Our People

Our People

Cork-Howard Construction’s success is a direct result of the hard work, expertise, and dedication of our employees. We collaborate, communicate with, and learn from each other. Trust and mutual respect is our recipe for successful construction projects. 

Gene Cork - C.E.O

Gene Cork is a native to the Atlanta area and graduated with honors from Emory University in 1983.

Mr. Cork began his professional career in 1984 with Beers Construction Company and in 1989, he began working for, and soon after running, Parker & Company. In 1995, he began Cork-Howard Construction Company.

Cork-Howard began as a general contractor for the high- end interiors market in Atlanta. Long-term customers include: Cousins Properties; Merrill Lynch; Oracle; GE Power; Atlanta Housing Authority; Mirant; Blue Cross Blue Shield; Sutherland, Asbill, & Brennan; The Southern Company; and multiple projects with StructureTone, to name a few. The company has since diversified into the healthcare industry working with WellStar, DeKalb Medical, Union General, Trinity, and Decatur Hospitals, as well as building ground-up facilities for St. Luke’s Presbyterian, Christ Episcopal, Buckhead Christian, Fulton County Fire Department, Center for Family Resources, as well as others.

Professionally, Mr. Cork serves on the Board of Directors of The Extension, The Bobby Dodd Foundation, The Dodd Trophy as well as serving on the WellStar Hospice Advisory Committee. He has previously served as a Board Member for the Associated General Contractors, the Cobb Chamber of Commerce and a large privately held Fire Protection Company. Mr. Cork is also involved as an owner representative with the Carpenters Union Local 225.

Mr. Williams is a native of Atlanta and a graduate of Young Harris and the University of Georgia. Mark began his professional career with Four Seasons Environmental where he refurbished laboratories and operating rooms for The Center for Disease Control. Mr. Williams then continued his construction management career with Beers Company prior to joining Cork-Howard Construction in 1997. Mark has been with the company almost since its inception, contributing to the success and growth of the company and its respected reputation within the community. Some of Mr. Williams’ clients include: Olympic venues in Athens; hotels such as Holiday Inn Express; branch banks such as First Atlanta, Atlantic States, First Union, SouthTrust, and SunTrust; institutes of learning such as Emory University, Georgia Institute of Technology; law firms Smith, Currie and Hancock; and other high-end clients such as Boston Consulting Group, Navigant Consulting, Fidelity Investments, Cousins Properties, and Colonnade Properties; Medical such as Grady, Dekalb, Wellstar, Union General, Atlanta Medical, Chatuge Healthcare systems. Mark has had numerous projects garner awards form the AGC during his career and continues that passion for perfection today. Mr. Williams participates with the Association of General Contractors and with building relationships with the Carpenters Union Local 225, and is ASHE certified. When Mark is not working or involved with professional affiliations, he devotes his time to his community, AHA American Heart Association and is active in North Metro Church.

John Handerhan, Vice President

John joined Cork-Howard in 1998 and worked in the Atlanta office as a project manager until 2003, when he and his family moved to Tampa and he successfully opened Cork Howard’s Tampa, Florida branch. Since that time, John has grown Cork Howard’s presence and he runs approximately $10 million worth of work yearly. His clients include healthcare, interiors, retail and more. His clients include Morgan Stanley, Advent Health, MetLife, Lifelink, and BNY to name a few.