A Miami-based company that is disrupting the construction industry by introducing a new way to build with real-life LEGO bricks has been honored with the international award for “best construction product design” of 2023.
A new LEGO-type construction brick could retire concrete and cement. It reduces construction time and cost. We could be facing an absolute revolution!
Whether it’s record-breaking rain or a catastrophic hurricane, Florida homes need to be built to last. A new structural building system called RENCO is bringing the state’s homes into the future.
A Miami-based company has developed a new type of construction that it says is 23 times stronger than concrete, protecting against intensifying hurricanes and other extreme weather events.
A Miami-based company has developed a new type of construction that it says is 23 times stronger than concrete, protecting against intensifying hurricanes and other extreme weather events.
A Miami-based company has developed a new type of construction that it says is 23 times stronger than concrete, protecting against intensifying hurricanes and other extreme weather events.
A Miami-based company that is disrupting the construction industry by introducing a new way to build with real-life LEGO bricks has been honored with the international award for “best construction product design” of 2023.
As Florida grapples with the challenges posed by stronger hurricanes and other impacts from climate change, the construction industry is challenged to become more innovative.
Stronger and lighter than concrete, RENCO USA’s composite blocks are simply stacked on top of each other and glued into place.
With little more than a mallet, a glue gun, and a color-coded instruction manual, a team of 11 unskilled laborers recently built an entire 96-unit apartment building in less than two months.
A US start-up selling a Lego-style, interlocking block system for residential construction has had a very good few months.
Director of Operations
Brett Perry currently holds the position of Director of Operations at RENCO USA. With over two decades of experience in the construction industry, Brett began his journey as a carpenter before establishing and successfully managing his own general contracting company for a remarkable 11 years. Subsequently, he dedicated over six years to serving as a structural superintendent at Coastal Construction, one of the largest general contractors in the Southeastern United States.
For the past three years, Brett has been an integral part of the RENCO system, taking a hands-on approach to overseeing the construction and assembly of the Lakewood Villages project. Notably, this project stood out as the sole venture in the United States at that time built using RENCO technology. Demonstrating exemplary leadership, Brett spearheaded several design modifications to the system, strategically enhancing overall efficiency.
In his current role, Brett assumes responsibilities for field training, meticulously reviewing new plans for sales, and orchestrating the seamless implementation of the product in upcoming projects.
Co-Founder
Over the past 52 years, Mr. Murphy has built one of the leading general contracting companies in Florida. Today, Coastal Construction has more than $3.5 billion in active residential and commercial projects throughout the state, plus a 3-year pipeline in excess of $5 billion. Highlights from Mr. Murphy’s career include:
• More than 50 million SF of vertical construction
• More than 15,000 residential units
• More than 50 hospitality projects with 6,000 keys
• Notable Projects Including: Ocean Reef Club, The Surf Club/Four Seasons, St. Regis Bal Harbour, Ritz Carlton SoBe, Aston Martin Residences, Porsche Design Tower, Faena Hotel, Faena House, Fendi Chateau and Residences by Armani/Casa
• Lifetime Achievement Award from BASF and Legacy Award from ENR Southeast
• Co-Founded RENCO
Co-Founder
Within the last 35 years, Mr. Yesil has founded, invested in, and/or managed a wide range of highly successful businesses in both the US and Turkey including:
• Lens Express (sold and became 1-800-CONTACTS)
• Multiple US Telecommunications Companies
• 1-800-PetMeds (publicly traded on Nasdaq)
• Power & Energy Suppliers
• Automotive Sales & Finance
• Real Estate Development
• Composite Building – Renco Group, Est. 2007
• Co-Founded RENCO
President
Mr. Smuts has spearheaded the research and development of the RENCO Building System in the United States. He codified and secured RENCO’s approvals under the International Building Code (IBC). He successfully completed over $5 billion dollars of development and construction projects and is an experienced builder and real estate developer.
Mr. Smuts has over 30 years of development, design, construction management, and sales and marketing experience on a wide variety of projects. Some specific highlights include:
• Licensed PE; nuclear construction background
• Commercial construction executive in NY & PA
• Sr. VP and Managing Director, The Related Group
• Former Sr. Executive at Coastal Construction
• Mr. Smuts has graduate and undergraduate engineering degrees from Drexel and Rutgers Universities.
CFO
Mr. Kalkuz has been involved with the RENCO Group of Companies since its inception and was instrumental in securing intellectual property rights in the US and other jurisdictions worldwide. He has a diversified business experience, including:
• Serving as a Finance Executive for different corporations and holding Director positions at publicly traded company boards in the past.
• He started his career as an Auditor at one of the Big Five accounting firms where he led audits and projects, including large multinational conglomerates in a variety of industries.
• In addition, his experience includes pivotal roles in mergers, acquisitions, and public offerings, including project management of the multi-billion dollar Initial Public Offering of Turkcell (BIST:TCELL, NYSE:TKC).
• Mr. Kalkuz is a Certified Public Accountant and has a Baccalaureate Degree in Business Administration from the University of Istanbul.
Manufacturing Plant Manager
Douglas has served the manufacturing industry for 28 years, in the capacities of Plant Manager, Director of Operations, and Vice President of Operations. His career started as an entry-level machinist then onto an apprenticeship to become a journeyman tool and die maker. While serving this apprenticeship, he attended college and earned a BS in Business Management. With the foundation of tooling, crossing over to plastic injection molding and extrusion. For the last 20 years, Douglas has managed plastic manufacturing facilities around the United States.
Managing Director
Mr. Murphy served two terms in the US Congress representing Florida’s 18th district, sitting on the financial services committee and House Permanent Select Committee for Intelligence. He has been involved in the development of RENCO since 2010 and currently is focused on federal, state, and local legislation and opportunities. Additionally, he is an Executive Vice President of Coastal Construction, overseeing Coastal’s diversification, growth, and management of various investments. Highlights of his background include:
• CPA Licensure in the State of Florida
• Chief Investment Officer for Coastal Family of Companies
• U.S. Member of Congress for FL-18 (2012-2016) Florida Democratic Nominee for U.S. Senate 2016
• Senior Fellow at Florida International University and Visiting Fellow for Georgetown University
• National Finance Committee, Biden for President
• Co-Author: A Divided Union, Structural Challenges to Bipartisanship in America
Sales & Marketing Coordinator
Karlie Fike is an accomplished professional with an extensive background in business development and construction technology start-ups. With over six years of experience as a Business Development Administrator at Coastal Construction, one of the largest General Contractors in the Southeastern US, Karlie has consistently demonstrated her expertise in driving growth and success.
Driven by her passion for innovation and construction, Karlie actively engages with five technology and operation companies within the construction industry. Serving as the Sales & Marketing Coordinator, Karlie has worked with the RENCO team in some capacity for the last seven years.
Karlie’s career began in politics, where she grew her political fundraising skills on a national level. This experience gave her a unique perspective and a comprehensive understanding of navigating complex networks and achieving outstanding results.
Karlie holds a bachelor’s degree from the prestigious University of Florida. With her unwavering dedication, diverse expertise, and commitment to success, Karlie Fike is a dynamic force in the business world, consistently driving growth and innovation.
Executive Assistant
Lori Joined the RENCO team in 2021 as the Executive Assistant to the President. She is a high-performing, results-driven team member with extensive experience in executive administrative support.
Before RENCO, she had a 30+ year career in Market Research. She successfully managed operations and client relations, working directly with the President and CFO, exceeding corporate expectations while creating additional opportunities for the company in an ever-changing industry.
She brings with her broad experiences working within multi-faceted organizations in different roles which made her the perfect addition to the Renco family. Catering to the needs of a growing company and its clients is where she excels.
A total team player, Lori helps facilitate the scheduling demands of a sought-after and innovative company but also assists in research, special projects, processes, and corporate compliance. The belief in the success of RENCO’s inventive approach to the building industry and the people she works with motivates her daily.
