MESSAGE 12: PAUL BERTOZZI

Paul Bertozzi

Founder and CEO, Live Oak Contracting

Question:  As a leader, what is your message to Americans who are frightened about the future due to the Coronavirus?

Message: While it is a difficult time right now, I don't believe this economic impact is going to be long-term. We had a robust economy before this pandemic. While some of the fundamentals of the economy have broken down, the overall market is resilient. The federal government has done a great job of producing liquidity into the market, and I think the federal, state and local governments have done an excellent job of trying to keep the market activated with all of the state and local mandates.

We have to stay vigilant to eliminate this feeling of uncertainty and know that we have the right protocols in place at this point. We will have to spend time adjusting, and as we make those adjustments, it will cause some industries to suffer. However, the market and the economy will return, and America will continue to be a vibrant nation that will innovate through these troubled times.

We have to look at what the next opportunities are and not look at it as a time where we're not working, but maybe look at it as a time to be creative and to do something different to innovate new ideas of how to operate in the future. Every size business out there started because they felt like they could do something better than their counterparts. In these uncertain times, we have the opportunity to create those innovative ideas. The next entrepreneur and great idea are out there, whether it's another industry or another product, or just another solution to an existing problem.

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Paul Bertozzi is the Founder and CEO of Live Oak Contracting, a third-party general contractor based in downtown Jacksonville, Florida. Over the past six years, Live Oak Contracting has grown from a local contractor to a national industry leader—disrupting several markets along the east coast, stretching from Florida to Maine. Paul worked his way up in the construction industry, where he learned that high standards are crucial to producing success. Paul aspires to build long-term relationships based on integrity by providing the highest standard of service and quality construction to his clients and his community. 

Sustainable growth has always been one of Paul’s goals. Regardless of industry challenges, he creates lasting partnerships with subcontractors, clients, and project teams. He is diligent in choosing which markets to build in, focusing on cultivating relationships in regions with mindful and ethical opportunities. 

Live Oak Contracting has successfully managed projects in an array of industries, including Market Rate, Tax Credit, HUD Multifamily, Mixed Use, Industrial, and Commercial.

Business Development

Live Oak Contracting has experienced exponential growth over recent years. In 2015, the company reported $7.5 million in revenue. Under Paul’s leadership and expertise, revenue in 2016 increased to $63 million. By 2018, that number reached $96 million and $138 million in 2019. These impressive stats have landed Live Oak Contracting on the Jacksonville Business Journal’s Fast 50 List twice, once in 2017 and again in 2019. 

Awards and Recognition

Live Oak Contracting earned several prestigious awards, such as the Jacksonville Business Journal’s Second Fastest Growing Company in Northeast Florida in 2018, Jacksonville Business Journal’s Coolest Office Spaces (Finalist), and one of Jacksonville’s Best Places to Work in Northeast Florida. Greenscape of Jacksonville presented Live Oak Contracting with The Canopy Award in 2019 for donating one thousand trees toward the reforestation of Jacksonville. 

Live Oak was also ranked number 34 on INC 5000’s Fastest-Growing Companies in the Nation and was also recognized by GC Magazine as number four on their Top Contractors List and number six on the Top Tenant Improvement list.

Paul has individually received a variety of personal awards. In 2017, Paul was selected as one of Jacksonville’s 40 Under 40 and, in 2018, was a finalist in Ernst and Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year for the State of Florida. Paul has also been recognized as one of the 100 Most Influential Commercial Real Estate Executives in America and was on the Jacksonville Business Journal’s list of Ultimate CEOs in 2019. 

Community Involvement

As a Jacksonville native, Paul gives back to local charitable organizations and empowers his employees to contribute to their philanthropic passions as well. He has focused his commitments toward supporting the cultivation of protecting, educating, and instilling confidence in children. These philanthropies include the Monique Burr Foundation, Safe Harbor Boys Academy, Jacksonville Children’s Chorus, the Arc and other charities focused on childhood development.

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Photo: Courtesy Katherine Ruttell and Paul Bertozzi