Built on Family, Fueled by Values: The Story Behind The Buildwell Group
Some people start companies with a business plan. I started The Buildwell Group with a purpose—one born from family, forged on job sites, and driven by a belief that if you're going to do something, do it right—or not at all.
My story begins long before 2020. I grew up on construction sites alongside my dad, Sean, working for his company, Belfast Construction, every summer from sixth grade through college. After graduation, I rejoined the family business full-time, then spent three years as a union carpenter on large commercial projects. But despite the scale of the work, something was missing. I was just a number in someone else's budget—and I wanted more for my life, my family, and the legacy I hoped to leave.
In 2020—during a global pandemic, while buying my first home, and just weeks after becoming a father for the first time—I took the leap. I founded The Buildwell Group with my close friend, Martin Overline. It was a crazy time to take that risk. We gave up benefits, traded security for uncertainty, and stepped into the unknown. I was a new dad with a newborn and a mortgage. Marty was a father of three turning down the chance to take over his own father’s business. But we knew what we wanted: to build a company that could serve as a vehicle for meaningful success—for ourselves, our families, our team, and our clients.
From day one, this has been a family effort. My wife, Cindy—who I've been with since I was 14—has been our Director of Operations and Design Coordinator from the start. She studied architectural design in art school and built her own career managing construction projects for three different companies while I was studying and playing college hockey at the University of Massachusetts–Boston. Today, we share not only our home and our two kids, but a passion for building something beautiful together—in every sense of the word.
My dad, originally from Belfast, Ireland, came to the United States to escape The Troubles and build a better life for himself. Now, nearing retirement, he serves as our Lead Superintendent. His voice echoes through every job site and team meeting: “If you're going to do something, do it right or not at all.” That mindset became our company motto—Buildwell, or not at all—and it guides every decision we make, whether it's selecting hardware, training a new hire, or executing a complex detail on a high-end renovation.
My mother, Dawn, has also been a powerful influence. She built a career in behavioral health nursing, rising to an executive-level role in under a decade. From her, I learned resilience, grace under pressure, and how to lead with integrity—values that now live at the core of our company culture.
Cindy and I are just two kids from Philly (Juniata & Bridesburg) creating the life of our dreams—one kid, one project, one relationship, and one standard of excellence at a time.
Today, The Buildwell Group is five years in, and our early success is rooted in one thing: family values. We are young, hungry, experienced, professional, and ambitious. We care deeply about craftsmanship, about doing the little things right, and about creating projects that will outlast trends and time.
Our most notable work includes a 12,000-square-foot commercial fit-out for a national behavioral health provider, and a full renovation of a 3,000-square-foot historic home in Rittenhouse Square. These projects aren’t just jobs—they're legacy pieces. And we treat every project with that same level of care.
We want our clients and partners to walk away saying we were professional, fun, and true craftspeople—and that we executed expertly. More importantly, we want to be the kind of company that proves you can take your values national. That Buildwell, or not at all isn’t just a catchy phrase—it’s a movement.
This isn’t just a business. It’s a family legacy. It’s a mission.
And we’re just getting started.
