April 2020 Accelerate Magazine

APRIL 2020 MAGAZINE Tell us a little bit about yourself. I am a Project Director at MSI General, a commercial design/build construction firm located in Nashotah. I am a board member of the Delafield Chamber of Commerce, an active member of the HAWS Emerging Leaders program and currently a participant in the Alliance's LeadershipWaukesha County program. When I am not working, I enjoy being a husband to my wife, Michelle, and a father to our son, John. I enjoy just about any activity that involves the outdoors and play rugby with the Black and Blues RFC here in Waukesha. Why/when did you decide to get involved with construction? After college, I started as a laborer on a paving crew at Payne & Dolan Asphalt. This was a brand new world to me. I joined the local 113 union, worked long days and was exposed to a much different work culture than I had been used to. However, I enjoyed the lessons I learned each day and seeing all of the places we helped make. Knowing little to nothing about various construction trades, or the overall industry for that matter, I spent my winter attending the required union classes and pursued my MBA at UW-Whitewater. What led you to your current career path? After paving roads, I worked for a general contracting firm which exposed me to a wide assortment of projects, as well as different business management implementation methods that much of the construction industry is striving to improve. This was a great stepping stone and I still think back to the hot summers paving roads and the people I worked with that instilled a lot of principals I continue to follow today. What is the hardest part about being in construction? The majority of construction creates a period of inconvenience for those who will benefit from the project’s completion… a more convenient or better iteration in the near future. Although the construction can be an inconvenience, it could be worse if it never happened at all. What’s your favorite part about your job? The people, whether you’re paving a parking lot, renovating an office or sitting in the room with a client looking to build a brand new building. They all have valid knowledge and perspectives towards the task at hand. It’s important to learn what you can from each of them. What would you say to someone who wants to get involved with construction? Hard work makes for an interesting person. I never met an old timer in construction who didn’t have good stories to tell or valuable lessons to teach. The work won’t always be easy but you will be better because of it. Where do you see yourself going in the future? I’ll continue to seek new challenges, which I am sure I will find in construction and development. MSI has done a wonderful job at providing these building blocks and I look forward to continued growth here. • SPOTLIGHT ON THE TRADES CAMERON MCFARLAND Project Director, MSI General Corporation 23