William Dillard Smith founded Dillard Smith Construction Company in 1947. Most of the work consisted of construction and maintenance of distribution systems for municipalities and electric utility companies. The company s services include transmission construction, installation of substations; fiber optics and communication towers for cellular, satellite and cable networks; meter reading, outdoor lighting, traffic signals and emergency storm restoration. Each field worker is trained in installation, maintenance and repair, which make crews interchangeable. Dillard Smith Construction Company owns more than 1,000 pieces of equipment. Its crews are equipped with mobile communications, keeping operators and vehicles in continuous contact. In addition, the company owns a variety of specialty equipment, including cranes, all-wheel drive vehicles and bucket trucks that can reach to 120 feet. It has headquarters in Chattanooga, Tenn., and several Southeastern regional offices, including Atlanta.