Jackson Dovey

Great leadership is a product of hard work and being a student of the game. Leaders must have a healthy sense of curiosity and an insatiable thirst for knowledge. I think you have to try to learn something new every day, no matter your age or the stage of your career. 

Truebeck has some of the brightest and most creative construction professionals in the industry. As a company, we do not settle for anything but the best, and that drive is apparent in the remarkable projects we’ve built.

In construction, no project is ever the same. That’s what makes the industry so exciting. It also demands that we’re active and nimble problem solvers. We’re constantly called on to navigate new challenges and come up with solutions that we’ve never thought of before.

Diversity is a fundamental part of a successful team. We all have different backgrounds, different paths that lead us to the same project. These varying experiences and perspectives mean we can work nimbly and quickly through any project challenges. It’s crucial to work collaboratively and to foster open dialog.

I knew from a very early age that I wanted to be a builder. I was always the kid digging in the dirt, building a treehouse, or attempting to construct a zip line in the back yard. In high school, I worked as a laborer for custom homes. I truly cannot imagine doing anything else.

I got my degree in Civil Engineering at Santa Clara University. It wasn’t until after I graduated, in my first internship, that I learned about Construction Management and realized I could take my love of building out into the field. 

Becoming a General Superintendent has changed the way I work. As a field super, you develop your own style and parameters for running a job site. But now it’s all about learning the styles of my other supers and figuring out how to best support and guide them.

The Bay Area is a fascinating region to work in. We’re able to partner with visionary clients who want to push the envelope. From materials to sustainability—in all aspects of the building process—they are open to revolutionizing best practices.

I value the passion and energy my superintendent teams put forth every day. They care about what they do and sacrifice each day to deliver on their commitment to our clients.

Remain curious and ask questions. The best way to learn and advance in your career is to ask the questions you think no one else would ask. Our industry is rich with experiences and resources. You’ll always be able to find someone who can either help you solve your problem or point you in the right direction. 

The best part of every day is coming home to my family. I have two young girls and I love nothing more than seeing their faces and getting a big hug when I walk in the door. It makes anything that happened during the day just melt away.

As an industry, we need to focus on growing the next generation of builders. The traditional path to Superintendent used to come from the field, but we’re seeing fewer people enter the workforce in that way. So now, we rely more on college-educated individuals to become Superintendents. I believe we need to develop new best practices for transferring knowledge to the next generation of field leaders.