{"id":645819,"date":"2026-05-16T01:53:10","date_gmt":"2026-05-16T01:53:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/645819\/"},"modified":"2026-05-16T01:53:10","modified_gmt":"2026-05-16T01:53:10","slug":"david-diamond-high-school-dream-turns-into-a-business-on-the-cusp-of-1b","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/645819\/","title":{"rendered":"David Diamond: High school dream turns into a business on the cusp of $1B"},"content":{"rendered":"

Entrepreneur\/company<\/p>\n

DeAngelis Diamond is celebrating 30 years in business in 2026 and shows no signs of slowing down. The construction management company recently opened a new office in Tampa, joining its headquarters in Naples and locations in Sarasota, Orlando, Detroit, Birmingham, Nashville, and Franklin, Tennessee. \u201cWe cover about half the United States, and we\u2019re in about 14 states right now with active projects,\u201d says David Diamond, the firm\u2019s co-founder, CEO, and co-chairman.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The firm is also taking a proactive approach to advancements like artificial intelligence. Namely, it started a separate business last year, Future Bylt. The goal? Embrace innovation to build projects safer, faster and more efficiently. Future Bylt uses AI, robotics, advanced analytics, virtual design and advanced planning systems to inform and empower decision-making across construction projects.\u00a0<\/p>\n

2026\/2027 outlook<\/p>\n

DeAngelis Diamond, with some 300 employees, has been averaging a 22% growth rate annually over the last five years, and Diamond sees that continuing.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cOur revenue will be up this year about 22% from last year, and next year, the same,\u201d he says. \u201cNext year, we\u2019ll probably do a billion dollars. This year, we\u2019ll do about $850 million in revenue. Last year, we did $706 million, so we\u2019re continuing that growth, and I think that\u2019s true for most of our competitors in the commercial construction industry. But most of them are growing probably around eight to 10% a year. We\u2019re growing a little faster because we\u2019re expanding and opening new locations like Tampa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"David<\/p>\n

David Diamond lives by his grandfather’s advice to never go into debt with your business.(Photo taken at Prime Social Reserve in Naples.)<\/p>\n

Photo by Stefania PifferiTipping point<\/p>\n

Diamond, 65, always believed in the company\u2019s potential for success, based on the experience he and co-founder John DeAngelis brought to their new venture, their business plan and goals and their strong faith. When they hit their 10-year goal in the third year of the company, they had the data to back all that up.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt blew us away,\u201d says Diamond. \u201cWe had these big goals and we thought it would take us 10 years. So it happened pretty quickly for us, but there was a lot of planning and preparation to get it there. We didn\u2019t just quit our jobs without really thinking and planning and being prepared. So a lot of that helps remove some of the risk taking of starting a new business.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Entrepreneurial advice<\/p>\n

Diamond\u2019s grandfather, who lived through the Great Depression and owned a fish market in West Palm Beach, gave him a key tip he applied to his own business. \u201cHe taught me never to borrow money, because you don\u2019t want to be in debt,\u201d says Diamond.<\/p>\n

He and DeAngelis started their company by each kicking in $50,000. \u201cWe\u2019ve never borrowed money and never asked for investors, and it\u2019s worked out really well for us,\u201d says Diamond. \u201cYou really recognize the importance of it when you go through a financial crisis, like the 2008 financial crisis.<\/p>\n

\u201cOther construction companies that we competed against, the ones that were most in debt were the ones that were first to file for bankruptcy,\u201d he says. \u201cBecause your revenues go down, but your expenses stay the same. So it will really help you when times get tough, and tough times do come.\u201d<\/p>\n

Entrepreneurial mindset<\/p>\n

Diamond grew up poor\/lower-middle class, on a dirt road in West Palm Beach. But what he lacked in materialistic things, he made up for in drive: \u201cI knew in high school I was going to start a business,\u201d he says. When DeAngelis Diamond was so successful so quickly, some 25 years ago, Diamond says he looked for places to invest money, in addition to the business. He looked at real estate and related options. Then a friend who worked at Microsoft introduced Diamond to angel investing in Silicon Valley companies. \u201cI was hooked,\u201d says Diamond. \u201cI really like working with people, mentoring them and working with startups.\u201d Diamond has since sold some startups, to companies including Google, Amazon and Trip Advisor. He\u2019s also given presentations on angel investing and startups as far as Italy and Russia.<\/p>\n

\"David<\/p>\n

David Diamond says the construction firm hit its 10-year goals in itsd third year. (Photo taken at Prime Social Reserve in Naples.)<\/p>\n

Photo by Stefania PifferiBiggest mistake and what you learned from it\u00a0<\/p>\n

While Diamond\u2019s made plenty of mistakes, he\u2019s grateful none have been major. \u201cIf you\u2019re not willing to take any risks, you\u2019re not going to grow,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

Mistakes that sit with him include missteps around hiring. \u201cAnd it\u2019s probably more mistakes involving letting people go than hiring,\u201d he says. \u201cSometimes you have people on your team that you know aren\u2019t doing well, and you give them a second chance and a third chance\u2026But there are some people who either don\u2019t want to learn or don\u2019t want to change. We\u2019ve held on to some people too long; it\u2019s better for that person to move on and find something else.\u201d<\/p>\n

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