Our Story

The Beginning

Phillip Smith founded the company with a focus on craftsmanship, detail, and building homes with long-term integrity in mind.

What began as a hands-on building company quickly became known for its consistency, care, and commitment to doing things the right way—not the fastest way.

Built Over Time

Over the years, the company grew through strong partnerships and a shared belief in quality over volume.

For eight years, Phillip Smith and Bill worked side by side, shaping the systems, standards, and relationships that continue to define the work today.

In 2025, Phillip Smith transitioned into retirement, and leadership moved fully into Bill’s hands. This transition ensured continuity for clients, trade partners, and ongoing projects—while preserving the standards the company was built on.

What began as a partnership has evolved into a new chapter, grounded in the same foundation and carried forward with consistency and care.

Today

Today, Phillip Smith General Contractor continues forward under Bill’s leadership as a second-generation evolution of a company built on legacy.

What began with Phillip’s original vision—hands-on, detail-driven, and grounded in long-term trust—has been carried forward rather than replaced. Bill stepped into leadership after years of working within that same foundation, ensuring the transition was not a shift in direction, but a continuation of the same standard.

The legacy is not just in the homes we build, but in the way the company itself operates: steady, consistent, and rooted in relationships that last.

From construction through long-term management, the mission remains unchanged—build with intention, uphold the standard, and carry forward the responsibility that comes with every home and every client we serve.

We build. We care.
Reclaimed barn-wood stairwell ceiling, a family's history built into a Daniel Island custom home
36
Years of Experience
Estd 1990
Charleston, South Carolina
Prism Award
Charleston Home Builders Assn.
Two generations
One name on every home

Nautilus Home Management

A Long-Term Approach

Phillip Smith General Contractor and Nautilus Home Management operate in close partnership—bringing together custom homebuilding and long-term home care under one aligned approach.

While each company serves its own role, the connection allows for a more seamless experience for homeowners who value consistency, communication, and long-term support.

Explore Nautilus Home Management →

Our Team

Meet the Team

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Bill Payzant
President

Bill leads both Phillip Smith General Contractor and Nautilus Home Management with a focus on consistency, accountability, and long-term care. Having worked within the business for years, he continues the standard established from the beginning—ensuring a seamless transition into the next generation. From construction through ongoing management, his oversight connects every phase of homeownership. His perspective—shaped by both building and maintaining homes in a coastal environment—guides decisions not just for how a home is built, but how it performs over time. His focus remains simple: build with intention, uphold the standard, and stand behind the work long after completion.

info@phillipsmithcontractor.com
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BJ Park
Vice President of Operations

As Vice President of Operations, supports the full lifecycle of each project—from early planning and design through construction and client delivery. He is especially focused on pre-construction and the unseen details that shape execution, ensuring clarity, alignment, and precision at every stage. For BJ, the work is measured in how seamlessly a project unfolds and how well it stands the test of time.

info@phillipsmithcontractor.com
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Jennifer Casto
CFO and Senior Estimator

Jennifer serves as CFO and Senior Estimator, overseeing financial strategy and leading the estimating process from early design through construction. She works closely with both clients and project teams to ensure clarity, accuracy, and alignment from the very beginning. Her focus is on the details that shape a project’s foundation—ensuring every number, scope, and decision is thoughtfully considered before construction begins. She believes confidence is built through transparency, accuracy, and thoughtful planning long before construction begins.

info@phillipsmithcontractor.com
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Alyssa Smith
Accounts Receivable/Estimator

Alyssa supports the financial and administrative structure behind each project, ensuring accuracy, organization, and transparency throughout. She helps maintain clarity for both the team and the client through structured communication and consistent financial oversight. She brings precision to the details that support the larger project, creating a sense of order and clarity that carries through every phase.

info@phillipsmithcontractor.com
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Russell Parker
Project Manager

Russell oversees construction with a focus on preparation, coordination, and clarity in execution. He ensures each phase is properly scoped, scheduled, and supported so the work in the field remains efficient and controlled. His background in hands-on building informs his attention to detail, particularly in the systems and elements that will not be seen once a home is complete. He takes pride in delivering homes where every layer has been thoughtfully considered.

info@phillipsmithcontractor.com
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Michael Dukes
Project Manager

Michael leads projects with a structured, detail-oriented approach focused on planning, coordination, and execution. His work ensures each phase of construction moves forward with clarity and intention. He helps guide clients through decisions early, creating space for informed choices and a steady, predictable process. He is especially focused on precision behind the walls and alignment across every trade, bringing a steady, intentional consistency to every phase of the process.

info@phillipsmithcontractor.com
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Joe Callaghan
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Jodi Rupp
Client Coordinator

Jodi serves as a primary client contact, coordinating communication, schedules, and project updates to ensure clarity and continuity throughout the building process. She focuses on keeping clients informed, supported, and aligned at every stage. Her role centers on communication and responsiveness—helping simplify a complex process so clients always feel confident and aware of what comes next. For her, success is defined by a seamless experience where nothing is missed, and every client feels guided from start to finish.

info@phillipsmithcontractor.com
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Jean Soper
Client Coordinator

Jean brings a detail-driven, design-informed approach to every project. With a background in interior design, she is focused on translating plans into homes that feel intentional and complete. She is known for her sharp eye in the field, paying close attention to the details that often go unseen once construction is finished. She is driven by the belief that both the process and the finished home should feel complete and considered.

info@phillipsmithcontractor.com
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Candace Johnson
Executive Assistant

As Executive Assistant to the President of Phillip Smith General Contractor and Nautilus Home Management, she supports daily operations across both companies, including scheduling, sales coordination, marketing, and client-facing logistics. Her role is centered on keeping priorities aligned and ensuring seamless execution behind the scenes. She is drawn to fast-paced environments where organization, adaptability, and attention to detail directly shape the client experience. She brings thoughtful communication, consistency and a culture of care that extends from the team to every homeowner experience.

info@phillipsmithcontractor.com
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Lori Hills
Marketing and Operations Coordinator

Lori oversees marketing coordination and operational oversight support across Phillip Smith General Contractor, working closely with leadership to ensure alignment between systems, communication, and client experience. Her role spans marketing, operations, and data-driven oversight behind the scenes. With a background in engineering, construction, and brand management, she brings both analytical precision and operational clarity to the business, ensuring accuracy, transparency, and continuous improvement across platforms and processes. She focuses on creating systems that run effortlessly while supporting a clear, elevated client experience.

info@phillipsmithcontractor.com
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Ashley Fine
Marketing Coordinator and Brand Storytelling

Ashley leads marketing and brand storytelling for Phillip Smith General Contractor and Nautilus Home Management, shaping how each brand is experienced before a project begins. She translates daily operations into intentional, human storytelling that builds clarity, trust, and understanding. Her focus is on the in-between moments—communication, consistency, and the details that define experience. She is driven by the belief that the story should reflect the same level of care as the work itself.

info@phillipsmithcontractor.com
Barrel-ceiling porch opening to the pool of a custom Daniel Island home

From our clients

"This is the second home Phillip Smith General Contractor has built for me. Quality of work is amazing."
— Repeat Custom Build Client, Mount Pleasant

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