I consider myself lucky in that I have chosen an industry that has held my interest for two decades. For a lifelong learner, building and construction has provided an inexhaustible supply of knowledge to gain and problems to solve.

Growing up in Cincinnati, my construction career began as a project engineer for a Midwest general contracting/design-build firm. Green as I was, I was fortunate to be paired with seasoned professionals who took an active interest in my development. I later moved to Florida to continue my career with the Australian-owned real estate and construction firm Lendlease. After the havoc inflicted on the private sector by the Great Recession, I spent time in Oklahoma, Georgia and Tennessee managing military design-build projects, with the US Army Corps of Engineers as the client.

During this latter phase of my PM career, I ascended a steep learning curve regarding the particularities of federal contracting. What is more, in several cases I assumed responsibility for distressed projects in which relationships among the client, design team and trade contractors were severely strained. While these experiences made me appreciate the satisfaction that comes with a well-run project, I learned a great deal about what it takes to coalesce the efforts of multiple stakeholders in a combative environment.

After moving to Colorado to get my MBA, I had the privilege of serving as a consultant for FMI Corporation for 7 years. Working with dozens of clients as a consultant gave me a deeper understanding of the business of construction, and how to approach implementing substantive organizational change.

My upward progress through the ranks of construction was characterized by the fact that I was often given as much responsibility as I was willing to take on. While confidence and work ethic are critical, success in such situations requires a healthy dose of humility; to never be afraid to ask the “obvious question”.