Issue link: http://maconmagazine.uberflip.com/i/1541815
90 maconmagazine.com | December 2025/January 2026 we built the shelters at the end of last year Tony was nice enough to store them for us until he got the necessary permits. Then, we found a company to pour the concrete before the installations. A separate company handled the concrete? That's a funny story, too. With so many shelters and slabs we needed a deal on the concrete. During this time I was at a doctor's appointment with my wife ,who just had our first child. Her obstetrician, Lauren Fried, saw my Prince shirt and said, "I think my husband does concrete work for you guys." When I got back to the office I called her husband, Joseph Fried, and said, "Hey, do we work together?" He said, "I don't think so, but I'd love to." I told him about the bus shelters I was donating and asked him for favorable concrete pricing. He gave us a great deal, and Tony and I agree that his company, Ace Entities, did a great job. What's the status of the installation and project completion as we go to press? Eleven of the fi een shelters have been constructed and installed, and Tony is working with the GDOT on the permitting for the other four. You mentioned that an unexpected benefit was the reaction within your own companies. A lot of our employees and their families and friends ride MTA buses, which is very upli ing. A number of them have said things like, "My mom rides the bus and sees shelters with our name on them, and she is so proud." The community buy-in is a secondary benefit. Our employees are proud to be part of making the shelters and they enjoy seeing our company in the news. You've made hefty donations beyond the bus shelters. What role does philanthropy play in your companies? Most of it comes from things I enjoy. That's the fun part of success. Beyond the bus shelters, we furnished the weight room equipment at the Central High School gym, which was around $200,000. Another special project is Healing for Heroes in Forsyth, Georgia which connects and trains shelter dogs for veterans. For $7,000 we were able to sponsor a dog for a veteran. We're heavily involved with the Macon Transitional Center, meaning we employ prisoners. Our operations manager saw this program used in another company and brought it to us. So it's a workday release program? Yes, the prison system buses the workers to and from their jobs with us. We treat them like all the other employees, the only difference is, we pay the state and each person's pay is held in a savings account until he's released. We teach them about leadership and what it's like to operate in our world as opposed to theirs. We invest in their lives and work hard to keep them employed here a er they're released. It's a great program and I'm proud to be a part of it. The stories are so impactful. A lot of these guys started in the prison system as juveniles and transitioned into the prison system. Generally, they were in the wrong place at the wrong time and made a really dumb decision. They're paying the price and are working to re-enter society. They can get released from prison with $30,000 in their bank account. Plus, we give them a big bag filled with necessities for the first night of their release and they also get a two-week vacation to go home. It sounds promising, but you still see a disconnect. The struggle is housing. A lot of places won't accept them because of their crimes. So we lose employees, who wind up returning to their hometowns where they originally got in trouble, because they can't get housing here. That makes it more likely they'll end up back in prison. How did a Michigan educated Ohioan get to Macon? A er growing up in Canton, I went to Hope College in Michigan and returned to E R I C W I L L I A M S C O M P A N I E S Unified Defense - The company touts 26 fundamentals, including: integrity, ownership, fanatic about response time, honor commitments, lead by example, blameless problem- solving, listen generously, speak courageously, assume positive intent, fire preventer, embrace growth and change, relentless about improvement, show meaningful appreciation, embrace diverse perspectives, be a brand ambassador, deliver results, pitch in wherever necessary, pay attention to details, keep things fun. Truss US - A division of Unified Defense, it manufactures and delivers steel trusses; DIY pole barns, equipment buildings, post frame and accessories. Prince Service & Manufacturing - A contract manufacturer specializing in precision metal work fabrication and machining solutions for the U.S. Department of Defense, civilian aerospace sectors, and multiple industries.