Behind the Build – Andy Steinke

Go Behind the Build with Field Resource Manager Andy Steinke as he reflects on 44 years in construction, the changes he’s seen across the industry, and the lessons that only experience can teach.

What was construction like when you first entered industry, and how does it compare to now?

Technology is probably one of the biggest changes. When I started, there really wasn’t much technology involved, and even the tools were completely different. There were no cordless tools, and now advances in tools and technology have made us much more productive and helped us produce a better product. Safety has also changed. It wasn’t always the first thing people thought about, but today, safety has to be your first thought. Lean construction wasn’t really a concept back then either. Today, we are constantly looking at how we can do more with less, whether that’s less labor, less money, or shorter lead times.

What is something that only experience can teach you about running a job?

A lot of it is learning from your mistakes. You don’t always remember everything you did right, but you definitely remember the things you messed up, especially when there are dollars associated with those mistakes. Experience also teaches you how to work with different personalities. You interact with so many different people every day, and you learn that you can’t communicate with everyone the same way. One of the biggest things I have learned over time is how to listen. You can miss out on a lot by not being a good listener, and developing those listening skills can ultimately make you a better leader.

What is a moment on site that still sticks with you?

One that stands out was during the original build at St. Mary’s Women’s and Children’s. We formed and poured the stair towers using Symons forms and conventional scaffold brackets. About two years later, we were doing similar work on the same campus, but this time we used Hydro-Mobile scaffolding. Seeing the difference was pretty remarkable. It was much safer and more productive, and it showed firsthand how adopting an innovative approach could improve the way we worked. That innovation ended up having an impact on how the company approached that type of work moving forward.

How do you keep safety top of mind when the job gets busy?

Safety has to be your first thought every day. No matter how busy the job gets, you can’t sacrifice safety for productivity or schedule. It also has to be something you talk about every day. Everyone on the job needs to feel empowered when it comes to safety because it isn’t one person’s responsibility. It takes the entire team.

What do you think has changed most about you over the course of your career?

Patience is probably one of the biggest things. I started my career without much of it, but over time, I learned that not everyone you work with or who works for you is going to be at the same level. You have to understand where people are and give them an opportunity to grow. It can be easy to focus on what someone is doing wrong, but if you really want people to develop, you have to find more good than bad. At the same time, I have always believed there is no substitute for quality work. It doesn’t take any longer to do something right than it does to do it wrong, and that is something I have carried with me throughout my career.