Kelvin Enfinger Jr., Vice President of Greenhut Construction and 2025 Chair of ABC Florida, represents a leadership model built on practical field experience rather than traditional executive pathways. His career progression from tradesman to C-suite executive offers insights into addressing construction's persistent skilled workforce shortage while navigating technological changes affecting other industries.
Enfinger's leadership philosophy originates from his early years working in skilled trades. "Starting in the field as a tradesman gave me a unique opportunity to understand the aspects of what individuals do day in and day out," he explains. This foundation informs his approach to managing multi-million dollar projects across healthcare, aviation, education, industrial and office sectors, where practical knowledge of field operations enables more effective decision-making when complications arise.
As ABC Florida's chair, Enfinger confronts the industry's critical challenge of attracting young talent to skilled trades. He identifies a societal misalignment: "We pushed a lot of kids into higher ed that probably didn't need to be pushed into higher ed. We've just gotten away from the basics—that you can attain a really good job in the skilled trades and certainly provide for your family without student debt." This observation gains significance as artificial intelligence begins automating coding and other white-collar jobs while leaving hands-on trades relatively unaffected. "What we won't see in my lifetime, probably in anyone's lifetime, is artificial intelligence being able to take the place of a plumber, electrician, or HVAC tech, carpenters, anybody that works with their hands," Enfinger notes.
Greenhut's local contractor advantage extends beyond marketing. "When clients contract with us, they're contracting with a local general contractor who's using local subcontractors who have local employees," Enfinger explains. "We're circulating those tax dollars back in the community." This local expertise proves valuable in Northwest Florida's Pensacola market, where Greenhut navigates budget constraints, complex structures, and unique site conditions on projects like the original Pensacola Airport build and Sacred Heart Hospital expansions. Recent completions include the Leonardo MRO hangar facility, Myrtle Grove Elementary School, and the American Magic Facility—all finished in 2025.
Enfinger's advocacy extends to policy through participation in ABC's Capitol Days, where he engages Florida lawmakers on industry issues. His primary concern involves immigration reform, specifically merit-based visa programs for construction workers advocated by ABC National. "For the ones that are here that are not bad actors and don't have criminal records, I think we should be able to expedite their visas through a merit-based visa program," he states.
For aspiring leaders, Enfinger emphasizes continuous learning, mentorship, and attentive listening. "I had some really great mentors in my career," he reflects. "I tried to immerse myself in learning anything I could that was beneficial to this industry." As Northwest Florida experiences growth in aerospace, manufacturing, and distribution sectors, Enfinger remains optimistic about construction's future when paired with renewed commitment to skilled trades education and workforce development.
