Terrence Holt, President, Holt Brothers Construction

In an interview with Invest:, Terrence Holt, president of Holt Brothers Construction, discussed workforce development, growth opportunities in the data center sector, and the company’s commitment to community impact. “We want to make a resounding impact in the communities in which we’re blessed to work,” Holt said.

What changes over the past year have had the greatest impact on Holt Brothers Construction and the markets you serve across North Carolina and the Southeast?

It is people. Additions we have made to our team have allowed us to make an even more compelling case to our clients about the services we provide and our capabilities. Broadening our capabilities has been significant, and we have grown substantially over the last year.

People have been the biggest change, the biggest addition, and the reason we are better today than we were a year ago.

What trends are having the biggest influence on project activity, investment decisions, and development priorities?

Some of the biggest trends right now are around energy, power, water, and land. We also have to be mindful of the developer market, including credit conditions and interest rates, because those factors influence whether projects move forward or remain stagnant.

The construction industry is driven by people. Labor continues to be scarce, and there is a major push to make people aware of the opportunities available in construction. The industry today is different from what it was decades ago. Technology plays a much larger role, and there are many rewarding career paths available.

We need to do a better job of educating students and young professionals about those opportunities. There is a gap between the experienced individuals in the industry and those just entering it. We need to attract more people to ensure the industry continues to thrive.

I do not care how much AI advances. You still need good people using their minds and talents to guide technology and deliver results.

Where are you seeing the strongest opportunities for growth?

The strongest opportunity is the data center market. We took steps years ago to become more involved in that space, and today it is driving a significant amount of construction activity. With the explosion of AI, demand for data centers continues to grow. Energy, water, and land are all critical components of those developments.

The projects themselves are substantial. We are talking about billion-dollar campuses and projects that can range from tens of millions of dollars to much larger investments.

The market does face challenges. Some communities are taking time to study the impact of data center development through moratoriums and other measures. Even with those headwinds, data centers continue to outpace many other construction sectors in terms of activity and investment.

How important is construction to supporting the state’s long-term economic development goals as we accommodate population growth and business expansion?

Construction plays a major role in economic development. It creates jobs, provides competitive salaries, and supports a wide network of architects, engineers, subcontractors, suppliers, vendors, and other partners.

The industry touches far more people than many realize. New housing, retail, office space, and mixed-use developments all help shape how communities grow and evolve. The live-work-play model continues to influence development decisions across many markets.

Even in communities that are more established, there is ongoing demand for renovations, adaptive reuse projects, historic preservation efforts, and redevelopment. As communities continue to innovate and respond to changing needs, construction remains a key driver of growth and progress.

Your company has built a reputation around community impact and opportunity creation. How do you measure success beyond the projects themselves?

It is part of who we are. Our core values are integrity, community, relationships, and innovation. Those values influence how we operate every day. They help guide the projects we pursue and the clients we choose to work with. We want to make a resounding positive impact in the communities in which we’re blessed to work. We’re striving to become the Carolinas’ go-to contractor, and every step toward that goal ties back to community. We believe the projects we pursue should enhance the places where we work.

Our involvement goes beyond construction projects. When we enter a community, we look for ways to volunteer, support local initiatives, and leave that community better than we found it. That can involve our time, talent, or resources.

I like to think people choose us because of the heart our company leads with. We care deeply about the communities where we work, and we are intentional about leaving a positive mark.

People and community are central to who we are. Without our people, we could not do what we do. The relationships we build, our commitment to integrity, and our focus on innovation define our organization.

Looking ahead, what are your top priorities for Holt Brothers Construction?

Our first priority is continuing to meet the needs of our people. We want to show them how much we appreciate them, invest in their development, and make our organization a place they are proud to call home.

That commitment also extends to me as a leader. I am always looking for ways to improve, whether through education, learning from other leaders, or seeking new experiences. I am a work in progress, and I never ask someone to do something I am not willing to do myself.

We will continue looking for opportunities across North Carolina, including Raleigh-Durham, Charlotte, and the coast, where we can make a compelling case to clients based on our people and experience. We are also exploring opportunities beyond North Carolina that align with the types of projects and clients we serve today.

Innovation remains another important priority. We are examining our processes, procedures, and technology to find ways to become more efficient and deliver greater value to both clients and employees.

As we continue to grow, we want to remain aligned as an organization. We want everyone on our team to understand our mission, vision, and core values. That requires leadership, communication, and accountability.

A lot of that starts with me. I want to make sure I am accountable to our people and that they have the tools and resources they need to be successful.