From Jack of All Trades to Successful Construction Specialty Business Owner

 

 

However, before finishing his undergraduate degree, Collins worked with his dad one summer. They rode around in his dad’s truck to meet people at various work sites and check out projects. That was the first time Collins got an up-close look at what construction work entailed. Towards the end of the summer, he said, “I might like to do this. This might be fun.” Dave said, “He wanted to play in dirt, which is true, but it’s also a family joke.”

Of course, Collin’s decision to come to work for him thrilled his father. Most people dream that their child might be interested in continuing a family business. Dave proudly shared, “What he's accomplished over the last five years compared to where we were is night and day. He has grown the business; he's got the smarts.”

Collins shared, “The truth of the matter is that he naturally allowed me to take on as much as I wanted throughout the process. And so, he never really put the brakes on me or stopped me. And there was never a structured plan to learn the business. When I wanted to take on more responsibilities and be more involved with finances and accounting, he never stopped me. I was given as much as I asked to handle or take on for 15 years before Dave decided it was time for him to retire.”

“Grand” memories of a hardworking man…

Dave shared that his mother's father was one of the most innovative business people he has ever known, despite having only a sixth-grade education. He was in the pecan business. He was also in the cowhide business. According to Dave, he would do just about anything to make money, which established him as a personal standard of a “hardworking man.”

Dave used to spend a considerable amount of time with his grandfather in Albany, Georgia. He was the youngest grandchild, and after all the others ran off, Dave spent time alone with him and learned a great deal from him. He now recognizes that his grandfather truly influenced the people who knew him. He was resourceful, reliable, and respectful. He treated others as he wanted to be treated with trust and honesty.

A treasured memory was going on trips with him in his beat-up old truck to haul cow hides down to southern Georgia. Dave would accompany his grandfather wherever he was going to sell pecans, cow hides, and anything else in between. Eventually, it got to the point where his grandfather couldn't do much on his own, so Dave would go down and spend a week with him to help catch up with some of his customers, load the trucks, and attend to whatever else was needed.

Today, it’s an honor for him that Dave’s grandchildren call him “Gran,” which is what he used to call his grandfather.

No matter the work, relationships are most important…

Even before Dave started Pierre Construction Group, he knew that to succeed, building good relationships with the right people was crucial. In construction, Dave knew that there were many different people in various roles with whom he had to work and find ways to get things done. Office and administrative people. Crews, subcontractors, and, of course, general contractors.

Dave shared, “We had to figure out who their problem solvers were and make ourselves available to do the same for them. They count on you, and you count on them.” He added, “It was and continues to be mutual trust and reliability that help us get the jobs done for our customers.”

Collins shared, “Relationships are the foundation on which Dave built the business. There are people I see, and the first thing they ask me is, ‘How's your dad?’  It has been five years since his retirement, and, still, when we’re at a Georgia Tech football game, he will typically see a group of Tech guys who are also in the contracting business. And it is like old home week, which is a good thing. I'm glad they have remained friends. They were more than just customers.”

To this, Dave added, “You don’t want to disappoint anybody, especially when your business reputation is at stake. However, you certainly don’t want to disappoint a friend who has hired you to do a job, and it must be done correctly. I often told my team and the installation crews to fix things when you mess up, because everything isn't always perfect the first time.”

When asked how Dave found ways to win contracts and keep ahead of the competition, he said, “It's a simple strategy: you have to be better than the next guy. How? By building a reputation of being willing to do something that somebody else is not.” Dave added, “I remember getting calls at five o'clock on a Friday afternoon telling me what needed to be done. And then asking if we can start Monday morning. I would say something like, well, yes, because they needed it done.”

Not retiring from, but to…

When asked how he is spending his retirement, Daved answered, “I'm now an azalea gardener. For years, while I was working, I learned from a neighbor in Decatur, Pete, who had gardens that rivaled those you’d see at Callaway Gardens. I’d go down on weekends before I retired and work on whatever needed tending or do some planting. Now I love to go to the lake house and spend a week alone with my dog, showering only occasionally. And I am content. Initially, I went through every one of my gardens and cleaned out underneath all the plants. And then the real cultivation began. There are now about three hundred plants. It's been a work in progress for 25 years, but now the gardens are a glorious sight,” Dave said with a big smile.

Collins added, “His gardens make his lake home an extra special place with all kinds of different plants. And Dave knows about every single one of them. And when it blooms and when it's good to plant it, when it's good to prune it. I am happy for him that he’s enjoying being a master gardener.” Clearly, Collins is not the only one who likes to play in the dirt.

These are just a few of the highlights and personal insights shared during the interview. However, in each story, Dave’s experience resonated with three lessons he had learned, which helped him —and others — become the best at what they do.

• Expect the unexpected. Recognize opportunities and act on them.
• Treat others as you would like to be treated—this is for both internal and external business relationships.
• Build relationships with problem solvers. And be a problem solver for others. Do what others will not or cannot do.

Thanks, Dave, for sharing your experience, thoughts, and life lessons.