Our History
A Serendipitous Start
The Cullison-Wright Construction Corporation’s extensive history in Ocala began before the turn of the century in 1884. A young man named Jerry Burnett and his brother traveled by train from South Carolina to work in the Sunshine State’s booming construction industry. Orlando was their destination, but when the train stopped in Ocala, they noticed the city was severely damaged by the “Great Fire” of 1883. The fire and subsequent rebuilding in non-flammable materials gave Ocala the nickname “Brick City.”
The construction savvy of the two men led them to a correct prediction—an abundance of workers needed to rebuild Ocala. Burnett settled in Ocala and raised a family, where his grandson and namesake, Jerry Cullison, started his own construction company, Cullison Builders, in 1962. The company grew rapidly with an excellent reputation.
A Successful Expansion
A collaborative effort in building the Skyline Manufacturing Plant in 1969 created an alliance between Cullison Builders and Wright Construction of Elkhart, Indiana. The harmonious working relationship led to the incorporation of Cullison-Wright Construction Corporation in March of 1973.
Jerry Cullison purchased all interest in Cullison-Wright Construction Corporation in 1978. He continued to lead the company for 30 successive years before his passing.
Cullison-Wright Construction Corporation has enjoyed steady growth in commercial and industrial construction, specializing in senior living communities, medical facilities, banks, churches, office buildings, and pre-engineered metal buildings (Varco-Pruden).
An Exciting Future
Barry Mansfield joined the Cullison-Wright team in 1989 and is the son-in-law of founder Jerry Cullison. Earning a B.S. degree in Business Management with a minor in aviation technology from LeTourneau University laid the groundwork for him to thrive in the company.
Barry is a Certified General Contractor, but working with people is where he excels. Possessing superb people skills enables him to negotiate contracts in all areas of construction. Those same skills also enabled Barry to build a reliable team of loyal employees.
Barry is now the team leader as president and CEO. He is involved in every project built by Cullison-Wright Construction. His personal commitment to each client is second to none.
Vice President and CFO Sara Cullison joined the company in 1990. Also, a Certified General Contractor, Sara graduated from the highly esteemed University of Florida, Rinker School of Building Construction Management.
A seasoned project manager and project planner, she also acquired an abundance of professional accreditations and certifications, which makes Cullison-Wright a leader in green building practices. She is dedicated to extending the legacy of the company and says she’s been proud of Cullison-Wright’s reputation for making customers happy.
Troy Thurston, Vice President and Project Manager began his career with Cullison-Wright in 2015. Equipped with a B.S. in Economics & Business and a minor in Urban and Regional Planning from Florida State University make Troy ideally suited for his career at Cullison-Wright.
Troy’s expertise and broad experience in construction and development enable him to excel in negotiating contracts and developing strong relationships with clients and subcontractors. He has an excellent track record of completing projects on time and within budget.
A close family friend of the Cullisons and Mansfields for years, Troy was invited to join Barry and Sara as a partner in 2019 when they became the three-member leadership team of the company.
Building upon its legacy with an exciting vision for the future, Cullison-Wright Construction Corporation is ready to fulfill your business goals with an outstanding building and exceptional construction experience.
