The people who plan, manage, and build our projects are all experts in their field, and an integral part of our company’s success. John Konsonlas is a senior superintendent currently leading our Broadwest project, a 33-story hotel and condominium tower in Nashville. Here’s 8 questions to get to know more about him.
1. What’s your current day-to-day look like?
My day starts on the job at 5:30am and goes from meeting to meeting and challenge to challenge all day until about 5pm.
2. What’s the one lesson you’ve learned in this industry that’s stuck with you?
I had been exposed to Lean Six Sigma outside the industry. But once I was exposed to our company’s SmartBuild® initiative and the Toyota way, that’s when the light bulb seemed to go off for me.
3. What’s the last thing you did to help a project run smoother?
Pushed SmartBuild®. I try to talk to my team about it at least once a week by explaining the benefit of the weekly work plan, Last Planner, or the 5 S’s. It takes consistency and practice to get our trade partners to full buy into our lean construction practices.
4. How did you get started in the industry?
A friend who is a civil engineer suggested I get back into construction after the military because I had education and experience in the field already.
5. What’s the best part of your job?
When a problem is solved.
6. What’s your favorite band or song?
My favorite band is the Eagles, but my favorite song is “Für Elise” by Beethoven.
7. What’s your fondest memory from your time with Hoar Construction?
My fondest memories all center around spending time with my co-workers and team — like some of the baseball games our team went to in Ohio while working the Liberty Center project or some of the dinners we have had in Tennessee.
8. What’s your proudest accomplishment?
The day I graduated from the United States Army Special Forces and put on my green beret. I grew up on “The Green Beret” starring John Wayne.
