In Spartanburg, business has always been about more than transactions. It’s about relationships, trust, and a shared commitment to this community we all call home. For over 40 years, Clayton Construction Company (CCC) has embodied that spirit, building not only some of the region’s most recognizable spaces, but also building lasting relationships and a culture that sets them apart.
Founded in 1981, Clayton Construction began as a small general contracting firm. Today, it is one of the Southeast’s most respected commercial builders, known for projects ranging from healthcare facilities to retail spaces, multifamily housing to churches. But when you ask their leadership what matters most, they won’t point first to the size of the projects or the square footage of buildings. They’ll talk about people.
A Culture You Can Feel
Step inside their new downtown Spartanburg headquarters, and you’ll notice something different. The space itself reflects the company’s values: approachable, rooted, and built to foster connection. As VP of Operations, Brandon Klein put it, “If you are going to invite people in and be approachable, you need to be available. Sometimes that means sacrificing the bottom dollar, but the long-term commitment we make to our people and their families is worth it.”
That perspective isn’t just a soundbite. Clayton Construction boasts a 92% employee retention rate, almost unheard of in the construction industry. For President Todd Horne, the secret isn’t complicated. “Culture is the reason people stay here,” he explained. “It’s something you have to experience. Our employees work hard not because they’re afraid of losing their jobs, but because they don’t want to let their friends down.”
That sense of camaraderie and loyalty is the foundation of Clayton’s success. It’s a place where hard work is celebrated, but balance and family are valued too, and it’s one of the many reasons their partners trust them implicitly.
Growing With Spartanburg
Over the past decade, Spartanburg itself has seen remarkable growth. What was once a small town with a handful of marquee projects is now a thriving hub of development and opportunity. Clayton Construction has grown right alongside it.
“Ten years ago, we were celebrating one- and two-million-dollar projects,” Brandon Klein recalled. “Today, we’re honored to lead twenty-million-dollar builds. Yet our focus remains the same, delivering for every client who puts their trust in us. Each project and partnership has shaped our success, and we’re deeply grateful for every one.”
This commitment to long-term relationships has paid off. Nearly 65% of their business comes from repeat clients. It’s a testament to their reputation not only as skilled builders but as trusted neighbors.
Their recent move downtown says a lot about where they’re headed. The building they now call home was one they originally constructed in 2016. When the chance came to make it their own in 2023, it felt like destiny. “When Harry and I bought the company in 2017, we always envisioned being downtown,” Todd Horne said. “Now, we’re right in the middle of it all, sharing lunch spots, being part of the energy. It’s where we belong.”
Building for the Future
Like many industries, construction faces the challenge of cultivating the next generation of talent. Clayton leaders are candid about this reality, and they’re taking steps to address it. Partnerships with organizations like Spartanburg Community College are paving the way for new construction programming, ensuring young people can see a path into the trades.
“There’s a shift happening across the industry,” Klein acknowledged. “Many experienced professionals are beginning new chapters, and the next generation of talent is stepping up in meaningful ways. We take seriously our role in developing future leaders who will carry this work forward.”
It’s a vision that goes beyond buildings and reaches people’s lives, ensuring the company’s values and culture carry forward for decades to come.
A Legacy of Generosity
Ask Clayton’s leadership what they want their legacy to be, and you won’t hear them talk about being the biggest builder in the region. Instead, they’ll talk about generosity.
“Our goal over the next 10 years is to put a million dollars into a donor-advised fund at The Spartanburg County Foundation,” Horne shared. “That money will go straight back into the community. We don’t want to be the biggest contractor, we want to be the most generous.”
It’s a vision lived out daily, from creating scholarship funds for employees’ families to supporting local nonprofits and community projects. At Clayton, generosity isn’t an afterthought, it’s a cornerstone of their identity.
Stronger Together: A Partnership With Hodge Floors
At Hodge Floors, we’ve had the privilege of partnering with Clayton Construction on 59 projects since 2011—from the first project at Spartanburg High School to recent ones like Parkside Pediatrics. That’s more than a decade of collaboration, built on mutual trust and shared values.
“There are very few contractors we work with day in and day out, where we can hand them a project and know without question it will be done the way we want it,” Horne said. “Hodge Floors is always our go-to.”
For us, that trust is everything. And it’s why highlighting Clayton Construction feels like shining a light not only on an outstanding company, but on the heart of Spartanburg itself. Together, we’re not just finishing projects, we’re building a stronger, more authentic community.
In a town where authenticity matters, Clayton Construction is proving that success doesn’t come from cutting corners or chasing the bottom line. It comes from building relationships, honoring community, and pouring into the people who make Spartanburg what it is.
For more than 40 years, they have built structures across the Southeast. But here at home, in the heart of Spartanburg, Clayton Construction is building something even more important: a legacy of trust, generosity, and pride.
