Dale Wells has been in the construction industry as a General Contractor for 38 years.  His experience ranges from Historic Building renovations, Hospitality Industry renovations, new construction, Industrial Manufacturing construction, and as a Owners Representative on major development projects.

Wells began his career working for Kemmons Wilson, Founder of Holiday Inn Inc., as the Construction Manager for a total renovation of the 32 story City Line Holiday Inn in Philadelphia, PA.  Soon afterwards, Wells formed Wells Design and Development Inc., and began his first project of many to follow working in conjunction with his father’s company, Tom Wells Interior Design Inc.  Wells’ father Tom had previously been the Vice President of Design for Holiday Inns, and had designed their hotels both in the US and worldwide.  Their first project together was the renovation of the historic Peabody Hotel in Memphis, TN.  During that two year project, Wells listened and learned from his father, and gained great insight into the coordination among architects, engineers, interior designers, and subcontractors and how Owners’ depended on the skill and knowledge of these professionals.

Over the next 10 years, Wells and his father continued working together.  They purchased 99 South Second Street, across from the Peabody Hotel, and renovated the former Commercial duplex constructed in 1900 into an office building with apartments above.  Wells was instrumental in working with the newly-formed Memphis Facade Restoration Program Developing the pilot program for Facade Grants.  This project received a “Certificate of Meritorious Achievement for Adaptive Reuse of an Existing Structure” from Memphis Heritage, Inc.

With his father’s reputation in the Hospitality Industry, Wells received many request to implement his father’s design as a General Contractor.  Together they renovated and built new Hotels for many flagships in the Industry.

Upon his father’s retirement, Wells was offered an opportunity to renovate a building in the upper east side of Manhattan, and it was there, in New York City, where he kept his company for two years renovating several buildings.  Too soon, however his father passed away, and Wells returned to Memphis to stay.

The emerging Casino Industry was exploding in Tunica County, MS., and Wells became a Prime Contractor for the $500,000,000 renovation and addition to the Circus Circus casino which became the Gold Strike Casino, famous for its Hotel being the tallest building in Mississippi.

The projects kept coming, and Wells forged relationships with the top architects and engineers in Memphis, TN.  Major renovations to landmarks included the iconic Broadnax Building and the boutique hotel, the Madison.  The Madison Hotel won the Landmarks Commission award for “Best Adaptive Reuse of a Structure.”  During this time, Wells designed and built what are now some of the best known restaurants in the South..Felicia Suzanne’s, Flight (formerly Stella’s), Grill 83 adjacent to the Madison Hotel, and Pearl’s Oyster House on South Main.

In 2010, Allen and Hoshall contracted with a large German Industrial Manufacturer, SXP, to design a multi-million dollar manufacturing facility, and Wells was asked to come on board as a technical representative for the company.  Following this very successful project, Wells stayed with A&H to oversee the new $350,000,000 Roxul manufacturing facility in Marshall County, MS.

Their third collaboration was the Sediver facility in West Memphis, AR.  Sediver is now manufacturing the high-power electrical lines bringing clean energy from the wind turbines in Oklahoma through Arkansas.

During the Roxul and Sediver projects, Wells was asked to assist in the coordination between European manufacturers and American Process Equipment installers.

Realizing the need for Process Equipment Design-Build services, Wells created Commercial Industrial Services LLC., (CICS).  CICS is dedicated to working with clients in a Turn-key manner by providing engineering services, procurement, and construction.