04 Dave Richards - Airborne Engineering Officer and AEC SVP

Summary Dave Richards shares his journey from growing up on a cattle ranch in Arizona to serving in the military as an airborne engineering officer. He then transitions to his civilian career at Granite Construction, where he takes on various roles and manages significant projects, including the construction of the border fence. Finally, he discusses his experience managing the Heavy Civil Group and highlights the challenging Tappan Zee Bridge project. In this conversation, Dave Richards, a retired construction executive, shares his experiences and insights in the construction industry. He discusses the challenges and interesting aspects of his job, including the process of driving piles into the river and setting templates for construction. Dave also talks about his transition from the military to Granite Construction and offers advice for veterans entering the civilian workforce. He emphasizes the importance of taking time for oneself and family and recommends the book 'The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People' by Stephen Covey. Overall, Dave's career in construction has been rewarding and fulfilling. Takeaways Dave Richards' military background as an airborne engineering officer provided him with valuable skills and experiences that he carried into his civilian career. Working at Granite Construction allowed Dave to work on significant projects, including the construction of the border fence and the Tappan Zee Bridge. Managing large-scale projects requires strong leadership skills and the ability to navigate challenges and changes. Dave's career journey showcases the importance of networking and seizing opportunities when they arise. ➡︎ For Built Environment Tech Go Here: https://jet.build/ Mentions in This Video Dave's Info: ➡︎ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-richards-a66a5143/ ➡︎ Books: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People - https://amzn.to/43QkEIu (amazon) Subscribe To Our Podcast Here ➡︎ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKONY1n1qysTx2RiBiwj28QzLc8gI2oui ➡︎ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2ZizGddgHgKA4oimoLkNRc?si=cd7c0afd6b064292 ➡︎ Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/3Vt3rCE ➡︎ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vwbshow/ ➡︎ X: https://twitter.com/TheVWBShow ➡︎ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamstark512/ ➡︎ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/veterans-who-build ➡︎ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/veteranswhobuild/ The Veterans Who Build Show ➡︎ At VWB, we are on a mission to provide a platform for Veterans to share their story, empower others for success, transition from Military to civilian to profession, chat translatable skills, professional and personal wins, and all things Built Environment The VWB Show Sponsors ➡︎ The VWB show is sponsored by www.jet.build ➡︎ Find more information on Jet.Build, here: www.jet.build ➡︎ Jet.Build is THE central command for RE development and construction project management software. Solutions range from project finance to stakeholder collaboration, construction operations, and data reporting with AI. Jet.Build is the better way to build Ways To Work With Us At VWB ➡︎ Inquiries: If you'd like to join the show, reach out here, https://jet.build/contact Timecodes Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 01:28 Childhood and Military Service 22:16 Building the Border Fence 27:21 Managing Granite's Northwest Operating Group 29:14 Managing the Heavy Civil Group 29:55 The Tappan Zee Bridge Project 30:26 Introduction and Job Description 31:13 Challenges and Interesting Aspects of the Job 32:20 Process of Driving Piles into the River 33:30 Setting Templates and Driving Piles 34:27 Transitioning from Military to Granite Construction 35:37 Transition Period and Moving with a Family 36:45 Translatable Skills from Military to Construction 39:01 Career Wins and Projects 51:55 Wellness Practice: Taking Time for Yourself and Family 54:27 Book Recommendation: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People 55:45 Conclusion and Closing Remarks