W. Sam Stone is the founder and President of United Development Services, a leading Construction Management and Land Development company focused on the Automotive, Retail, Healthcare, Industrial, and Heavy Industrial business sectors. Founded in 2011, United Development Services has pioneered and developed several automotive dealerships, automotive racing facilities, automotive racing manufacturing plants, and automotive related retail facilities. United Development Services currently has offices in Atlanta, Georgia and Detroit, Michigan. In addition, United Development Services is an expert in general contracting, fixed operations facility design, automotive property leasing/land use, overall architectural design, overall siteplan design, construction accounting, automotive OEM facility standards/image programs, construction related IT solutions, and municipality coordination and organization. Mr. Stone not only serves as the President, but also as the Executive Strategic Officer and is responsible for new product and market development.
With over 14 years of experience, United Development Services and Mr. Stone have been instrumental in driving market transformation in the overall construction industry process as it relates to automobile dealerships. United Development Services credentials and projects are broadly recognized as setting the industry standard for automobile facilities. As of 2014, United Development Services and Mr. Stone have completed more than 200 auto dealership construction projects across the United States. Additionally, under Mr. Stones leadership, United Development Services recently established a design division for auto dealerships, retail facilities, and healthcare facilities.
Before founding United Development Services, Mr. Stone was an executive for Penske Automotive Group in Atlanta, GA and Philadelphia, PA for 8 years. His work there included land development and construction management services in relation to large automotive facilities. Mr. Stones key projects at Penske Automotive Group included the following: Turnersville Automall (Honda, Toyota, Chevrolet, BMW, Nissan, Acura, Hyundai, Audi), Austin Mini, Longo Toyota, Royal Palm Automall (Toyota, Mazda, Nissan), Atlanta Toyota, Penske Racing Headquarters, Round Rock Automall, Central FL Toyota, Roswell BMW, Gwinnett BMW, and Penske Automotive Test Track. Also, Mr. Stone was a Senior Project Manager at Black and Veatch Construction & Engineering working in the nuclear power division in Kansas City, MO. He also was a Project Manager for Johnson Controls Incorporated in Charlotte, NC and Phoenix, AZ.
Mr. Stone holds a Bachelors of Science degree, in Construction Management Engineering, and a Minor in Business Administration from the University of Nebraska Lincoln. Mr. Stone has written several standards manuals, overall product specifications, and geothermal HVAC reports for national automotive retail dealers in the United States.
Mr. Stone is a nationally sought-after speaker and frequently presents at training seminars and organizational conferences. He serves as member of the Urban Land Institute (ULI) and the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) . Mr. Stone is also a Certified Professional Contractor.