The people who plan, manage, and build our projects are all experts in their field, and an integral part of our company’s success. Eric Brown is a project executive with 20 years’ experience in the construction industry, with a focus on the entertainment and mixed-use market sectors. Here’s 8 questions to get to know more about him.
1. What’s your current day-to-day look like?
It always includes me finding ways to be useful to the project teams and looking to add value. I review reports, attend and push for key discussions in meetings, and do my best to look ahead because I know the team is so often dealing with the hottest current issues. I also drink lots of coffee at my fancy stand-up desk.
2. What’s the one lesson you’ve learned in this industry that’s stuck with you?
Question more and assume less. People are busy and try to accomplish as much as they can, but to a fault. Sometimes they are so busy that they are only half-listening to what is being asked of them. Sometimes they are promising too much because they know you want to hear a specific answer, but they are too busy to practically deliver upon it. Every time I push someone for more detail on a difficult topic or situation, I find that there’s more that hasn’t been considered yet and more steps to take in order to get something accomplished. I think most people have great intentions and often bite off more than they can chew, so I consider it my job to get to the bottom of what is really going on with a problem.
3. What’s the last thing you did to help a project run smoother?
Insert myself into an ongoing conversation regarding a very confusing issue reliant upon five different people —all trying to do their job but not communicating effectively. They all knew what the end goal was, but they weren’t clear on who was responsible for each step to get there. I’m not the reason it got done. They just needed someone to come in from the outside and encourage them all to talk and admit their frustrations and confusion with the process.
4. How did you get started in the industry?
By dropping out of Architecture school at the University of Florida. My dad is an architect, so I grew up on that path but I decided while I liked the industry, I didn’t like the specific work an architect does. I do remember it wasn’t a fun phone call to make back in college, but it was definitely the right call for my career!
5. What’s the best part of your job?
Holding a Certificate of Occupancy at the end of the project and celebrating with the team (and ideally the owner) right after it’s over.
6. What’s your favorite band or song?
My first favorite band was Pearl Jam, so I’ll stick with them. Too many to list since then.
7. What’s your hidden talent?
Memorizing song lyrics going back to when I was a kid. This talent has zero monetary value.
8. What’s your fondest or funniest memory from your time with Hoar Construction?
Sitting next to Steve McCord at our company’s corporate Summit while our Florida Division video played on the big screen, in which I was impersonating him.
