Behind her petite frame and warm smile, Susan White is a powerhouse. She is the driving force behind two of the Southeast’s most successful businesses, Classic Commercial and sister company, Classic Interiors.

In a male-dominated industry, Susan has earned the respect of fellow builders, the admiration of vendors and suppliers and kudos among homeowners who appreciate her keen eye and her practicality.

Her love for the industry began a generation ago, growing up in a charming Cape Cod-style home that her father built and her mother designed.

Fueled by passion and infused with a knowledge of the building and interior design industries, White is well-known for creating homes and interiors that reflect the lifestyle and personality of her clients with designs that are welcoming, comfortable and withstand the test of time.

She shares her passion with two of her three children: Berkley, her eldest, who was only three when she built her first home; and her son, Abe, owner of First Flight Stairs and Millwork, a talented artist whose woodworking genius can be found throughout many of Classic’s homes. Her daughter, Liza, lives in New York and admittedly is one of her mother’s biggest fans.

Today, as co-founders of Classic, Susan and Berkley White are a formidable mother/son duo. With more than 50 years of combined experience in home building, they have built more than 800 homes in the Carolinas and more than 150 within the Grande Dunes alone.

Their education, experience and intrinsic understanding of the business is complemented by a close-knit team of professionals—including Berkley’s wife, Kim—that Susan says is more like family than employees. The feeling is mutual. In an industry where change is rampant and turnover is common, Classic’s employees are an exception. There is little turnover and a long list of prospects that desire to be part of the success story that began in 1999 and continues over a decade later. The announcement earlier this year of Classic’s selection as the builder of Myrtle Beach’s first Southern Living Showcase Home came as no surprise to those who are familiar with the company. A member of Southern Living’s prestigious Custom Builder Program for more than five years, their selection was based on experience, knowledge, customer service and their reputation within the marketplace. Southern Living would be the first to admit that Classic was the perfect choice. During its 52 days of tours, this area’s first Showcase Home welcomed more than 3,500 visitors from all 50 states and Canada and collected charitable contributions and in-kind donations in excess of $12,000 for partners: Hope House of Myrtle Beach and Coastal Animal Rescue.

While Susan White has earned a reputation that any professional would be proud of, it is the ‘behind the scenes’ that sets her apart. A woman of great faith and an active member of Trinity Church, Myrtle Beach, Susan is a loving wife and mother, an adoring grandmother to four active grandsons, a loyal friend, a die-hard Tarheels fan, a great cook and a world traveler…and those are just a few of her attributes.