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Posts tagged ‘project manager’

Jul 14

Meet Project Manager Joe McAlester

Joe studied sociology at the University of Colorado. His education related to construction was gained in the field as a carpenter before, during and after college and through project management positions he has held. Prior to being hired at Arciform he worked in a similar project management capacity for an insurance restoration contractor.

How long have you worked for Arciform and what has been your favorite part about working at Arciform so far?

I started at Arciform in mid-May.  I enjoy the people, the projects we are involved in and the collaborative effort.

What inspires you about restoring and renovating older homes? What drew you to this line of work?

I’m inspired by the details, craftsmanship and materials inherent in many older homes. Those elements drew me to the work, the challenge of restoring, preserving or duplicating characteristics that for the most part you don’t see in new construction. I generally like being part of the building process, the creative aspect, the troubleshooting, and the end results.

Describe one of your favorite past projects. What were the challenges? What were some of the features that made it memorable?

One of my favorites was adding a second story to a house in the mountains outside of Boulder, Colorado. There were some logistical challenges getting materials to the site as it was somewhat remote. That project sticks in my mind for the setting and the views of the mountains from the new second floor.

Tell us what you consider are the hallmarks of a well-executed project. How do you know when something is right?

In my experience the best projects are well thought out prior to starting any work. That involves all parties working as much as possible to foresee challenges so they can be planned for instead of reacted to, at which point they have a greater impact on the flow and schedule. In the end a project feels right when the client is happy, it is quality work and was executed with as few bumps along the way as possible.

What’s your working style? How do you like to work with a client?

I’m not sure I could define my working style. I try to stay on top of the details, am solution minded and forward thinking. I understand the investment both financially and emotionally for clients, their excitement and their anxiety as their house is under construction. I respect those aspects and work to keep them informed to help mitigate their concerns and I also want to share in the excitement for their new space.

What are the top 3 things on your bucket list?

I don’t have a list, but I would like to someday design and build a home. I also have two young kids so I’m focused on providing opportunities for them to explore and pursue their interests.

Explore the Arciform Project Galleries | About Arciform | Schedule a Design Consultation

Jun 11

Meet Project Manager Devin Morrow

Devin Morrow

Devin started his carpentry career while in high school, working for his father’s construction company in Pendleton, OR, where he became familiar with all forms of hand and power tools in their large workshop. He became licensed in 1984 as part of Eastern Oregon Building Enterprises. In 1995 Devin moved to Portland to pursue his music career, which took off and sent him all over the country touring and playing rock and roll music to the masses. After many years of the rock and roll lifestyle he returned to construction starting Morrow Building in 2004. When the recession took hold in 2009 he bounced around looking for an opportunity to work with a great high-end remodeling company and found Arciform!

How long have you worked for Arciform and what has been your favorite part about working at Arciform so far?

I’ve been with Arciform for 5 years now. My favorite part about working for Arciform is the opportunities that I have been given to work on rare historical structures that few get the chance to be part of. Gallon House Covered Bridge, Champoeg State Park Pavillion, Coleman Scott Residence. It was a privilege to be site lead on those projects.

What inspires you about restoring and renovating older homes? What drew you to this line of work?

Restoring historical structures to me is some of the most rewarding work a carpenter can do. I had been exposed to this aspect of remodeling from early on, working on old farm houses outside of Pendleton, OR. That experience drew me towards this kind of work.

Describe one of your favorite past projects. What were the challenges? What were some of the features that made it memorable?

My favorite past project is the Gallon House Covered Bridge. I had the privilege of removing the original, almost 100 year old, roof structure and replacing it with a new up to date, structurally sound roof. The challenges were constant inspections from Marion County; a qualified drinking water stream running under the bridge that no debris whatsoever could touch; a very old structure that had been knocked off its abutments 2 or 3 times in its life that was poorly repaired, cobbled back together crooked and bent; farmers crying daily about how inconvenient it is to not have that bridge to cross as they use the bridge multiple times a day tending their crops; and the dozens of tours that had scheduled themselves to come see the bridge only to find it under repair and no access granted. All part of a days work on the bridge.

Tell us what you consider are the hallmarks of a well-executed project. How do you know when something is right?

I consider happy clients, a beautiful job, proud carpenters and profit to be the hallmarks of a well-executed job. A job is well done when it looks like you hoped it would and only see smiles when your client sees it.

What’s your working style? How do you like to work with a client?

I like to work as a team with my clients. I always try to see their vision and create that for them.

What are the top 3 things on your bucket list?

  1. Drive on the autobahn
  2. Skydive
  3. Sail around the globe (in a large boat of course)

Explore the Arciform Project Galleries | About Arciform | Schedule a Design Consultation