Southern Design Companies
Our Passion is Excellence
Our Mission
At Southern Design Companies, our passion is excellence. We are dedicated to delivering unparalleled quality in every aspect of our operations. Our commitment to excellence drives us to continuously improve, innovate, and exceed expectations. We believe that by maintaining the highest standards, we can create lasting value for our customers and employees. At Southern Design Companies, excellence isn't our goal - it's our guiding principle.
Our Core Values
Get-It-Done Attitude
The team at SDCo is self-motivated with a can-do attitude. We are resourceful, fast paced, and always give 100% to handle the task at hand - no matter how big or small.
Customer First
Everyone at SDCo shares a customer-first attitude. We make it a point to remember why we're here every day - to serve our customers.
Committed to Excellence
The team at SDCo is 100% committed to excellence in all we do. We are thorough, selfless, diligent, and detail oriented with a servant attitude.
Disciplined and Accountable
All members of the SDCo team operate in a disciplined fashion. We answer the bell every single day. We are accountable to ourselves, each other, the company, and our customer.
Our Story
Southern Design Companies was founded in 2009 as a small landscaping business in North Atlanta by Blanchard Benson. Partnering early with regional and national homebuilders, the company quickly earned a reputation for a customer-first approach, uncompromising quality, and exceptional service.
As the company grew, its founding principles remained intact while its capabilities expanded. A commitment to continuous improvement and operational efficiency led to strategic growth through vertical integration and service diversification. In 2014, Southern Design Companies enhanced its offerings by adding an in-house plant nursery and expanding materials inventory. The business continued to grow in 2016 with the addition of concrete foundations and flatwork, followed by the expansion into helical pier and deep foundation solutions in 2019.
Today, Southern Design Companies serves residential builders, build-to-rent contractors, developers, earthwork contractors, and general contractors throughout the Southeast. Through strong industry partnerships and a disciplined focus on scalability, the company continues to deliver value for its customers. Guided by its core values and a clear vision for the future, Southern Design Companies remains committed to growth, innovation, and long-term success.
Our Leadership
Chief Executive Officer
Deven Bradford
Deven is a construction professional with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Georgia Southern University and hands-on experience spanning every stage of the building process. He began his career in high school, interning with a residential framing contractor, and later expanded his technical expertise at the Heidelberg Technology Center, where he conducted chemical and physical concrete testing. Deven has led numerous large-scale commercial renovation projects and overseen thousands of new construction projects for Southern Design Companies. Promoted to Chief Operating Officer in 2019, he later became Chief Executive Officer, where he now leads the company’s vision and growth. He holds a Georgia Residential Basic Contractor’s License and is a certified pervious concrete installer, bringing a commitment to excellence and innovation to every project.
Strategic Advisor
Blanchard Benson
Blanchard Benson is the founder of Southern Design Landscaping, which he launched in 2008 with a clear vision and hands-on leadership during the height of the financial crisis. Starting with a small team and limited resources, he quickly built the company into a respected landscaping firm known for quality and expertise. Blanchard holds a degree in Landscape Design and Grounds Management from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and began his landscaping career in 1998. Prior to founding SDL, he served as Chief Operating Officer for one of Metro Atlanta’s largest landscape companies, where he managed field operations for seven years. A trusted expert in resolving complex site challenges, Blanchard is also a U.S. Navy veteran whose discipline and leadership continue to drive innovation and success at Southern Design Landscaping.
Strategic Advisor
Karla Burel
Karla is a construction industry leader with over 27 years of experience across residential development, erosion control, landscaping, and heavy civil construction. A graduate of Gainesville College and State University, she brings a well-rounded and strategic approach to every project. In 2016, Karla founded Southern Design Concrete, quickly growing the company through a reputation for exceptional quality, meticulous planning, and outstanding service. Known for building strong client and partner relationships, she excels at identifying strategic opportunities, developing high-performing teams, and adapting to the evolving construction landscape. Karla is also a certified pervious concrete technician and remains deeply committed to innovation and excellence at Southern Design Companies.
Vice President of Finance
David Rihner
Vice President of Sales
Matt Keck