Pete Avery

Pete Avery: A Career Built on Integrity, Relationships, and Service

“The thing I’m most proud of is working for a company that has always been respected for its integrity and for doing what we say we’re going to do.”

For more than two decades, Pete Avery has helped shape both McKinley Building Corporation and the Wilmington community. After joining McKinley in 2004, Pete brought with him 15 years of experience as a Senior Planner for New Hanover County and a degree in Urban Planning and a Master of Public Administration from East Carolina University. His unique understanding of planning, entitlement, permitting, and development quickly became a valuable asset to McKinley and its clients.

When reflecting on his career, Pete doesn’t point to a single title or accomplishment. Instead, he speaks about the company itself.

“The thing I’m most proud of is working for a company that has always been respected for its integrity and for doing what we say we’re going to do,” Pete says. “That reputation has been earned over many years by a lot of good people.”

Over the course of his career, Pete has been involved in countless projects throughout Southeastern North Carolina. While he is proud of them all, one project stands out above the rest: the New Hanover Regional Medical Center parking deck and pedestrian bridge. Coordinating the installation of the bridge across a busy NCDOT roadway required extensive planning, collaboration, and logistical expertise. The complexity of the project exemplified the type of challenges Pete has always enjoyed solving.

Pete has also had a front-row seat to Wilmington’s remarkable growth. Having arrived in the area in 1984, he remembers a very different community.

“When I moved here, Interstate 40 wasn’t even completed and Wilmington pretty much ended at College Road,” Pete recalls. “Once I-40 opened, the area experienced tremendous growth and development.”

Throughout that growth, Pete has remained focused on what he enjoys most: working with good people on meaningful projects and helping transform ideas into reality. Whether guiding a project through zoning and entitlement or helping navigate the permitting process, he has always found satisfaction in seeing a vision progress from raw land to a completed development.

That passion continues today. While Pete has transitioned from his previous role as Vice President into a part-time position, he remains actively involved in supporting McKinley’s development efforts, focusing on real estate acquisitions, entitlement work, and project planning alongside founder Ken Dull.

Pete first met Ken through church, where he taught Sunday School to Ken’s daughter. Decades later, their professional relationship continues to thrive.

“Ken is a true leader by example,” Pete says. “He’s encouraging, not a micromanager, and he’s always been deeply committed to serving the community with both his time and his resources.”

Pete credits one of Ken’s guiding principles—the “Grocery Store Test”—as a foundation of McKinley’s culture.

“The idea is simple,” Pete explains. “If we run into a client at the grocery store three years after completing their project, we want them to be happy to see us. We want that interaction to be positive. That’s how we’ve always tried to do business.”

Looking ahead, Pete remains optimistic about the future of Wilmington and Southeastern North Carolina. He sees continued economic growth and opportunity throughout the region, while also recognizing the importance of thoughtful planning and infrastructure improvements to support that growth.

Outside of work, Pete enjoys spending time hunting, fishing, and volunteering through his church. Yet his passion for development remains strong.

“There is something incredibly rewarding about seeing a project go from raw land to a finished product,” he says.

When asked what advice he would offer the next generation of construction and development professionals, Pete’s answer reflects the values that have defined his career:

“Manners matter. Being nice matters. Work hard, develop strong interpersonal skills, and be humble.”

Simple advice perhaps—but advice that has served Pete, McKinley, and countless clients well over the years.