Matt Brewer

President & CEO
Choate Construction Co.
Charleston, SC

Known for their proven results and partnership-driven approach, Choate Construction Co’s employee-owners provide nationally recognized commercial construction services for their clients and industry partners. With offices in Atlanta; Charleston; Charlotte, NC; Nashville, TN; Raleigh, NC; Savannah, GA; and Tampa, FL, Choate Construction offers the benefits of a nationwide contractor with the dedicated touch of a local firm. Choate’s specialized personnel consistently deliver successful projects across a variety of market sectors, including industrial, health care, corporate, retail and mixed-use, and more. The company has approximately 550 workers.

Describe your personal journey to becoming a CEO who “gets it.”

My journey to prioritizing safety began during my time serving in the Marine Corps. In the military, you learn safety isn’t just about protecting yourself – it’s about looking out for your fellow man. I’ve witnessed how one misstep or overlooked hazard could alter a life forever – not just for the individual but for their families as well. That responsibility we shared for each other’s well-being left a profound impact on me and ultimately shaped how I view leadership.

Once I transitioned into the construction industry, I carried those lessons with me. Safety is a shared commitment – one that demands vigilance, accountability and teamwork at every level of an organization. It isn’t solely about compliance or checking boxes. It’s about creating a culture where every team member feels empowered to speak up, act responsibly and look out for one another. Whether on the battlefield or a jobsite, the mission is only successful if everyone comes home safely.

What’s the biggest obstacle to safety at your organization?

In a high-risk industry such as construction, complacency is one of the greatest challenges. When employees become comfortable in the routines, it’s easy to underestimate potential hazards. Additionally, the fast-paced nature of construction can sometimes put pressure on safety protocols. To counter this, we invest in continuous education on industry best practices, specific training programs we’ve developed using insights from data collected on our jobs and fostering an environment where safety is considered a nonnegotiable for every team member – no matter the deadline.

In every meeting I’m personally involved in and otherwise, safety is at the forefront of the discussions and a main theme of our benchmark assessments, staff meetings, etc. I also meet with our corporate safety director on a biweekly basis to have open conversations where I can learn about our teams’ individual experiences onsite and their thoughts on how our safety operations are going, in addition to assessing areas for improvement.

Our team practices proactivity and consistent communication through regular safety huddles onsite, hazard identification training, and leadership visibility and buy-in on our sites. We also make sure to celebrate safety wins and acknowledge those who consistently live out our “OneLife” safety identity. Addressing near misses as learning opportunities is another effective way we keep safety top of mind for everyone.

Why is safety a core value at your organization?

Safety is a core value because our people are our most valuable asset. No project, milestone or profit margin outweighs the well-being of those who trust us with their lives every day. For us, safety is more than a policy – it’s a moral commitment to protect our team, their families and the communities we serve. We want our teams to want to work safely – not just for themselves, but for their legacy, their spouses, children and even future grandchildren; for the people who depend on them to return home.

When safety is a shared value, it becomes ingrained in every decision we make, from planning and design to execution and closeout. It’s the foundation of our company’s operations and the reason we strive to lead by example in an industry that demands nothing less than excellence in this area.

Beyond the technical trainings and protocols enforcement, the individual investment to safety is a critical component of our success. By regularly driving home the message of our “OneLife” program – to protect our life and legacy and those of our co-workers – each employee has a personal investment to making sure everyone onsite returns home safely to their families and loved ones. This emotional piece of our safety practices touches the heart, and it’s something everyone can get behind.

How do you instill a sense of safety on an ongoing basis?

We instill safety through education, communication and empowerment. Regular training sessions keep employees informed about the latest safety standards and techniques, while daily site safety meetings reinforce vigilance. Leadership also plays a critical role by modeling safe behavior and engaging with teams to identify and address risks proactively. Our safety team has also created a “OneLife” badge for all employees and new hires to wear on their safety vests or display at the office, featuring a picture chosen by the employee that represents their “why” – often depicting families, pets and loved ones to serve as a reminder of the importance of remaining vigilant day after day.

We empower employees to speak up if they notice unsafe conditions, and we ensure they have the tools and authority to act. This open-door approach builds trust and makes safety a shared responsibility, not just a management directive. Part of this empowerment includes recognizing and celebrating individuals who are leading the charge in safety onsite. One way this is accomplished is through Choate’s OneLife Challenge Coin, which I’ve had the honor of presenting to individuals who demonstrate an unrelenting commitment to creating and maintaining a safe working environment for all.

Safety is also an integral component of our employee-owners performance review and career development process. Throughout the year, senior leadership meets with their teams regularly, assesses their alignment and exposure to our safety management practices, and ensures the team remains on top of these practices to grow and develop in their career. Every position has a unique list of safety requirements related to its level and scope of work, providing a blueprint for how to be successful in construction management with safety at the forefront.

How does your organization measure safety?

We measure safety using both lagging indicators, such as recordable incident rates and lost-time injuries, and leading indicators, including safety audits, near-miss reporting and training completion rates. These metrics help us identify trends, benchmark progress and focus our efforts on prevention. We also conduct regular safety surveys, which allow us to understand how our employee-owners and trade partners measure our programs’ effectiveness and areas for improvement.

Although our safety management teams have done an outstanding job of making sure key metrics such as incidents and injuries are well below the industry average, we’re continuously pursuing ways to further improve our safety practices. We’re working to enhance our use of technology, such as wearable devices and predictive analytics, to gain deeper insights into potential risks. Additionally, we’re focused on continuing to inspire continued employee investment in our safety practices and innovations, as their participation and investment is critical to achieving our vision of zero incidents and at-risk conditions.

If we as an industry can continue to prioritize Prevention through Design, we can further eliminate and reduce work-related hazards and illnesses and minimize risks associated with working in construction. PtD involves collaboration with design partners early in the process to catch potential hazards, identify safer alternative materials or construction methods, and effectively engineer out potential risks. Although PtD has gained traction in recent years, widespread adoption will be the key to creating a safer industry.

What role do off-the-job safety and mental health and well-being play in your organization’s overall safety program?

Stress, fatigue and mental health challenges can impact focus and decision-making, increasing the risk of incidents. That’s why our wellness initiatives, employee assistance programs, safety stand-downs dedicated to the topic of mental health, and continuous sharing of resources and peer support networks are integral parts of our overall safety strategy. By prioritizing mental health, we’ve created an environment where employees feel supported both on and off the job.

Safety doesn’t stop when employees leave the jobsite. We’ve invested in our benefits package to offer free therapy sessions for our employees and their families, and additional tools to ensure our teams have access to vital resources for protecting their mental well-being. This proactive tool is just one example of how our teams go beyond physical safety and prioritize care of the whole self.