MANAGEMENT

W. Lee Gaines, Jr., President

55+ Years of Industry Experience

Job Duties: Lee manages the financial end of Gaines and Company. He also monitors the job bidding process and assists with crew scheduling and personnel matters.

Education/Professional Experience: Lee is a respected member of his community. He served as president and longtime board member of the Associated Utility Contractors of Maryland and fulfilled several terms on the National Utility Contractors Association board. He was appointed by Governor Hogan to the Maryland Transportation Authority board in 2015, where he served for 9 years. As a graduate of Yale University, Lee devoted much time and energy to supporting education. He is a past trustee of Boys’ Latin School, Gilman School, and Yorktown University.

Personal Life: Lee has played competitive tennis since he was ten years old. He has been married to his wife, Beth, for over 50 years. Together, they have four children and eight grandchildren. He enjoys traveling, particularly on safari in Africa. Beth and Lee have wintered in Stuart, Florida, for the past decade.

L. Myrton Gaines II, Vice President

Job Duties: Myrt coordinates all field operations, visits jobsites, and works closely with every client. He focuses on the intricate details, schedules jobs, purchases equipment, and oversees fleet maintenance. Myrt is known for his congenial and genuine nature toward employees, customers, and inspectors, ensuring everyone understands their worth to the company.

Education/Professional Experience: Myrt is a graduate of Boys Latin School and Washington College. He is also a past president of the Associated Utility Contractors of Maryland.

Personal Life: Myrt and his wife, Mary B., have been married for 43 years and have two children. If Myrt isn’t on the job site, he’s most likely on the water with his second love, Summertime Girl.

David Gaines, Chief Operating Officer

26+ Years of Industry Experience

Job Duties: As COO, David travels to and oversees operations in all three of Gaines’s regional divisions (Maryland, North Carolina, and Delaware & Eastern Shore), as well as manages the financing of equipment purchases. David assists employees when working through project issues to diligently ensure all customers’ needs are fully met.

Education/Professional Experience: David is a graduate of Princeton University and holds an MBA from the University of Texas Business School. He served in the Marine Corps on active duty for four years and spent seven years serving in the active Reserves, ending his service as a Major.

He was the chairman of the Maryland Underground Facilities Damage Prevention Authority, appointed by Governor Lawrence J. Hogan, Jr. of Maryland.

His past association and community positions include North Carolina Utility Contractor’s Association (President), MD Underground Facilities Damage Prevention Authority (Chairman), MBIA of Maryland (Board Member), Land Development Council of the MBIA (Chairman), and Operation Coming Home (Founding Board Member).

Personal Life: David and his wife, Katherine, have been happily married for 23 years and have two children. In his spare time, he enjoys saltwater fly fishing.

Bill Gaines, Vice President

23+ Years of Industry Experience

Job Duties: Bill is instrumental with our equipment fleet acquisition and logistics. He designs and outfits our grading equipment with the latest GPS grade control technology, and implements telematics to improve maintenance, minimize down time, and increase fleet efficiency. Bill is also involved with purchasing new equipment and vehicles for the company.

Education/Professional Experience: Bill served as a Baltimore County firefighter for five years. He held a variety of positions within Gaines and Company, including laborer, truck driver, equipment operator, foreman, superintendent, and equipment logistics manager. He is a co-owner of GEC Equipment, LLC (an affiliate company) and is the founder/president of First Class Hauling (a Gaines and Company subsidiary).

Personal Life: Bill and his wife, Anna, have five children.

Dominic Pope, Safety Director

20+ Years of Industry Experience

Job Duties: Dominic Pope has been instrumental in developing and continually enhancing our award-winning safety program. In addition to his safety-specific responsibilities, Dominic also ensures Gaines remains FMCSA and DOT compliant.

Education/Professional Experience: Dominic started in Construction as a Heavy Equipment Hauler. As his curiosity and passion for Safety grew, he earned his Construction Health and Safety Technician (CHST) certification with the Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP) and transitioned into a Field Representative & Safety Consultant for Safety First. After a couple of years, he joined Gaines and has significantly improved our safety culture.

Dominic has been awarded Safety Professional of the Year by both Chesapeake Region Safety Council (CRSC) and Maryland Motor Truck Association (MMTA). He is also actively involved with Chesapeake Region Safety Council (Board Member), MMTA (Board Member), AUC (Board Member), and NCI (Risk Chairman and Executive Committee Member).

Personal Life: Dominic and his wife, Dottie, have been married for 20 years. They are active supporters of 4H. In his free time, Dominic enjoys fishing, crabbing, and spending time with his godsons.

Eric Boone, Chief Estimator/Senior Project Manager

25+ Years of Industry Experience

Job Duties: Eric oversees all estimating and project management for our Maryland division. He is responsible for interpreting and reviewing plans and proposals for project bids, presenting project analyses, tracking and analyzing project financials, negotiating budgets, and reviewing subcontractor bids. He also supervises, manages, and trains the company’s next generation of estimators and project managers.

Education/Professional Experience: Eric’s dynamic, outgoing personality and attention to detail make him an ideal individual to manage complicated, tedious jobs, which he does with good humor. No matter what task Eric tackles, it is accomplished with great professionalism. He is a great communicator, keeping customers included in all details of the job.

Personal Life: Eric lives with his wife, Shelly, and son, Owen, in Westminster, Maryland.

Mike Soul, Superintendent

40+ Years of Industry Experience

Job Duties: Mike oversees field operations for the Maryland division.

Education/Professional Experience: Mike is a natural leader and worked his way up the ranks. Young and ambitious, Mike started with Gaines and Company in 1993 as a Pipe Layer and progressed swiftly to Foreman by 1994. His energy is matched only by his technical proficiency, ability to get along with others, and talent to organize and complete difficult jobs on time and under budget. Mike moved to North Carolina in 2005. He led crews to steady improvement and earned the respect of municipal inspectors. Mike has since relocated back to Maryland where he continues to do a spectacular job.

Personal Life: Mike and his wife, Lu Ann, have two children and four grandchildren.

Matt Hobbs, Grading Superintendent

29 Years of Industry Experience

Job Duties: As a Grading Superintendent for our Maryland Division, Matt uses his natural leadership skills and acquired construction knowledge and experience to lead his team through successful project execution in a region that is inundated with challenges due to its high water table.

Education/Professional Experience: Matt has been an integral member of Gaines and Company since 2014. He started with our organization as a Dozer Operator but quickly moved up to a Foreman. He was promoted to Superintendent in 2026.

Matt’s construction experience takes him back to 19-years-old, when he ran equipment for digging basements, backfills, and fine grading for residential projects.

Personal Life: Matt enjoys spending time with his family, fishing, and watching football.

Keith Eagle, Project Manager

Job Duties: Keith manages our Maryland division’s site grading operations and site development duties. He is very organized and always thinking multiple steps ahead. There is no situation or problem that Keith is unable to solve.

Education/Professional Experience: Keith has extensive experience as a site superintendent for various construction contracting companies. He is a former officer for the Associated Utility Contractors of Maryland and is still very involved with the organization.

Personal Life: Keith started with Gaines and Company in 2010 after a career as a site superintendent for various construction contracting companies. Keith, his wife, Amy, and his daughter, Emily, are all avid Ravens fans.

George Grammer, Vice President

30+ Years of Industry Experience

Job Duties: In 2016, George moved to Raleigh, North Carolina, where he currently runs all regional operations. From both inside the office and out in the field, George is an expert at analyzing jobs, managing personnel, and communicating with customers.

Education/Professional Experience: Beginning as an assistant estimator and laborer, George has worked diligently over the years to further his knowledge and expertise. In doing so, he developed into one of our most respected project managers with significant expertise in the bidding and negotiation process.

Personal Life: George and his wife, Kelly, have been married for over 30 years. They are blessed with four children and nine grandchildren.

Jake Grammer, Estimator/Project Manager

16+ Years of Industry Experience

Job Duties: Jake is responsible for preparing comprehensive cost estimates, schedules, and contracts for both private and federal projects. His responsibilities also include building/maintaining customer relationships, managing bids, and overseeing the overall progress and quality of jobs.

Education/Professional Experience: Jake spent five years as a Utility Supplier before joining Gaines’s Maryland division. After four years with our Maryland team, Jake seamlessly transitioned into an Estimator/Project Manager for our North Carolina division.

Personal Life: He takes great pride in watching his son, Jackson, play ice hockey and enjoys spending quality time with his daughter, Ellie, at the pool. Jake and his wife, Mallory, have been happily married for 10 years.

Mark Butcher, Superintendent

41+ Years of Industry Experience

Job Duties: Mark oversees field operations for the North Carolina division.

Education/Professional Experience: Mark began as a Laborer and was promoted to Foreman within two years. In 2004, Mark moved his family to Raleigh, North Carolina. Since joining Gaines and Company’s site development team, he has proven himself invaluable. He has an excellent attitude and gives 110% every day.

Personal Life: In his spare time, Mark enjoys playing the drums, a hobby he began when he was nine-years-old. His band once even opened for Kenny Rogers and the Crickets! He lives with his wife, Theresa, and three children – Jordan, Weston, and Mason. He is a dedicated family man that treasures time outdoors riding quads, dirt bikes, and hiking.

Jim Stafford, Superintendent

40+ Years of Industry Experience

Job Duties: Since joining Gaines and Company in March 2018 as a Grading Superintendent, Jim has been entrusted with managing subcontractors and supervising mass grading projects. His responsibilities extend to finalizing jobs through fine grading, addressing punch lists, and ensuring the completion of curbs, sidewalks, gutters, and paving to bring projects to fruition.

Education/Professional Experience: Jim is a seasoned professional in the field of dirt grading and project management. His extensive background in heavy civil work and road construction has equipped him with a deep understanding of the intricacies involved in grading and site preparation, allowing him to work effectively with clients, subcontractors, and suppliers.

Personal Life: Outside of work, Jim enjoys playing golf and attending sporting events, especially cheering for the Hurricanes hockey team. He takes great pride in his family, including his wife Beth of 25 years, their two daughters, and his grandson.

Darren Martiano, Superintendent

29+ Years of Industry Experience

Job Duties: Darren oversees Utility crews, liaises with project owners, ensures on-site quality control, and prioritizes crew safety. His responsibilities span from project inception to completion, including planning, scheduling, managing materials, and addressing post-construction punch lists.

Education/Professional Experience: Hailing from Fort Myers, Florida, Darren began his journey in the Construction industry as a Pipe Foreman, honing his skills in wet utility installations for 11 years. He joined Gaines and Company after relocating to North Carolina in 2008. Starting as a Utility Foreman, Darren’s dedication and expertise quickly earned him a promotion to Superintendent.

Personal Life: Outside of work, Darren is a passionate outdoorsman who enjoys hunting, traveling, and cheering for the Carolina Hurricanes hockey team. He values family time and has been happily married for 26 years with three children. His love for the outdoors extends to saltwater fishing, boating, and camping with his family.

Joe Fulton, Superintendent

Job Duties: In his role as Superintendent, Joe oversees day-to-day operations on various North Carolina job sites, coordinating with grading teams and subcontractors to ensure seamless progress and timely completion of projects. His expertise in public water, sewer, and pipe laying, particularly at Fort Liberty (formerly Fort Bragg), has made him the go-to person for development, commercial, and federal work. Joe’s rapid learning curve and proactive approach make him a rising star among younger superintendents.

Education/Professional Experience: Joe has a diverse background that includes service in the Army and hands-on experience in the construction industry. He began as a Laborer, progressing to Pipe Layer, Foreman, and (currently) Superintendent.

Personal Life: Outside of work, Joe has a passion for raising quarter horses on his farm, which he and his significant other like to show in team-penning and ranch-sorting competitions. Together since 2010, Joe and his significant other enjoy everything from grand adventures to small moments together.

Mike Studevant, General Manager

45+ Years of Industry Experience

Job Duties: Mike runs Gaines’s Delaware & Eastern Shore operations and is aggressively growing Gaines’s footprint in the region – a region he has worked in since 1998.

Education/Professional Experience: Mike began his career as a Surveyor and worked his way up to Survey Party Chief. He then moved to the Project Management side of projects before earning a promotion as Area Manager. Prior to joining Gaines and Company, he most recently served as VP of Estimating and Project Management. Over the years, he not only built his professional reputation, but he also grew an impressive network of industry contacts. He has extensive experience working in the Western Shore, Eastern Shore, and Southern Maryland regions.

Personal Life: Mike and his wife, Beth, live on the Eastern Shore and have two adult children. In his free time, he enjoys boating, water skiing, and snow skiing.