As Director of Preconstruction, Jake Snyder is an expert in planning and setting projects up for success early. He’s currently leading efforts to incorporate modular construction into several of our healthcare and higher education projects. Here’s 8 questions to get to know more about him.
1. What’s your current day-to-day look like?
Every day is different, but the same. We work on different tasks but always with a common goal of setting the projects we work on up so our field teams can be successful. We work through logistics, cost, phasing, trade partner engagement, etc., but it’s always with that common focus. That’s how we can deliver predictable results to our clients in the end.
2. What’s the one lesson you’ve learned in this industry that’s stuck with you?
Be humble. No one knows everything so don’t be scared to ask. I am a Mechanical Engineer and did that for the first 14 years of my career. My first task at Hoar was a cast–in–place parking garage. I had no idea what I was looking at, but after sucking it up and asking questions I quickly learned there were a lot of common language that I could rely on.
3. What project are you on now?
We are finishing up the preconstruction work for a bed tower addition at Dell Children’s. We are also Working on multiple projects at Abilene University. We are always doing conceptual or early-stage budgets for different developers and clients who are trying to firm up their proformas.
4. How did you get started in the industry?
I started as a design engineer for an A/E firm. The firm focused on healthcare and higher education projects. I remained at that same firm until moving to Hoar about four years ago.
5. What’s the best part of your job?
I get to figure stuff out. Ever since I started my career, my job has been to put a puzzle together. I get the most satisfaction when our clients and design teams work together and leverage everyone’s expertise and strengths.
6. What’s your hidden talent?
I make really good smoked BBQ ribs (no sauce, this is Texas!)
7. Describe the last challenge or problem you solved on the job.
Right now, I’m trying to figure out how to maximize prefabrication on a basketball arena project for Abilene University. Schedule is key for the university, so we are looking for opportunities to prefabricate work outside the current labor pool (which is limited due to other projects) to speed up the overall schedule.
8. What’s your proudest accomplishment?
At my previous company I earned “The Barnhardt Award”. It was an employee voted award and was given to folks who were ultimate team players – they coordinated well, developed talent around them and were just really great teammates. I am not surprised often, but I was genuinely surprised when it was announced. Put it this way, I was talking to someone else when they called my name, so I didn’t even hear it the first time. I was surprised and deeply honored.
