asset types have slowed, others have seen increased activity, requiring us to be intentional about training, recruiting, and retaining our workforce. This is an ongoing priority for our industry. Safety and skills training is critically important and is talked about in our industry a lot, but when we talk about training and retaining our workforce as a whole, we also need to ensure we are thinking through long-term career opportunities. For example, we have approximately 175 craftsmen working directly for us every day, and we consider them part of our family. Providing career growth and treating each and every one of our employees well is essential to ensuring these opportunities are possible.

Being a consistent winner of the Best Places to Work award is something we are proud of and that we consider another key factor with regard to employee retention. The workforce has many contractor options to choose from in this market, and if we expect our employees to perform their best for our clients, we must treat them with the same level of care. Additionally, as other markets recover, competition for labor will intensify. As this happens, our focus will shift to smarter, more efficient building practices while continuing to invest in recruitment and retention. These challenges will persist for years to come, and we feel prepared to adapt as they occur.

What makes Nashville an ideal place to be and do business in?

The jury was once out on Nashville, but Nashville has been at the top of nearly every economic metric for the past decade. What truly makes this city unique is its sense of community. The ability to come together, collaborate, and drive meaningful progress is what sets Nashville apart from other rapidly growing cities. While economic data makes investing here attractive, the real secret lies in how this community works collectively to achieve great things. That dynamic is what will continue to drive our success as a city.

What are your top priorities and growth goals over the next few years?

One of our primary focuses has been diversifying our business within the region. We have been fortunate to work with great clients and enter new market sectors successfully. Moving forward, we aim to continue growing these relationships while ensuring we remain diversified as private development rebounds. Providing exceptional services for our clients remains our top priority.

Equally important is taking care of our people. I firmly believe that if we invest in our team, they will take care of our clients. We strive to be an employer of choice, providing opportunities for our employees to build successful careers. By focusing on these two areas, client service and employee development, success will naturally follow.

As the city and region continue to evolve, what role do you see JE Dunn playing in shaping its future?

We take pride in contributing to Nashville’s skyline with best-in-class buildings, but our responsibility extends beyond construction. Being a good corporate citizen is a core value at JE Dunn. We allocate 10% of our pre-tax earnings to charitable causes annually, and our senior leaders are actively involved in numerous community organizations.

Our commitment to the region goes beyond business, as it is about being ingrained in the community and serving as responsible stewards. Building these long-term relationships and maintaining a strong presence over decades, not just years, is what sets us apart. This dedication will remain a key differentiator for our company for the many years to come.