Chris Vargas, the newest member of Commodore’s Estimating team, brings a wealth of diverse experiences to our projects. He’s a first-generation college graduate and the son of immigrants. The value of hard work and determination were instilled in him from a young age. That grit combined with his genuine curiosity has led to a successful career that encompasses nearly every facet of construction.

Read more about Chris’ career path, his passion for spreadsheets, and how his new daughter has changed his world.

What inspired you to pursue a career in construction?

I grew up in a predominantly Latino neighborhood in NYC called Washington Heights. I always wanted to create better opportunities for my family, and I knew going away for college would be a huge step in that direction. My first exposure to the industry was through a drafting class in high school, which segued into engineering courses in college. I graduated from Union College with a degree in Environmental Science and met my college sweetheart, now my wife!

It was really curiosity that became a career. Each of my roles gave me exposure to new facets of construction – from drafting and special inspections to purchasing and value engineering.

Tell us a little about your career path and what brought you to estimating.

After graduating college, a friend introduced me to a drafting job in Long Island for small home renovation projects. That company had a separate division that focused on special inspections. Thanks to a fortuitous offer from my boss, I obtained my OSHA/ACI/ICC certifications and conducted special inspections in and around NYC.

After a few a years, I started working for a developer/GC based in the NYC metro area. I wore (almost) every construction hat possible I could in my eight years there. I began my career in the Purchasing Group. From there, I became an assistant superintendent and engineer on-site in the Bronx. I then ended up back in the office to join their Preconstruction Department where I became an assistant project manager. That’s where I thrived and realized it was my passion. I loved diving into the procedural aspects of Estimating and seeing projects evolve from the pre-schematic phase to reality.

What excites you most about your role as an estimator?

Excel spreadsheets. I’m (partly) kidding. Estimating is about anticipating all the unknown circumstances and making sure you have captured it all. It requires an ability to focus on both the details in front of you and the unknown details that require more critical thinking to create a clear picture. I try to “zoom out” before diving into the details. I assess the end goal to determine what needs to be achieved. From there, it’s all about breaking down large problems into manageable pieces – and that’s where my spreadsheets become my lifeline.

What do you do in your spare time?

My wife and I welcomed our first child, Sofia, a few months ago. She is our world now. We enjoy family outings with Sofia and our two pups, Terry and Phoebe, whether it’s a walk around the neighborhood we just moved to, or heading out on a new leaf-peeping adventure. We’re always looking for recommendations for must-see areas around New England!

Fun fact, in college I had the incredible opportunity to spend three weeks in Egypt with one of my professors. He grew up in Egypt, so we were able to experience the country through the eyes of a local. It was one of the best experiences of my life, and I’m so looking forward to sharing those types of adventures with my daughter.