After young adults with disabilities age out of school-based support systems, options for them are often limited. Many end up relying entirely on family members to provide the structure, socialization, and care they still need just as much as any child does. Creative Enterprises exists to fill that gap, giving adults with disabilities a place to go, learn skills, build social connections, and be part of a community that fully understands them.
For years, Creative Enterprises operated out of an aging Methodist church, a multi-story building that made it difficult to serve adults with disabilities well. To meet the growing need, the organization set out to build a new, fully accessible facility. Chip Chewning, Vice President of Pre-Construction, connected with Creative Enterprises through a longtime friendship with Lisa Bennett, who has led the organization for years. When Bennett needed a builder for a new, more accessible facility, Chewning connected her with Ralph Webb of Cumming Development to lead construction.
When Creative Enterprises set out to build that new facility, Hallway Plumbing didn’t just agree to take on the job. The company donated its time, materials, and labor in full, and put David Cox on-site to lead it.
An Original Hallway Plumbing Hire with 46+ Years in the Field
David Cox has been with Hallway Plumbing since almost the beginning, roughly 15 years. Chewning still remembers meeting him for the first time on a job site off I-285, where David waved him into a golf cart and introduced him to the crew.
Since then, David has built a reputation across the industry for deep technical knowledge, professionalism, and mentorship. “Knowledge, on-the-job training, he’s been there, he’s done it,” Chewning said. “He knows the ins and outs, but also the do’s and don’ts.” That experience extends to training the next generation of plumbers coming up in the trade, something Chewning says David takes seriously and does well.
His reputation with general contractors speaks for itself. “Companies want him on their job,” Chewning said. “That makes my life really easy in estimating, because they request him. They want him leading their project out in the field, which is huge.” That respect carries over to his crew, who see him as a get-it-done type staying on top of the intricate details.
How David Made the Project What It Is
The Creative Enterprises project required more than quality craftsmanship. Every fixture and plumbing system had to meet strict ADA requirements, demanding close coordination with inspectors and careful attention to detail. Hallway Plumbing also worked with supplier partners to donate upgraded, sensor-activated fixtures that exceeded the project’s original specifications, giving the nonprofit a higher-quality finished product at no additional cost.
But some of David’s biggest contributions weren’t on the plans.
As construction progressed, existing plumbing conditions required changes to how the lower-level bathroom would be connected. Drawing on more than 46 years of field experience, David recognized an opportunity to improve the design while keeping the project moving forward. He worked alongside the construction team to reroute the plumbing, running a new water line hundreds of feet across the property so the lower-level bathrooms remained accessible for the adults who would rely on them every day.
“Construction is never perfect,” Chewning said. “There are thousands of moving pieces on every project. What separates someone like David is that he’s seen so much over the years. When something unexpected comes up, he knows how to find the right solution.”
It’s that combination of technical expertise, practical problem-solving, and genuine care for the people who would ultimately use the building that made David’s leadership such an important part of the Creative Enterprises project.
What It Means to Deliver
When asked if David would be proud of this project, Chewning didn’t hesitate. “He’d look at how it’s going to benefit everyone involved. Not just the people who come every day and use the space, but the teachers, the volunteers, the people who put hundreds of hours into this nonprofit and live and breathe it. I think David would look back and just say, yeah, we delivered.”
For Chewning, the project carries personal meaning too. “Creative Enterprises has a special place in my heart. I’m thankful for the work they do, beyond thankful. And I’m thankful to work for a company that supports an organization like this, and to have people like David who invest their time and go above and beyond to make it a first-class project for these people.”
Hallway Plumbing is proud to recognize David for his craftsmanship, his leadership on the Creative Enterprises project, and the standard he sets for what it means to build with purpose. The company is even more proud that adults with disabilities across Atlanta now have a space built to meet their needs.
