The Future is Female: Spotlight on Successful Small Business Owner Beverly Thomas

In celebration of Women’s History Month, Clark is honored to spotlight Beverly Thomas, President of Washington, DC-based Regional Contracting Services - just one of the many woman-owned businesses Clark has the pleasure of partnering with to deliver exceptional work. Beginning her career as an office manager for a construction firm, Beverly Thomas has built her construction and business skills to eventually establish her $15 million self-perform company specializing in rough and finished carpentry. 

With nearly 50 employees and a 20-year track record, Beverly’s company has left its footprint on many of the DC area’s landmarks, including Nationals Park, the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture (NMAAHC), Audi Field, and the Navy Yard Metro station expansion. In the last 21 months, Beverly’s organization has won 28 projects.

Some notable projects include Bowie State University, East Campus Building 2, George Mason High School, Purple Line Transit, Robert Coleman School, Amtrak Track 22 Renovation and WMATA 3 Platform Rehabilitation, equaling more than $14 million in revenue.

Based on Kennedy Street, Beverly’s workplace is more than just a location to meet with clients and connect with her colleagues.  “My philosophy is ‘To whom much is given, much is required,’” says Beverly. “I am beyond grateful for the opportunities that life has given me, and it is my primary duty to give others those same opportunities for success and inspiration.”

True to her word, Beverly partners with workforce development organizations in DC, Virginia, and Baltimore in order to provide career opportunities and transition people back to civilian life. From these organizations, she has sourced a third of her staff, many of whom take apprenticeship positions and move into journeyman and carpenter roles. In the past 5 years, Beverly has hired three of her staff that are still with her today through the US Department of Probation’s workforce development initiative.

To imbue a sense of purpose and mission in the work, Beverly also gives her employees the chance to touch construction projects with personal meaning. For example, Beverly ensured that every African American employee had the opportunity to perform work on NMAAHC.

Through all the challenges she has faced as a Black, female entrepreneur in a traditionally male industry, Beverly has maintained a resilient attitude and developed a workforce that remains just as dedicated to doing the same.