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Meet Ileana and Brian Fay of Florida Palm Construction in Davie

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ileana and Brian Fay.

Brian began obtaining his General Contractors License in 2014, right after they had their first baby. After he obtained his license and started the company, he quit his job in early 2015 to pursue work for Florida Palm. A few weeks later, Ileana was laid off from her environmental consulting job (she has a degree in environmental science), leaving both of them without a steady income. At that point, they both decided to work towards their business and dedicate themselves to it.

Two years later, with a lot of hard work, mistakes, and “hands-on” learning experiences, they have grown to a team of 10 driving the business, plus countless subcontractors and providers they rely on. They have an office and warehouse space in Davie and are continuing to grow at a 100% rate every year. This kind of growth is hard to keep up with, but extremely rewarding.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
We joke that we have had everything that could possibly go wrong actually go wrong. We’ve had some issues in the past where because we weren’t specific enough in our contracts, we’ve had to claim losses on jobs. We’ve been taken advantage of by companies with more experience at times when we were struggling to provide for our family.

We’ve had clients upset at us for things that are far beyond our control; such as the original structure of their homes not being up to code or them not being happy with materials the chose. But each of these experiences has taught us the right and better way of doing things, as well as the people to avoid in this business, so it’s all been a learning curve.

Florida Palm Construction – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
We specialize in residential remodels and renovations. We’ve primarily done residential work, and I think the feedback we get is that we are incredibly professional and responsive with clients needs. We try to be present with them as much as we can, which can be hard when there are two people managing 15 different jobs.

We try to be as pleasant and polite no matter the situation- I’d say we’re most proud of that. We don’t let an upset customer get us upset; instead, we try to address their issue and calm down the situation. That sets us apart from others because in the construction industry there are naturally a lot of hot heads. We try to be the voice of reason and explain any decisions that a client might not understand from their point of view.

Working in people’s homes is difficult- people take a lot of pride in their home and want things to be perfect. They’re allowing you into their personal space and expecting a very high level of quality, so the pressure is definitely on. We try to meet their expectations and take pride in our craftsmanship.

What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success, for me, is defined by feeling balanced and happy in your life. When I am balanced between my work, my personal and physical life, and my spiritual life, I feel complete and whole. That emotion is something I strive for every day. It doesn’t mean I achieve it every day – but I try my best. – Ileana

Brian’s definition of success is a little different, to him, financial freedom defines his success, and being able to give back generously to his community and organizations that he believes truly help others.

These things drive us in different but positive ways every day. Our two very different ideas of success are one of the traits that help us create an effective organization that has balance.

Contact Info:

  • Address: 6900 SW 21 Court Suite 16 Davie, Fl 33317
  • Website: www.floridapalmconstruction.com
  • Phone: 954-706-7816
  • Email: ileanafay@floridapalmconstruction.com
  • Instagram: @floridapalmconstruction
  • Facebook: @floridapalmconstruction

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