Driving through Memphis, it can feel like there is a Grinder Taber Grinder (GTG) sign on every corner. At the helm of this successful third-generation family construction business is Brett Grinder, who works alongside his father Fred and brother Justin on projects that continue to benefit our city.
The story of GTG began in the postwar boom of the 1950s and 60s when Brett’s grandfather Ed and his great-uncle Curley moved to Memphis after serving in the Naval Construction Battalion during WWII. After gaining experience working on iconic projects like 100 North Main, they partnered with Harold Taber to found GTG in early 1968. Despite the tumultuous local climate following the assassination of Dr. King just months later, the founders persevered and remained profitable in their very first year.
Brett and Justin were involved in the family business from a young age. "Dinner conversations at our house and our grandparents’ always revolved around construction and what GTG was doing," Brett recalls. After earning engineering degrees at Georgia Tech, both brothers returned to work with their father, where they now equally share ownership and responsibilities. "We know to play to our individual strengths, and we have worked together long enough to know which of us is best to manage a specific type of project, handle a political issue or prepare a financial analysis," Brett says
GTG is well known for their ability to deliver projects on time and within budget, utilizing a data-driven cost estimating system. By combining current subcontractor pricing with an extensive database of past costs, they provide accurate budgets at the earliest design stages. This systematic approach has earned the trust of long-term partners like Metcalf Crump, Chairman and CEO of The Crump Firm-Architects, who has worked with Brett on hundreds of projects over the past 30 years. Crump says, "We and our clients have always benefitted from Brett’s skills, knowledge and integrity in his work on all our projects. Brett is known for his reliable preliminary cost-estimating during the design phases of each project, for maintaining excellent cost-control methods and for completing all projects on time as promised.”
While GTG has experienced consistent growth over the years, its trajectory has been intentional: "We never planned to be the largest construction company in town, but we always aspired to have the best reputation and highest level of service and technical ability." This commitment to service is felt directly by clients. Elizabeth Troutman, Director of Operations at OrthoSouth, recalls being impressed by Brett's personal involvement: "I was able to talk directly to Brett when I called to check up on various items throughout the projects, and he responded quickly." She adds that GTG "always completed the jobs early and under budget."
Working with a strong network of local subcontractors and treating them well is another key to GTG’s success. "My grandfather taught me that we always want to ensure our projects go as fast as possible and be well organized - that ensures that the subcontractors succeed alongside us," Brett notes, emphasizing that mutual profitability is key to maintaining a top-tier talent pool.
While GTG has transformed landmark buildings like the Gibson Guitar plant into FedEx’s downtown headquarters and constructed the Crosstown Concourse, Brett’s current favorite project is deeply personal. The new Memphis University School (MUS) Arts & Sciences Building is an update to his alma mater and the school his wife’s grandfather, Alexander Wellford, helped to reopen in 1955. Set to finish in the spring of 2027, the facility will finally provide the space that the school’s high-caliber faculty and growing music program deserve. "The music program has grown so much in the past decade that the orchestra cannot fit on stage," Brett says, highlighting the necessity of the new theater and science wings.
When he isn't on a job site, Brett stays active within the Memphis community, serving on many local boards, including MUS - where he is honored to work with the outstanding faculty and administration as chairman of the academic committee. Brett also enjoys traveling with his wife, Megan, and their two children, Anne and Edward, as well as with his larger extended family.
Looking ahead, Brett’s focus remains firmly on the longevity of the firm and the city. "Our generation of the family is largely immune to short-term thinking, given that we want GTG to be a durable bellwether in Memphis through good economic times and tough ones," Brett says. With the potential for a fourth generation to join the company in the next decade, that vision feels well within reach.
For nearly six decades, Grinder Taber Grinder has helped shape the physical landscape of Memphis. Its most enduring contributions, however, may be less visible. It is a legacy of integrity, precision and partnership that continues to build the city from the ground up.
For more information, visit grindertabergrinder.com
"My grandfather taught me that we always want to ensure our projects go as fast as possible and be well organized..."