Today we’d like to introduce you to Hayden Sorrels.
Hi Hayden, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Construction has always been part of my life. I grew up around my family’s plumbing company in Kentucky, spending much of my childhood on residential jobsites and learning what hard work really meant. After college, I entered industrial construction with one of the nation’s top-ranked general contractors. Over nearly seven years there, I worked my way up from field engineer to site manager, leading complex industrial projects across the United States.
Those years taught me a lot about delivering projects at the highest level, but more importantly, they showed me that construction isn’t just about hard work or quality craftsmanship. It’s just as much about relationships and how you treat people. Eventually, I knew it was the right time to take that experience and build something of my own here in Nashville. That’s how Warhorse Construction (WHC) was born.
WHC is the product of decades of lessons from both sides of the industry (as a subcontractor and as a general contractor). Our mission is simple: to safely and consistently exceed client expectations by providing exceptional safety, quality, service, and integrity.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Not only has the road not been smooth, but it’s been brutal. Starting a construction company means wearing many hats, many I didn’t even know existed. There are things you simply can’t even Google or learn from YouTube… Coming from a large general contractor, where so many systems and resources were already in place, I suddenly had to create everything from scratch. It was challenging, slow, humbling, and eye-opening.
There were times when the long hours caught up to me. More than once, I’ve slept in my truck because I was too exhausted to drive home. But this dream has been with me for a long time, and those sacrifices only fuel my motivation. It’s amazing, and a little scary, how much grit it takes to get a commercial construction company off the ground.
Another major hurdle has been buying back my time. Running this business alone is tough, and I’ve had to learn where to ask for help. I recently brought on a CPA to handle our books, invoicing, and pay applications, and while it was a big step, it’s already made a huge difference. I am both nervous and excited for the day I can bring more people on board to help grow this company, and I believe that day will come sooner than I originally thought.
As you know, we’re big fans of Warhorse Construction (Warhorse Construction LLC). For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Warhorse Construction (WHC) is a Nashville based commercial general contractor specializing in both commercial and industrial projects across Tennessee and Kentucky. We provide full general contracting services and our mission is simple: to safely and consistently exceed client expectations by providing exceptional safety, quality, service, and integrity.
What sets us apart is our approach. We combine the discipline and expertise of working on large-scale, complex projects with the personal commitment and accountability of a locally owned company. For us, safety always comes first, and we are relentless about building strong relationships with clients, architects, engineers, and subcontractors. We know that successful projects are not just about the project, but about the people.
Brand wise, we are most proud of the reputation we are building as a company that does what it says it will do. Recently, we completed a renovation at an elementary school in middle Tennessee ahead of schedule, with the client very pleased at how smoothly the entire process went from start to finish. Just as important, we finished with zero first aid incidents, and zero recordables, something we take a great deal of pride in.
We want readers to know that WHC is not just here to build projects, but to build partnerships. Whether it’s a ground-up design-build facility, a complex renovation, or a smaller project, we bring the same level of care, attention, and commitment every single time.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
Something surprising that most people do not know about me is that my degree has nothing to do with construction management. I actually graduated with a degree in Criminal Justice and a minor in Communications. The Criminal Justice part doesn’t come in handy very often on a jobsite, but the Communications piece has been invaluable.
Pricing:
- You can reach out for pricing via email to estimating@warhorsegc.com
- We offer more than just the construction, we can partner with trusted design partners to allow for a streamlined design-build process!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.warhorsegc.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/warhorsegc/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/warhorse-construction
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/haydensorrels
