Brasfield & Gorrie has he owners, architects, and especially the user groups. I embrace the grind and I’m passionate about a job well done. It’s rewarding to put all the pieces together, leaving behind these iconic structures in these cities.”
BRIAN
Senior Superintendent
Senior Superintendent Brian entered the construction industry at age 14 when he started out as a mason helper for a stone mason. His favorite part about building is seeing the final product after a long construction life cycle and witnessing the owner’s satisfaction.
How did you get into construction?
My first real introduction to construction came when I was about 14 years old. I was asked by a friend whose family owned a small concrete and masonry business if I could help them out over the summer. The first day on the job, I was tasked with moving 10 cubes of 12 inch concrete masonry units from the drop off point to inside the foundation. By 7:15 a.m., all my fingers were bleeding and by 7:30 a.m. I thought my arms would fall off. Needless to say, I stayed with it and ended up working with them during summers through college. I learned about excavations, compaction, elevations, rebar placement, formwork, plumb and square, brick, block, concrete, and stone during these years. Now, for the better part of 40 years, I have been on jobsites all around this country.
What does your day-to-day look like at work?
I’m up at 4 a.m. and on the job at 5 a.m. I have numerous daily responsibilities, including:
Write the report for the day, so I can question and hopefully get a good answer as to why a subcontractor is not performing the tasks on my report.
Review any overnight requests for information (RFI) responses
Check for any change orders that may have come in or architects supplemental information and architect correspondence.
Prep for the morning foreman’s meeting with all subcontractors. We review safety, the day’s plan, and the coordination and sequencing of subcontractors and their deliveries.
Attend multiple meetings, (both scheduled and unscheduled).
Walk the jobsite and the building, answering questions and reviewing shop drawings.
Photograph work progress and inspect work.
Witness testing of various systems (fire sprinkler, plumbing, HVAC, flood, etc.)
What do you like most about your job? What are you passionate about in construction?
I maintain a rapport with everyone on the jobsite. I enjoy working with the owners, architects, and especially the user groups. I embrace the grind and I’m passionate about a job well done. It’s rewarding to put all the pieces together, leaving behind these iconic structures in these cities. I enjoy actually being a part of the presentation, presenting to potential clients. I enjoy the tangible and measurable progress and look forward to developing logistics plans for jobsites.
How has your career grown since starting at Brasfield & Gorrie?
Brasfield & Gorrie has given me the opportunity to be a team member on some of our largest and most complex jobs with extremely talented people from the field and management.
What is a valuable lesson that you’ve learned during your career?
The biggest lesson is to know every aspect of your project. When you start the foundations, you should be looking at the roof and finishes inside. Know all phases, disciplines, and be approachable to everybody. Lastly, while all subcontractors may have the best intentions when they come under contract each must still be held to the plans and specifications of the contract. I have learned over the years you get what you INSPECT not what you EXPECT.