Dakenna Development – Ground-Up Commercial Construction

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In 2009, Daniel Kane and Morris Adkins were out of work. The recession had shut down the contractor they worked for, leaving them with a choice: find new jobs or build something new.

They chose to build.

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The Cold-Call Pivot

At the time, retail construction was the one sector still moving. So Kane and Adkins printed a list of the 200 fastest-growing franchises in the country and started cold-calling. For three months, they heard nothing but no.

Then came their first yes.

“Our first project ever was for one of the top five fastest growing chains in the country: Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches. We were fortunately awarded the job and my partner and I self-performed a portion of the work to make ends meet.” — Daniel Kane

That single project turned into more than 100 for the chain. Dakenna Development was officially off the ground.

Growth Through Reputation

Word-of-Mouth, Not Business Development

Dakenna didn’t spend much on marketing. The company grew because clients talked.

“We’ve done limited business development; our growth has all been through word-of-mouth and repeat clients, which has been very fortunate for us.” — Morris Adkins

Starting in Florida, the company got licensed across the Southeast. Within five years, it was operating in 40 states. By 2015, the goal was full nationwide licensing.

As the company expanded across the Southeast, construction recruiting in Florida helped bring in the local talent Dakenna needed to keep up with its rapid growth.

Local Subcontractors, Better Results

Dakenna hires local subs for each project. It keeps costs down for clients, and local crews know the codes and conditions of their area.

What Dakenna Does

The company provides design-build, general contracting, and construction management services. Its project mix has matured from retail fit-outs to full ground-up builds: restaurants, commercial strip centers, and mixed-use developments.

Branded Services

Dakenna developed three branded service lines to handle everything from a single business owner to large corporations managing complex national rollouts. The flagship is Race2Revenue, a project delivery system built for speed and efficiency.

“Our branded services highlight our core project delivery system, Race2Revenue, as well as our other services specifically designed to manage national construction rollouts.” — Morris Adkins

Keeping Owners in the Loop

The company makes a point of keeping property owners involved and informed from start to finish. This builds trust and prevents surprises.

“We help our clients facilitate good deals and more importantly, prevent bad deals. Through providing that value through our pre-construction services, it keeps us in front of the client early on in their process.” — Daniel Kane

Notable Project: Mizzen Plaza

In Miami, Florida, Dakenna built Mizzen Plaza, a ground-up commercial retail center. The company handled every phase: site development, interior tenant construction, vendor sequencing, and full project coordination. It was a showcase of everything Dakenna can do.

Recognition and What’s Next

In just five years, Dakenna Development earned serious industry recognition:

  • No. 184 on the 2014 Inc. 500 Fastest Growing Private Companies in America
  • No. 5 on the 2014 Inc. 500 Fastest Growing Contractors in America
  • No. 4 on the 2014 Jacksonville Business Journal’s Fast 50

The company plans to keep growing—geographically, economically, and by staying true to the hard work and perseverance that got it started. Kane and Adkins knew early on this was the work they were meant to do, and the road ahead looks promising.