
Leonard Sprague
President, CEO
Florida Certified General Contractor
CGC1515352
About Me
“There are two ways to do something. The right way, … and again.”
I am a State of Florida licensed Certified General Contractor. My attention to detail, creative problem solving skills, and love for working with people help me to lead successful construction projects. I love creating exciting and unique projects. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, and cheering for the Florida Gators. Go Gators!! My wife, Julie, and I have two wonderful children, Logan and Madison.
Additional History
I am a second generation Certified General Contractor. My love for building and creating things started in my childhood with my father. Dad was always building something and showing me how things worked. He was thoughtful, passionate, creative, detail oriented, and fun. Growing up I loved building sand castles, forts, Legos, Erector sets, radio controlled cars, and anything else I could talk my Dad into. He always encouraged me and often told me I could do anything I set my mind to.
Airborne, All the Way!
Although I didn’t know what I wanted to be when I grew up, I never thought I’d be a General Contractor. Through my Dad’s career, I had witnessed the long hours, never-ending phone calls, and general disorganization I associated with the construction industry. After graduating high school, I enlisted in the United States Army to give myself more time to think about my future. I trained at Infantry and then Airborne school at Fort Benning, GA in the Fall of 1993. I was honored to serve the remainder of my enlistment in the 82d Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, NC. While serving in a head quarters company, I was retrained as a logistics specialist and quickly learned the challenging field. My responsibilities included ordering, procuring, and maintaining equipment, food, fuel, weapons, ammunition, and supplies for my unit. And we even got to jump out of planes at night… for free! And although, I loved my experiences in the 82nd Airborne, I knew I wanted to do more, and so I headed to the University of Florida to become a Florida Gator.
Internet Influence
Other than back packing for six weeks through Europe in the summer of 1996, I saved most of my money to purchase my first laptop when I got out of the Army. I started school at the UF’s Warrington College of Business Administration in January of 1997. The internet was relatively new, and I being curious, wanted to know how it all worked and quickly became interested in building websites on the world wide web. I loved seeing the changes I coded instantly online and having created something that everyone could see. I became a full time computer programmer for UF while attending school part time. I loved UF and college life and attempted to stay there forever. And then, I fell in love with Julie. I had been in college a long while and so when I inquired with Julie what it would take for her to marry me, she had joked with me that there were 2 conditions. #1, I had to finally graduate college! And #2, we needed to find a better place to live. My apartment wasn’t going to work.
J and M Contractors
In December 2003, my Dad and I founded a new construction company together, with our first project being to build a home for Julie and I. Dad was already a Florida licensed Certified General Contractor, and so we named the company after him. Leonard John Bruno, Inc. was born and we choose the DBA name of J and M Contractors, for convenience. Later that same month, I finally graduated with degrees in both Decision & Information Sciences and Management. I asked Julie to marry me while I was still wearing my cap and gown.
Leonard Sprague Construction
J and M Contractors continued to build custom homes and perform light commercial construction. Dad and I worked together on a few projects, while he continued to live in Atlanta, GA. We spoke on the phone daily and had a wonderful relationship. He recommended that I get my contractor’s license, just in case something should ever happen to him. I took the contractor’s exam in 2007. Later that year, Dad was diagnosed with AML, a type of Leukemia, and was expected to live for only a few months. I left to help him though chemotherapy, 2 bone marrow transplants, multiple hospitals stays, and daily visits to the blood clinic. Those were some of my most special memories. He was blessed to see both grandchildren born before he passed quickly four years later. The corporation continues to bear his namesake. After over 10 years of building in our community, I renamed the company’s DBA to more accurately reflect the service people have come to expect from me. Leonard Sprague Construction was born of the idea that when you contract with me, you expect your construction project to be performed to my standard. And I will continue to deliver that standard, both in quality and customer service.