Brad Leavitt tells his team that they build homes as a side gig because AFT Construction is about building people. “Legacy is the mark we leave on those around us,” said Leavitt, a Titan 100 Hall of Fame nominee. “Seeing people as who they can become, as opposed to who they are, is a true example of leadership.”
As the owner, founder and president of AFT Construction, Leavitt said the firm does not struggle with retention or turnover, which is rare in construction, because the team believes in and lives the company’s core values. “We believe in what we do and that we are changing the construction industry,” he said.
Leavitt and his team at AFT work on some of the most signature residential and commercial projects in the greater Phoenix area. The award-winning firm has been nationally published in Professional Builder, Luxe Interiors + Design, and Fine Homebuilding and is a leader in using modern techniques to deliver high-quality projects.
As a titan of industry, Leavitt launched a construction business seminar for builders all around the country. This year, he will host events in Minnesota and Boston with a goal of three sessions a year with more than 40 companies in attendance at each session.
In the past year, Leavitt said six new builders launched construction companies and each one reached out to ask him to be a mentor to them and their firm. “Although these may be future competitors, it is all about collaboration over competition,” he said. “Giving back to these young companies will give them an opportunity to start off on the right foot, including teaching them how to hire, company culture, how to estimate, how to schedule and how to be profitable.”
Leavitt said his goal is to inspire the next generation to get into construction. “It is an industry that needs people and labor, and it needs talent and smart and driven individuals,” he said. “Through our platforms of social media, public speaking and a podcast, our goal is to bring more people with excitement into our field.”
Leavitt is also passionate about mentoring the next generation of leaders. He advises them to find out how to leave a stronger legacy. “Chase experience and not money – generosity proceeds prosperity,” he said. “There is so much we can learn from each other, and I highly believe that a mentality of abundance and not scarcity leads to success and happiness.”
