At HGC Construction, we are proud of our collaborative and welcoming workplace culture. But we know that a lot of what makes our culture great is due to our incredible staff. Each month we highlight one member from our team. This month, get to know one of our Superintendents, who is currently working on the renovation and expansion underway at Warren County Juvenile-Probate Court. WHAT IS YOUR PERSONAL PHILOSOPHY? Treat others fairly and with respect. Learn from and / or teach them. Say ‘Thank You’ when someone does something good for you, and try to set a good example to follow. As a Baby Boomer, I subscribe to the adage that one should always put forth an honest day’s work. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ASPECT OF WORKING AT HGC? The teamwork aspect of communication with, and coordination of multiple persons efforts to transform a building design into reality. Every project presents itself with unique challenges and pride of accomplishment. WHAT WOULD YOU DO FOR A CAREER IF YOU WEREN’T DOING THIS? I’ve known since childhood that I wanted to build things. If not buildings, then wooden toys or furniture. I chose buildings because I could earn a living to support my family doing it. TELL US SOMETHING THAT MIGHT SURPRISE US ABOUT YOU. For my 60th birthday, my kids and their spouses all combined to design and build me a wooden swing set, while I was away working in Richmond, KY with SSRG. Apparently, they were fearful of disaster, as I often played with the grandkids on a swing set that I had made for my kids over 30 years ago. Now, all five grandkids love to play with Pa-Paw on the new swing set every time they visit, which is often. It’s the best birthday present I ever received! . WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PROJECT THAT YOU’VE BEEN A PART OF? Before my time with HGC, I worked on the Anderson Center and Lake on Five Mile Road. It was a complex project, between major sitework, hillsides, retaining walls, overlooks, bridges, and damming a creek to form a lake, along with an attractive, highly-finished 2-story building for Township offices, atrium, gathering spaces, cable TV studio, and a performing arts theater. With HGC, I enjoyed CubeSmart, as it presented a challenge unlike any other to “build” a 3-story masonry and concrete building on a floor slab, and then erect it, anxiously waiting to see if all the puzzle pieces stayed in place! Kudos to the work done by masonry and concrete subcontractor, SSRG! WHAT HAS CHANGED THE MOST IN THE INDUSTRY ACROSS YOUR CAREER? Technology advances in means/methods of building, along with major emphasis on ever-increasing use of computers and software to track all sorts of things. Ultimately, they combine to greatly assist overcoming otherwise extended building duration. Staying current with computer aided construction management is both challenging and necessary. Thank goodness HGC has so many smart professionals. WHAT OR WHO INSPIRES YOU? My parents, through their example, inspired me to work hard, do your best, trust in your faith in God, and never give up. They grew up through the Great Depression. My father, an only child, lost both parents before graduating from High School. My mother’s youngest sister drowned while just in her teens. Together, they were challenged financially to raise eight children, but taught us everything we needed to be independent. WHAT WOULD BE THE TITLE OF YOUR AUTOBIOGRAPHY? I’m very fond of Aaron Copland’s “Fanfare for the Common Man” – it’s powerful orchestral music to acknowledge the efforts of ordinary folks. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE A NEW HIRE? One can learn much by observing how other professionals, whether office or field management, or skilled tradespersons, perform their jobs. Don’t be shy about asking questions—folks like to impart their knowledge. And come prepared to put forth an honest day’s work every day.