20 People to Know. 20 Years of Leadership. One Lasting Legacy. Eric Schaefer Recognized Among Louisville’s 20 People to Know in Construction
As President Eric Schaefer is at the height of his 20th anniversary year with the company, Schaefer General Contracting (Schaefer) is proud to celebrate his recognition by Louisville Business First as one of their 2026 People to Know in Construction honorees.
The annual recognition highlights professionals who are helping shape the future of Louisville’s construction industry through leadership, innovation, and lasting contributions to the built environment. Eric joins an outstanding group of industry leaders whose work continues to strengthen our communities and move the profession forward.
To celebrate this recognition, we’re sharing highlights from Eric’s recent Q&A with Louisville Business First while reflecting on the leadership principles, industry insights, and milestones that have shaped his first year as President and his 20-year journey with Schaefer. From the importance of relationships and to building strong teams and lasting partnerships, Eric’s perspective offers a look at the values that continue to guide Schaefer’s next chapter of Building Confidence.
A Legacy Built on Relationships
This recognition comes during a milestone year as Eric celebrates 20 years with Schaefer and continues leading the company as its third-generation President.
Since joining the family business in 2006, Eric has helped guide Schaefer through a period of significant growth, including geographic expansion into Florida, continued diversification across multiple market sectors, and the evolution of the company’s client-focused approach to construction.
When asked what he values most about the industry, Eric doesn’t point to projects or awards. He points to people.
“What I like most is the relationships I’ve developed over the last 20 years—many with people I likely never would have met otherwise. A close second is seeing a client’s vision become reality and delivering a space they benefit from every day.”
Eric believes the best outcomes come from becoming an extension of the client’s team and working collaboratively with owners, architects, engineers, and trade partners from the earliest stages of planning through project completion.
“Projects don’t go bad—they start bad,” Eric explains. “Scope gaps, design challenges, or owner changes identified early create better outcomes and a better client experience.”
It’s a mindset reflected in Schaefer’s guiding principle of Building with Good People, for Good People.
Building Confidence Through Leadership
Today, Eric leads Schaefer with the same principles that have guided the company for more than 70 years: integrity, craftsmanship, accountability, and relationships.
Under his leadership, Schaefer has continued expanding its geographic footprint while investing in its people, technology, operational excellence, and long-term client partnerships.
Whether delivering complex healthcare renovations, senior living communities, industrial facilities, retail developments, or program rollouts, Eric believes success is measured by more than the finished building. It’s measured by the trust earned along the way.
“We work hard to educate our team to be part of the solution—not the problem. It doesn’t matter how we got here. We collaborate to understand the challenge and identify the best solution for the client.”
Congratulations to This Year’s Honorees
Schaefer congratulates Eric and the entire 2026 Louisville Business First People to Know in Construction class for their continued leadership and contributions to Louisville’s construction community.
As Eric continues leading Schaefer’s growth across the Midwest, Southeast, and East Coast, this recognition represents more than a professional milestone. For Schaefer, it reflects two decades of leadership built on strong relationships, meaningful collaboration, and a steadfast commitment to Building Confidence with good people, for good people.
To read Eric’s full Q&A with LBF, click here!
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About Eric Schaefer
A humble construction professional, and third-generation leader, Eric Schaefer carries forward the legacy of Schaefer General Contracting Services as President, taking over the reins in 2025. Established in 1954 by his grandfather more than seven decades ago, Schaefer has grown from a mom-and-pop shop to a sharp and structured medium-sized commercial general contracting business that still holds onto our core foundational values more than 70 years later.
As a leader, Eric’s passion lies in supporting the people who make the work happen. He sees his role as keeping the lights green for the teams on the ground—removing barriers, offering support, and staying visible and engaged. Through his humble, people-first leadership, he continues to champion a culture of integrity, collaboration, and accountability.
He’s played a pivotal role in expanding the company’s geographic footprint, including the acquisition of SouthCo in Florida and the launch of the Florida operations in 2018. He also founded Schaefer Service Solutions, expanding the company’s services to include building and facility maintenance, as well as dock and door installation and repair. These initiatives have strengthened Schaefer’s ability to serve clients throughout the entire lifecycle of their facilities. He remains focused on Building Confidence in the teams that reaches across all offices while preserving what makes Schaefer unique: a shared commitment to do good work with good people, for good people.
Learn more about Eric and his leadership journey at Schaefer here!
