About Us – Duke Development

What We Do

Building and renovating homes around the Lake Oconee area is what we do. We’ve built the home of the year in Reynolds, we’ve fully renovated homes, we’ve built grille decks, and we’ve done a host of other things for home owners. Our only prerequisite is to find and work with great clients regardless of the scope of their work.

Before Duke Development I worked with companies that built restaurants, banks, and convenience stores throughout the southeast, and when I started Duke Development I really expected to do more of the same. We did build a few restaurants and other commercial projects here and there, and even though we maintain a license to do so our core work has always been renovating homes in the Lake Oconee, Buckhead and Midtown Atlanta area.

In 2000, we moved to the Lake Oconee area. This move provided a great environment for my kids to grow up and for us to be near my mom. For a while I commuted to the Atlanta office, but in time we fell love with Lake Oconee I decided to grow our business here and opened an office in the area in 2004. Since then we have completed a multitude of new homes and have expanded our renovation practice with a number of renovations of all sizes around the Lake area.

Experience

Gordon Dukes – President

Bachelor of Science in Building Construction from Georgia Tech

Ganaway Construction: Building restaurants and convenience stores throughout the southeast from 1985-1988

W.H. Bass: Building restaurants and banks throughout the southeast from 1988-1990

Bevans Enterprises: Building restaurants throughout the southeast during 1990

Duke Development Company: December 8, 1990 – Present

Hobbies:
Golf; Fishing; Spending time with my kids

Personal:
Growing up in Woodbury, Georgia (pop. 3,000) going to Georgia Tech was a total culture shock for me. Nevertheless, it is my favorite town and I love the energy of In-town Atlanta.

Let’s Get It Started

It all started by accident. In 1990 I resigned from a general contracting firm in Atlanta. I had no idea where I was going or what I was going to do. As I pondered my future I decided to help my uncle build a temporary golf clubhouse near LaGrange, Georgia.

While working on this structure the idea of running my own company as a private contractor, home renovator and homebuilder was born. I spent the next few months sharing my experience in construction and renovation with anyone who would listen and Duke Development was born. Like most new businesses, at first it was a struggle. I scratched and clawed my way to making a living renovating homes.

Early on I realized that I couldn’t manage the office and the field work at the same time so I invited my friend Miles Perrin to join me in the company. Forget any stories you might have heard about partnerships going badly. Working with Miles was the best business decision I have ever made. Miles was always a solid, hard-working guy with a similar passion for what we do and for the evolution of Duke Development.

At first we were a tiny all-purpose construction company. Supporting two households was a tall order but we were up for it. I am grateful for the lean years and I cherish knowing that we would always do what it takes to keep the Duke Development dream alive.

Nearly 30 years later and Duke Development still shares the same passion for building. A few names and faces have changed but we still strive to create the best value and product for our clients that we can.

We are proud of the quality of our work, proud of our resolve and our first-rate team of great people who always live up to our motto “Building Great Projects for Great Clients” every day.

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Our Business Heroes

We have been blessed to cross paths with so many great people but there are a few that truly stand out:

Mr. Joe Blount Small commercial renovation, large residential renovation
We enjoyed our relationship with Joe from the start. We completed a number of small commercial renovations for him soon after Duke Development was launched. One day Joe calls me to his office and tells me that he wants us to renovate this big house in Buckhead for him, and off we went. It was a big job and difficult at times but in the end he had a beautiful home that he was proud of. Joe has done so much for us and we are forever grateful.

Mr. Jerry Thompson Numerous Commercial Renovations, Large Residential Renovation
I built a restaurant for Jerry while working for another general contractor. After I started Duke Development, he called me about a new store he wanted us to build.
This led to a few more new stores, then seemingly countless commercial renovations including his main office. What really makes Jerry the greatest client we have ever had was a major renovation of his home. Jerry is tough, kind and fair – a combination we seek to emulate.

Rick Spitzmiller and Bob Norris Home Building and Home Renovations
While renovating Joe Blount’s house we met Rick and Bob and we can’t say enough about how good these guys are. They have been a constant for us and have been a major factor in our growth in the Buckhead area. The projects we build for them are stimulating and challenging and they have always been ideal partners to us. We can’t thank them enough.

Bill and Sally Wilson Commercial Construction
Bill and Sally are the sweetest couple in the world. We have built a number of Burger Kings for them over the years. Bill is supposed to be as mean as a snake but he’s really a gentle giant. Sally is a very shrewd persuasive businesswoman. It is so much fun working with them and we always look forward eagerly to the next opportunity we have to share our talents and time with them.

Chris Schoen Home Renovation
Chris is the salt of the earth and solid as a rock. He and his family have been such an inspiration to us and we appreciate his confidence.

Ben Jefferies Owner of Lake Oconee “Home of the Year”
One of the most unassuming men you will ever meet with a mind that works in ways beyond description. His confidence is infectious and his graciousness unparalleled.

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What We Do

Experience

Let’s Get It Started

Our Business Heroes

Duke Development

Current Projects