Name: Peter Morandi, LEED AP
Job Title: Chief Executive Officer
Company Name: Eastman Cooke Construction
What was the biggest lesson you learned while working during the pandemic?
Scrappy bootstrapping! We learned to adapt by working cohesively at minimalist levels, actually right-sizing when the pandemic struck. We continued and even excelled at being proficient at working remotely. More than ever before, communication was paramount and not only within the company, but across the industry as covid regulations rapidly and repeatedly shifted. Several of the projects already in progress were considered essential and we also had to determine how long we would pause before it was safe for everyone to resume. Remaining spry for the duration of the job delaying regulations was key.
What is the best advice you received in 2021, and who was it from?
The best advice I received this year came from Gregg Shoppman at FMI Consulting, who said, “Stay the course and stick to your tenets!” He reminded me to lean in on our resources and was emphatic about communicating with staff.
What was your greatest professional accomplishment or most notable project, deal, or transaction in 2021?
In addition to completing two sizeable Jaguar/Land Rover projects, both of which had been temporarily stalled because of the pandemic and subsequently expanded, we were recently awarded a contract to build a dealership and service center for the largest used car brand in the country. Each time a project got a greenlight this year, we were ready to go, despite challenges precipitated by the pandemic. We became nimble out of necessity because it is better to be good than wait to be lucky.
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