When you meet Hugh Nelson, owner of Kingdom Builders in Nashville, his passion for serving others becomes immediately clear. Though he has spent the past two decades in residential construction, Hugh’s volunteer story began long before his life on job sites. In the mid-90s, while serving on the midnight shift with the Metro Nashville Police Department, Hugh and his wife packed sandwiches on Christmas Eve and handed them out from the back of his patrol car to people experiencing homelessness.
That single act of kindness lit a spark. “We got more out of it than they did,” Hugh recalls. It was the beginning of a lifelong commitment to serving his community—both personally and through his business.
Over the years, Kingdom Builders has become a conduit for meaningful impact, thanks to the partnerships Hugh has nurtured with subcontractors, suppliers, and vendors. When a nonprofit calls with a need—whether it’s accessibility modifications or a full renovation—Hugh knows he has a network of people ready to step in. “People want to give,” he says. “Sometimes they just don’t know how.”
One of the organizations closest to his heart is Tucker’s House, a local nonprofit that helps families modify their homes for children with disabilities. Hugh’s most recent project involved transforming the home of Trey, a young man who became wheelchair-bound after surgery. His upstairs bedroom was no longer accessible, leaving him living in the dining room for nearly a year.
Hugh and his team widened doorways, installed hardwood flooring, renovated the bathroom, and helped create a space where Trey could regain independence. Vendors donated materials. Subcontractors volunteered their time. And when the family later approached Hugh at a Tucker’s House event, their gratitude said it all. Trey told him simply: “It changed my life.”
For Hugh, these projects are more than construction—they are expressions of faith, purpose, and community. The name of his company, Kingdom Builders, reflects that: “I build houses, but my bigger job is to love and serve people.”
He believes anyone can make a difference, whether through skilled labor, a monetary donation, or even bringing a warm hoodie for People Loving Nashville to distribute during the winter.
His encouragement to others is simple: take the first step. “You’ll be amazed at how quickly people will partner with you. Everyone wants to help—they just need a place to start.”
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