What’s your secret talent that no one knows about?
I wasn’t even aware of this one, but apparently winning a cooking contest was, and just might still be, a secret talent I have.  Last year I had to participate in a spaghetti sauce competition. I don’t like spaghetti, and I really don’t like spaghetti sauce.  However, the need to compete reared its ugly head and winning was the only option.  With a little research, the ultimate meat sauce was found.  6 hours of cooking and one competition later, I took home the golden apron.

Who, living or dead, would you like to eat dinner with the most? And why?
My wife, because she’s sitting right next to me as I type.

What is your favorite project you worked on and why?
Malden Police Station. As our client explained from the beginning, the building must outlast the team that builds it.  It was an honor to be a part of a building designed to serve the public. This was also Commodore’s first Ch. 149A project, so we were challenged with operating in a new construction market sector.  This brought us new contractual relationships to our client and filed sub bidders, a new group of designers, and some new subcontractors we hadn’t worked with before.  We also got to procure things like jail cell doors and other high-security accessories, evidence lockers, a 911 call center, and other items not found on more typical projects. In the end, we turned over a building that will serve the City of Malden for years to come and is a significant upgrade for the police department.

How did you get into construction?
When I was little, I spent countless hours playing with my brother’s Erector Set and my Legos.  We moved when I was starting the 3^rd grade and put an addition onto our new home.  One of my jobs was to get the shingles to the roof.  My dad always had (and still does) some project going on requiring tools, and I was always underfoot wanting to know how the tools worked and wanted to use them.  In high school, I got involved with the Salkehatchie Summer Service and volunteered my time helping rebuild people’s homes on the sea islands near Beaufort, SC.  From there I went to school for civil engineering and started my professional life as a structural engineer.  After a few years, the bug to be a builder and not a designer hit.  20 years later I’m still loving it.