Obstacles train you to be aware, to expect the unexpected, and that if your team puts their heads together, even the toughest situations can be corrected and learned from. Looking back at a project, I know the team poured sweat and tears into a building. It’s amazing that each community we build in gains a structure that will be used for decades to come.
FRANK
Superintendent
Superintendent Frank enjoys seeing projects develop to completion and knowing that he, too, has developed, with new knowledge and skills to take to the next project.
How did you get into construction?
As a teenager, I worked as a groundskeeper for a local private hunting plantation in the summer months between school semesters. Unfortunately, one spring there was a tornado that swept through the heart of this plantation, meaning that there would be a lot of rebuilding as the summer months approached.
As expected, the bulk of my responsibilities that summer (as the low man on the totem pole) had to do with rebuilding the damage from this tornado. I spent half of my time digging holes in the ground planting pine trees to replace those that had been toppled by the tornado, along with my other typical landscaping duties. The other half was spent with the plantation maintenance coordinator at one of the new houses that was being constructed. We coordinated with various subcontractors, as well as completing handywork on the new house ourselves. Needless to say, the planning and coordinating of the new construction, in addition to the satisfaction of seeing the house get rebuilt, was much more exciting than digging holes. I consider myself lucky to still have that feeling every day at work, especially now with a career at Brasfield & Gorrie.
What does your day-to-day look like at work?
As a field superintendent, no two days are exactly the same. Some fundamentals of the job remain constant, such as guiding all on-site activities including staffing, planning, and coordinating all Brasfield & Gorrie labor, as well as our trade partner work, through crew work plans, daily huddles and a lot of phone calls and emails to the project team throughout the day. Proper organization, communication, and lists are all a critical part of being a good planner. You train yourself to think ahead and plan six weeks from now, instead of only thinking about tomorrow or later this week.
What do you like most about your job? What are you passionate about in construction?
I enjoy that every project comes with a different location, project team, architect, owner, and share of unforeseen conditions. I think that most people in this industry love when a good plan comes together, but sometimes all the planning in the world won’t prepare the team for issues that arise in the field. Oddly enough, I gain satisfaction from overcoming a huge obstacle while maintaining the project milestones. Obstacles train you to be aware, to expect the unexpected, and that if your team puts their heads together, even the toughest situations can be corrected and learned from. Looking back at a project, I know the team poured sweat and tears into a building. It’s amazing that each community we build in gains a structure that will be used for decades to come.
How has your career grown since starting at Brasfield & Gorrie?
I was fortunate enough to land a field internship with Brasfield & Gorrie the summer between my junior and senior years of college. Brasfield & Gorrie was one of those coveted companies at job fairs that everyone sought after, so I was obviously very excited for the opportunity to gain some real experience. I was not disappointed. I think I lost around 30 pounds that summer. Six days a week, 10 to 12 hours a day at 90 something degrees in the Georgia heat. Not a shade tree in sight. Going to bed at dark, up way before dawn, every day. I was hooked. I must have done something right, because two months after being back at Georgia Southern for the fall semester of my senior year, Kennith Brown called me up (very early in the morning by the way) and asked if I would want to come to work for Brasfield & Gorrie after graduation in May. I accepted. Fast forward to now, I’ve been mentored by some of the best builders, leaders, and managers in this industry. I have a vast understanding, knowledge, and passion for healthcare construction and all the responsibilities that go along with working on a hospital campus. I’ve also had the opportunity to lead several community service projects for the Birmingham and Nashville co-ops and take part in campus recruitment to find the best people and future leaders for the company.
What is a valuable lesson that you’ve learned during your career?
I’ve kept a note sheet in my phone with some quotes from various classes that Brasfield & Gorrie has offered and some nuggets of wisdom picked up on the jobsite. I picked these up from people who have had a hand in training me, so hopefully you will appreciate these as much as I have. Here are a few of my favorites (excluding porta-john philosophy):
“Not finishing is the biggest risk.”
“Bad news early is good news.”
“Never overreact to an over-reaction.”
“Treat your people the way you want to be treated.”
“No sailor learned anything in calm seas.”
“90 percent of solving a problem is realizing there is one.”
“Everyone on the team should collaborate at the top of their training.”
“Practice doesn’t make perfect – perfect practice makes perfect.”
