Senior Vice President/Regional Manager
Alston Construction
Type of Business: General Contractor
Based: Reno & Las Vegas
Hails from: Spokane, WA
Years Org. has been in Nevada: 24
Years with Organization in Nevada: 20
Employees in NV: 37
How did you get into your profession?
I grew up in a construction family, studied civil engineering in college and after graduating found my way to construction management.
What career advice would you give to someone just starting in your industry?
Be a vicarious learner. If you are paying attention you will learn something new every day of your life.
What metrics do you consider important when hiring and/or reviewing employees?
In my opinion work ethic/effort is a very important attribute to possess, but it is also very difficult to access.
What is an issue currently facing your industry that an outside observer might not be aware of?
We continue to see procurement issues stemming from the pandemic. Additionally, labor within the building trades is also a concern.
What is your favorite business book and what lessons have you gleaned from it?
Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek. I have read several Sinek books and I appreciate his perspective on creating the right culture as well as building and leading high functioning teams.
How do you motivate your team?
I try to lead by example. I wouldn’t ask anyone to do anything that I wouldn’t do myself.
What is the best moment of your career?
Making the decision to join the Alston team in 2002. I made a lateral move but one that has led to both professional and personal growth in my career.
What workplace event or project are you looking forward to?
I have a yearly team retreat that I organize and lead. We get to celebrate our successes as a team. We also discuss ways that we can make our business unit better.
If you were going to teach a college course, what would you teach? Why?
Maybe music appreciation as I enjoy many genres of music or WWII history (I am a fan of military history).
What do you hope future generations can learn from your professional journey?
Your career will be challenging and difficult but you need to find the fun/joy in what you do. If what you do doesn’t make you happy you should do something else.
