BEHIND THE BUILD: NEW HORIZON STEEL
Left to right: Cree Smith, Corey Smith and Helen Smith of New Horizon Steel
When Chicago selected Bally’s to build its world-class casino and hotel, the vision extended far beyond entertainment. The project set out to reflect the city itself—its people, its neighborhoods, and its commitment to inclusive economic growth. To bring that vision to life, Bally’s selected the Chicago Community Builders Collective (CCBC), an eight-firm joint venture built on collaboration, equity, and community representation.
As one of the largest construction joint ventures in Chicago’s history, CCBC was built with a majority of minority- and women-owned partner firms. That intentional structure creates real opportunity—opening doors for diverse small businesses to participate in a mega project, scale their operations, and build lasting talent pipelines.
The “Behind the Build” series highlights the individuals and companies that are helping to make the Bally’s Chicago Casino project a beacon of inclusion and partnership.
NEW HORIZON STEEL
After nearly 15 years as a barber with a successful shop at 75th Street and King Drive, Corey Smith was looking to do something different. A family member encouraged him to pursue ironworking. Smith wanted to forge his own path and initially rejected the idea. But with encouragement from a close friend and a family member’s industry connections, in 2010, Smith founded New Horizon Steel.
Today, New Horizon is a family affair that includes Smith’s wife, Helen, a former substitute teacher who joined the company full-time in 2012 as a contract administrator, and their daughter, Cree, 30, who oversees purchasing and payroll.
How did you arrive at the name of New Horizon?
A friend told me, ‘You’re doing something different. This is a new horizon,’ and it stuck.
How did you get New Horizon Steel off the ground without on-the-job experience?
I started exploring the business and sat down with my mentor, Marty Nesbitt, a business owner and close friend of former President Barack Obama. I told Marty about my idea and he said, ‘Go for it!’ I learned estimating, became signatory to the union, hired experienced talent, and started doing stud work on bridges. Metal studs provide structural connections between steel beams and concrete slabs. It’s often an entry point into the steel industry.
What’s the best part about working with your wife and daughter?
Trust and communication. When we started, my wife built the back office and helped get bids out the door. My daughter and her high school friend have been employed with New Horizon for nearly a decade. I also have a nephew who manages our safety program. No one looks at it like, ‘I’m working for a family company, so I can do whatever I want.’ Everyone is accountable for their role.
Has your business strategy changed over the last 15 years?
Yes. We’ve shifted away from waiting on a project to bid and getting invited to the scope review. Our core capabilities are more focused on pre-planning as much as 12 to 18 months before a project is put out for bid, communication, coordination, and value engineering. Those steps define our approach today.
What brought you to the Bally’s project?
Before the award, we had general conversations about industry needs and approaches. Ultimately, Lyndon Steel, a fabricator we’d worked with previously, was selected. I reached out to the president of Lyndon Steel. They gave us the opportunity to bid on a portion of the Bally’s project, and we landed the job.
What work are you performing on the Bally’s project today?
Our scope consists of erection of all structural steel for the Event Center portion of the project including main building framing—beams, columns, braced frames, trusses, ramps and a catwalk. We are installing roughly 3,000 tons of steel.
What, if any, investments have you made to fulfill your scope?
We hired a full-time safety manager, a project manager, and an assistant project manager. All are African American. In the field, we have over 35 ironworkers. That’s expected to increase prior to completion.
What makes this project unique?
What makes it unique for me is the level of alignment across the entire team. Everyone approaches the work with the same mindset. When CCBC says they are team players, they really are. They want you to succeed. Their leaders have all taken the Associated General Contractors of America’s Culture of CARE pledge, which is written into their policies and reinforced daily. Harassment, bullying, disrespect or anything that compromises safety isn’t tolerated. I took the pledge and so did my workers. We’re building trust and a solid rapport that not only helps us deliver on this project but sets the stage for strong partnerships in the future.
What is it like working with the CCBC team?
I’m aware that other projects create their own identity in terms of how they respect partnering with a qualified minority contractor like us. But CCBC isn’t just checking a box. It’s a true partnership. They have stood up for us and stood by us. For CCBC to create that atmosphere, small businesses can succeed on the project and build capacity for the future.
What does it mean to you and your business to be a part of this project?
Legacy wise, I’ll be proud to share this with my children and their children one day. This project has inspired me to keep going.
What impact do you hope the construction of the Bally’s Chicago Casino project will have on the city?
To create more talent in the city and empower business owners like me to pay it forward. As a minority contractor, if I’m doing a job and bring on a phenomenal project manager and he or she winds up starting their own company, that would mean a lot to me, and that's why I do it.
The project aims to show “the best of Chicago.” In your opinion, what makes Chicago special?
The architecture. Other cities don’t stand a chance against us, and that includes New York. Chicago isn’t a second city; it’s second to none. To be involved with a project like this on the Chicago River leaves a legacy for my 11-year-old son. In 30 years, he will have an opportunity to elevate the business even higher.
