Livian Jones’s successful career in construction has as much to do with her polished people skills as with her knowledge of building techniques. 

Her tool kit contains such items as an ability to negotiate and to develop relationships. 

The Charlotte native originally planned a career with the State Bureau of Investigation. She majored in criminal justice and pre-law at Appalachian State University but was not inspired by what she saw of the court system during an internship in a parole office. 

She moved to Wilmington with her husband in 1988, soon after graduating from college. Open to all kinds of job possibilities, Jones found one that laid the foundation for her future.  

Now a year into the newest phase of her career – a position as business development manager with W.M. Jordan – Jones talked about how she got into the construction field and why her best work might be done in an office or boardroom or on the golf course rather than on a building site.

“I moved to Wilmington after college and got a job with Miller Building. I worked there for four years doing proposals and other things. Then I worked for [engineering firm] McKim and Creed. I got my MBA at University of North Carolina Wilmington, then earned a contractor’s license,” she said.

That license in hand, Jones started her own construction company in 1996. Stevens and Jones was a general contractor that handled retail, commercial and multi-family construction. 

Downtown Wilmington’s Reel Café and the local Dick’s Sporting Goods were among the company’s projects. The most valuable lesson from being a business owner, Jones said, was getting a clearer idea of what skills she had to offer and what her strengths and weaknesses were.

After five years running Stevens and Jones, Jones decided she’d learned plenty and was ready to work for someone else again. 

“I went back to work for McKim  & Creed. I love the firm and the people there, but I was spending the majority of my time traveling between North Carolina and Florida,” she said.

An offer from contractor John S. Clark construction company in 2006 was attractive since it would allow Jones to spend more time at home. She spent the next eight years doing business development in eastern North Carolina for the Mt. Airy-based company. 

“John S. Clark tried to get me to go on project management side, but I enjoy what I call the ‘honeymoon phase.’ I enjoy meeting with clients and putting the deal and projects together.  Everybody is getting along and is happy,” she said.

Then the recession hit, with immediate and longer-term impacts on the construction industry. Jones found herself on the job market in early 2012 after John S. Clark’s Japanese owner, Obayashi, decided to divest it and subsequent buyout talks failed. 

There were hopeful signs, however, that the market was improving in early 2012. Jones was available when Newport News, Va.-based W.M. Jordan came looking. It had completed one project in southeastern North Carolina – a $60 million naval hospital – and wanted to expand its footprint in the region.

“A local architect put us together. [The company] took nine of us out to dinner in February 2012. They hired me first and since have hired some others. 

“Currently I spend most of my time calling on potential clients presenting, negotiating and creating visibility for the company throughout state. I travel quite a bit.

“Since I was hired, we’ve gotten two more projects at Camp Lejeune: a NICoE [head trauma] facility and a barracks. Most work I have been pursuing, however, is in the Triangle. Raleigh is really busy right now. Locally, the Hillcrest revitalization contract was just awarded to us.

“My preferred niche is to find property and create something – to work with a client. I enjoy networking, being around people. I’m not real shy. Helping a client plan, budget, schedule and see their vision become a reality is what drives me.   

“I get asked if I ever put a hammer in my hand. My answer is ‘Yes – on Habitat houses.’ I’ve built three Women’s Build houses. But to the question about me being on a jobsite: I have been there, done that and managed projects. Operations is not my strength – networking is. 

“Construction is something I happened into. The business has changed over the years, depending on the economy. There are more public projects now. W.M. Jordan is focused on health care, hospitality, higher education, military/government, assisted living,” she said.

A sign hanging near Jones’s desk says, “Things happen for a reason, just believe”. She said that is one of her mantras, along with “Don’t let negativity define you” and “Learn from mistakes.”

Jones has also learned from many people in the greater Wilmington community. One of her role models is local businesswoman and civic leader Louise McColl. 

“Being involved with Louise taught me to give back. She also said, ‘Learn how to say no, because once you say yes, you’ll be asked to do a number of things.’ 

“My volunteer work is just as important to me as my career. Through community service I have gotten to meet a lot of great people, some of whom have helped me with my career. I’ve been on the boards of the chamber of commerce, Good Shepherd and Good Friends; I was last year’s president of Good Friends. I’ve served on the UNCW Foundation board as well as the Appalachian State Foundation board and its offshoot, the Real Estate Board,” Jones said. 

“I was on the Boy Scouts' board for 16 years as well as serving on the commissioning committee for commissioning of a Naval submarine in 2008 and the USS Gravely in the fall of 2010. After the USS Gravely commissioning, I and my son rode on the deck for three days as it sailed to Norfolk.”

Jones is often asked if it’s tough being in a field dominated by men.

“I don’t like to focus on gender, but I do get teased about not hammering. 

“Women in construction are not as uncommon as they used to be, and you do have more credibility when you’re licensed. 

“Golf has helped me with networking. I appreciate my dad teaching me how to play, although it was not what I wanted to do after dinner. I always liked to play tennis and still do. I also still hunt and fish, but mostly not with clients.”