On this episode of The Sell Side Podcast, host Michael Stanley sits down with Hayden Worsham, fourth-generation leader of Worsham Brothers, a Corinth, Mississippi–based general contractor celebrating 80 years in business. Hayden shares the company’s remarkable origin story—launched in 1945 with $1,500 by three Ole Miss–trained civil engineers fresh from World War II—and how Worsham evolved from highways and bridges to a boutique commercial contractor serving Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee (with work in Kentucky and Arkansas).

Hayden traces his own path—from civil engineering and national consulting work to high-growth GC experience in Atlanta—before returning home in 2022 to acquire the firm through a company-first, metrics-driven earn-out. He details the turnaround playbook: doubling down on people, restoring confidence with weekly wins, and modernizing operations with integrated project management and accounting systems so field teams can make real-time decisions on site.

The conversation tackles resilient culture (decades-long employee tenures), the value of a boutique GC experience, and a disciplined view of growth—prioritizing strategic partners, healthy pace, safety, communication, and doing what you say you’ll do. If you’re interested in succession, buying a family business, or how a mid-market contractor differentiates in the Mid-South, this one’s a masterclass in legacy, leadership, and operational excellence.