Akron, Ohio
A business is nothing without its employees; they’re the greatest linchpin, constantly adapting and implementing industry trends and best practices to keep their team successful and competitively viable. However, an employees’ purpose is not so direct—its far more personal and unique. No matter how big or small, seasoned or recently hired, every department, team, and individual has a unique story to tell—how they operate, why they came to SCC, what motivates them, and even what they wish others knew.
In the AEC Industry, October is recognized as Careers in Construction Month. Over the next four weeks, we will share the stories of eight employees from four different career-paths. On week 1, we present: Working in the Trades.
Jake Kersting did not have a direct path before he came to SCC, working in different industries and having different roles. “After college and many different jobs ranging from factory work to office jobs, doing the same thing every day began to feel redundant,” said Kersting. Although, this did not stop him from pursuing his vocation. “I wanted a career where I could actually see progress being made, create something real, and something to be proud of. I have always enjoyed math and working with my hands so carpentry made sense.”
After realizing Kersting’s latent interest in carpentry, he looked to apply for carpentry apprenticeships, but found no luck. After searching for some time, per the recommendation of a friend, Kersting emailed Lou Ciraldo (Founder of Summit Construction, and President at that time) asking if there were any open positions. “I guess the email impressed him enough that Lou gave me an interview,” said Kersting.
More than just a job
“Carpentry is no easy task,” says Kersting. “It requires more than just strength and tools. It also requires a lot of planning, knowledge of building practices, mathematics, and problem solving. Also, we need to take the time to understand and visualize the tasks and identify potential issues before they arise so I may come up with solutions or avoid the problem completely to keep the process running as smoothly as possible.”
Fulfilling the requirements to be a successful carpenter is already challenging, but managing a crew of carpenters is even more challenging. Kersting, who is a carpenter Foremen, manages a crew of 2-4 carpenters, and this varies depending on the day. To add to the difficulty, within Kersting’s crew, they’re carpenter apprentices, requiring him to teach his apprentices the necessary skills to become a successful carpenter.
For some, teaching their apprentices while completing daily responsibilities may prove to be strenuous overtime, but for Kersting, there is pride in teaching apprentices the correct way to conduct themselves. “I am always trying to train new apprentices on not only how to do things the correct way, but to conduct themselves in a professional manner and maintain a clean and safe work environment, so we can help provide an excellent construction experience for the customer. It is very rewarding,” said Kersting.
Pride in one’s work pushes Kersting to do his best for his apprentices and to produce the optimal final result, but his motivation for success runs deeper. “My family at home motivates me. I want to contribute and provide for them. I want to show my children that hard work pays off, and the pride I take in my craftsmanship.”
Beyond this, it is invigorating to Kersting knowing he contributed to a project. “It always brings me joy when I can drive past a building and say, ‘I helped build that!”
Carpentry is a hands-on task, and many are interested in the trade for this exact reason, but seeing craftsmanship contribute to a project evokes a feeling of accomplishment that few trades are able to do. For Luke Dirker it is no different, “I’ve always loved working with my hands and like the feeling of accomplishment after building something or finishing work.”
Dirker, who is newly graduated from high school, knew he wanted to enter the trades, and the yearning for craftsmanship and accomplishment was fresh in his mind. Stories like Dirker’s happen occasionally: entering a trade directly out of high school, determined to contribute through hard work and quick learning. Dirker’s story caught the attention of leadership, landing him a job at Summit.
“My role is to learn and provide the necessary help to get the job done until I’m more experienced and knowledgeable to do it myself, which can be difficult sometimes.” said Dirker. On a typical day, carpenters are faced with many different challenges, ranging from equipment failures to sudden timeline changes. Dirker, who is learning throughout these challenges, expresses the attitude needed to overcome them, “Typically, we assess the problem and then go about the best way to solve the problem.”
It’s about the small things
Working with strict deadlines, reworking tasks, and having to be adaptable and innovative is mentally and physically strenuous. Dirker, who is very reflective on this matter, expresses its significance, “I wish people knew what it takes to get the job done. I myself took buildings and houses for granted but now I understand what it takes to go into making that possible and I’m grateful for every structure I walk into.
The small opportunities for rest and reflection allow for those working in the trades to realize their significance within a project and the larger scope of their projects, but for Dirker, it’s the people you work with that make all the difference. “Being around good people all day brings me joy. I like everyone I work with and it’s very easy to get along with them. It makes work very enjoyable,” said Dirker.
Next up: Being a Project Manager