Highland Construction, a Fayetteville-based general contracting company, has expanded its restoration and renovations operations in southeastern North Carolina, including adding to its Wilmington staff.
 
The company hired Lori Harris as regional director for a new renovation and restoration operations and services center in Wilmington, according to a news release. It also named Ashley Hankins as its marketing manager for the center.
 
“Lori’s business management, communications, marketing and project management strengths are going to be added value to Team Highland and our recent regional expansion,” Highland Construction owner Kenny Strickland said in a statement.
 
He also said Hankins offers “a fresh perspective and focus for client relations and marketing.” 
 
The company, established in 1981, added the new service center, cabinets and interiors showroom in Wilmington.
 
The firm also recently received a “Golden Hammer-Excellence in Achievement Award” from Contractor Connection. According to a news release, the Golden Hammer is awarded each year to the top performing contractors in the Contractor Connection network, an independent network of managed restoration and contractor repairs for insurance companies and consumers.
 
The Golden Hammer is given to contractors ranking in the top 100 of more than 4,000 contractors in the U.S. and Canada and is based on performance criteria and overall quality of service and professionalism, the release stated.
 
Highland Construction ranked in the top 10 of managed repair firms in the Tennessee Valley District which includes North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey and New York, officials said.