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ChastainSkillman | DCCM Celebrates 75 Years Building on Successes 

January 16, 2025 News

Last year brought big changes to ChastainSkillman, the Lakeland-based engineering and land surveying firm. It was purchased by Houston-based DCCM, which handles design, consulting, and program and construction management services nationwide. 

“Uniting with DCCM creates new opportunities for ChastainSkillman,” the company’s CEO, Jay Chastain, said in a press release announcing the acquisition. “Leveraging DCCM’s extensive resources, we can offer an even greater suite of comprehensive engineering and field services to our clientele. The future is bright for Chastain-Skillman. We eagerly anticipate the possibilities this collaboration will bring for our customers and staff.” 

His enthusiasm for the partnership showed in the firm’s performance. ChastainSkillman | DCCM saw great success the past year.

“2024 was a fantastic year,” Chastain said. “Not only did we have great success, but joining DCCM has allowed us to bring additional resources to serve our clients as they grow.” 

ChastainSkillman | DCCM Beginnings

Roy Chastain and Joe Skillman took over the leadership of a young engineering firm in the 1950s, creating ChastainSkillman Inc. It will celebrate its 75th anniversary on February 28, 2025. The company initially served the phosphate industry, then added surveying, land development and public works engineering to help develop Polk County.  

It works throughout the Southeast with additional offices in Orlando and Brentwood, Tennessee. It’s motto: “We Shape the Foundation for Thriving Communities.” 

Roy’s son Jim succeeded him; Jay Chastain took over as president and CEO in 2015. 

Some of the ChastainSkillman | DCCM’s many projects include the Auburndale Reuse System, the Lakeland Regional Health — Grasslands Campus, residence halls 1 and 2 at Florida Polytechnic University and the Lake Myrtle Sports Complex. 

Florida Poly residence hall, ChastainSkillman DCCM
Auburndale Reuse System, completed by ChastainSkillman DCCM

Looking Ahead in 2025

Chastain said the work the firm started in 2025 will continue. Namely “ushering in additional resources and service offerings to our community and clients, such as power and transportation.”  

He also wants the company to be proactive in developing its young professionals, providing them with new opportunities to advance while “continuing to challenge and utilize the experience and body of knowledge of our senior professionals. That dynamic is powerful and self-reinforcing but one we don’t take for granted.” 

All that comes while the company keeps its focus on continuous improvement. 

“Our clients’ success is our success,” Chastain said. “The challenge is not just the ‘what,’ but ‘how’. Great effort will be spent understanding our clients and improving their experience to support their goals. The same focus will be applied to our staff, advancing their opportunities to grow in their careers and technical understanding.” 

City Redevelopment Project in City of Auburndale, completed by ChastainSkillman DCCM

He said the firm’s leadership also wants to invest in their employees’ quality of life at work. 

Quality of Life

Pam Rodriguez, senior marketing coordinator, already loves the quality of life she has at work. She said the ChastainSkillman team is the reason why. 

“It’s a great feeling being able to come to work every day with people who live in and care about the same communities our division serves,” she said. “We’ve said it before and it holds true. Our division has thrived thanks to our legacy in Polk County, our relationships with the communities we serve, and our commitment to family values. We’re honored to be celebrating 75 years of ChastainSkillman | DCCM.” 

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