Behind this great company stands a woman
Though only 5'3" Caddell follows the tall tradition of getting the big jobs done

Caddell

While thoughts of Hurricane Ivan are distant memories to most locals, some businesses are just now recovering. Local construction business, Gulf-Atlantic Constructors, Inc. recently completed their new office and shop that was destroyed by Hurricane Ivan. The new office is located immediately adjacent to the original building at 650 West Oakfield Road in Pensacola. Although the original office was pieced together over the years, it was the torrential winds that pulled the final blow to the buildings.

For the last three years, the mechanics managed to repair any heavy equipment without cover and salvaged what they could from the original shop. The employees in the main building dreaded thunderstorms because that meant having to check the blue tarp on the building and finding empty coffee cans in case of roof leaks. It took two years to agree on a building plan and construction was started at the beginning of this year.

Pam Caddell, President of Gulf-Atlantic Constructors, Inc., explained that her father, Bill Hunt, has been sentimental of the old building since he started the company over thirty years ago and was proud of his thriftiness. The original building was salvaged from a project completed at the Pensacola Navy Base many years ago. As the years passed, additions were made to make room for company expansion.

Caddell recalls cleaning the office with her five sisters as they grew up and spent summers working in the front office. After completing her Bachelors degree in Civil Engineering at Auburn University, she moved to Knoxville, Tennessee to work as an Environmental Engineer for the Department of Energy. Eleven years ago, Bill Hunt called on his daughter Pam to move back home and get involved with the company.

Gulf-Atlantic Constructors, Inc. has been a vital entity to the Gulf Breeze area. Bill and Ann Hunt have lived in Gulf Breeze for over forty years and all six girls graduated from Gulf Breeze High School. Since moving back to Gulf Breeze, Caddell's three boys have also graduated from Gulf Breeze High School as well.

Gulf-Atlantic Constructors, Inc. has been a sponsor of many school activities including the Quarterback Club, Band Boosters, Track Club, School Advisory Council, Project Graduation, and ROTC. Many construction projects have been completed in Gulf Breeze including the asphalt bike bath from the Office Depot shopping center to Villa Venyce, and the addition of the Daniel Drive extension. Gulf-Atlantic Constructors, Inc. built several subdivisions in the Gulf Breeze area including Grand Pointe and Crane Cove and also provided the site work construction of the addition to the Gulf Breeze Hospital.