Leading and Learning at High Construction Company
For 23 years, John Burkholder, Senior Lead Superintendent at High Construction Company, has dedicated his time to a job that allows him to do something he loves every day. He attributes his vast knowledge and expertise to hands-on experience and valuable lessons learned from his colleagues, and he credits his successful career progression to continuous learning and development.
Throughout his journey, John gained extensive experience on construction sites and developed specific computer skills and safety training required for the role. He appreciates the abundant resources available at High, which are vital for his everyday duties and for maintaining safety and productivity at work.
Safety is John's top priority. He starts each day by arriving at the site at 6 a.m. (or even earlier) to ensure everyone is signed in and wearing proper personal protective equipment such as hard hats, work boots, and safety glasses. Following this, he prepares daily reports on the progress of each trade.
John also participates in meetings frequently, including those with the owner, architect, and subcontractors. Additionally, startup meetings for every trade are held to ensure everyone understands the scope of their work. Leading his team in the development and successful execution of projects is John's daily focus. He mentions, “We do a variety of projects, each with a different time frame. The longest one was three years or longer, and the shortest one was about a year, and we finished three days early.”
Throughout these projects, the number of people on each site varies, with some sites having nearly 250 individuals. John finds leading the larger group more challenging but is determined to overcome the challenge and achieve successful outcomes.
John appreciates working for High because of the way he and every coworker are treated across all the companies. According to him, “You know you are supported for what you do.” He feels supported and believes that High truly cares about each coworker and their contribution to the company’s success. He has cherished his time at High and is eager to continue making a significant impact each day at work.
To learn more about what it’s like working at High companies and to see current job openings, visit careers.high.net.