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Michael . His success inspired my wife and I to start our own company . My wife is a CPA and managed the accounting and financial side of the business , while I focused on work procurement and project management . We started Kirkman Construction in 2007 , but unfortunately suffered due to the 2008 financial crisis . We eventually closed the business in 2011 , the year I joined Blythe Development to head up its newly formed Bridge Division .”
After eleven successful years at Blythe Development , the opportunity with Superior Construction came up . “ I met with the ownership and executive leadership team , and I was instantly impressed with their level of professionalism and passion for growing the company . I accepted their job offer and joined Superior in January of 2023 .” he shares .
Of all the projects Richard has worked on , his most challenging project has been the Concord Mills Flyover Bridge project . Concord Mills is a large a shopping mall located in Concord , North Carolina . “ The North Carolina Department of Transportation accepted bids for a bridge project to carry traffic over the highway in front of the mall as a way to improve traffic flow into and out of the mall . While that may not sound very exciting , from a design and construction standpoint , the project was very challenging . That said , we managed to overcome the challenges by working closely with the owner and the design engineer to find solutions to the numerous problems , eventually finishing the project just before the Thanksgiving holiday of 2021 ,” Richard outlines .
Moving into the broader landscape of the construction industry , Richard sheds light on the three main challenges faced by Superior Construction and the sector at large . The first challenge revolves around complex utility issues , primarily the delays caused by difficulties in relocating existing utilities . The reluctance of utility owners to relocate their assets swiftly creates significant delays and costs for construction projects . In our conversation , Richard emphasizes the need for legislative guidance to address this pervasive problem .
The second major challenge he highlights is the shortage of qualified labor . A decline in interest in construction careers , both in the field and on the engineering side , poses an obstacle to the industry ’ s growth . With technology attracting more individuals , the appeal of working outdoors in challenging conditions is diminishing rapidly . Additionally , the industry faces a recruiting quagmire as
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