Construction Today, Vol 20 Iss- 3 Final Book | Page 93

_______________________________________________________________________________________________ Strack , Inc .
for many years . Looking back now , I think I ’ ve probably held every position in the company – apart from maybe a driving or mechanic role . Outside of those , I ’ ve tried just about everything !”
It makes sense . What better way to understand the lived reality of company operations than actually fulfilling them in every single permutation ?
“ It certainly gives you a lot of perspective on things ,” says Jonathan . “ You would be surprised how far back you go in your career to find the answer for a new problem . I ’ m always relying on my past experiences – whether that ’ s how to bid a job , treat somebody , or earn respect .
“ We have a bunch of employees that have been with us for multiple decades ,” he continues . “ I grew up around them , they trained me up , and I worked alongside them . I also have superintendents and general superintendents that have worked on crews with me on the job when I was coming up .”
By learning from each of these employees over the years , Jonathan now finds himself in a unique position : he can place himself in the shoes of his colleagues , no matter their position . “ It ultimately comes down to feelings of mutual respect ,” he says . “ It ’ s so important to remain part of the company at its various levels and familiar with what each person does .
“ It means you will be able to , in turn , react better to various challenges . And that makes life so much easier – for all involved , especially in construction .
“ That was one of the many things my father taught me ,” he details . “ Among the other pieces of advice he passed down such as including always paying your bills on time , doing what you say you ’ re going to do when
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