16 Jun Employee Spotlight – Nick Crawford!
We are excited to spotlight one of our outstanding team members who goes above and beyond each day. Please check out the questions below to get to know more about United Superintendent, Nick Crawford!
Can you give us a quick background on your career progression?
I joined the Carpenters Local 971 Union as an apprentice in 1997 while working for a local cabinet shop as a finish carpenter. I quickly worked through all of my Apprenticeship classes graduating my Apprenticeship in 2000’ at the top of my class earning the Ben Earl Jones Gold Hammer Award. I ventured into the world of concrete where I would spend 6 years building tilt ups in the field as a carpenter. While working at Lucky Concrete I mentioned to my foreman I had the desire to become a superintendent and he said if that’s the case you need to get on with a General Contractor and learn as much as you can. I got hired on with Clark & Sullivan, and then moved to West Coast Contractors were I was able to run my own work. It was in Vegas that I got a call to come on board with United Construction and get back to working close to home, and after being on the road for 5 years, it was an opportunity I could not pass.
Tell us a bit about what you like to do outside of work.
Outside of work we chase our children around in sports. Between my wife Katie and I, we have 5 children. I have Jarrett who is 23 years old, Nicole is 22 Years old, Nick Jr. is 17, Derek is 14, and Emily Grace is 11. Nick Jr. is a junior at Spanish Springs High School and plays varsity baseball & travel ball, Derek Goes To Doral Academy and runs track and cross country, and Emily Goes to Doral Academy & plays club soccer for MVLA. I also have two grandchildren, Mac who is three years old and Levi who is three months old. We have a three year old Great Dane named Tank, and a pit bull named Whiskey that keep us busy as well. We enjoy spending time as a family camping and fishing, and my wife Katie and I spend our free time on our 2020 Harley Ultra Limited seeing the country side on two wheels.
Tell us about a pivotal moment in your career.
The best thing I ever did was join the Carpenters Union where I received my training and got to work with some great men. The second best thing I did for my career was leave the Union where I was able to further my career as a superintendent and run work.
What’s the day-to-day of your role like?
My day starts with a healthy mind and body at the gym from 5AM-6AM. Then immediately to the jobsite where I spend most of my time planning, reviewing drawings and coordinating key scopes of work with subcontractors. Anyone who has spent time in my job trailers knows I am a little OCD and that I spend a lot of time reviewing drawings and planning for my projects. As a superintendent, we spend a lot of time in meetings and problem solving for others.
What’s the most exciting project you’ve worked on to date?
I think the USAC building was the most challenging and exciting given the size, space and type of construction. My next project, the Dermody Office Building, will be the most challenging one yet.
How did you get into construction as a career path?
I thought I wanted to be an architect early on so I took some CAD classes and architecture classes before I realized it was working with my hands and building things that was what made me happy, and when I heard a local cabinet shop was looking for apprentices I jumped at the opportunity to go build things.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Find something you enjoy doing in life and find a way to make money doing it and it will never seem like work.
