Building People Before Projects
An Inspirational Story from Roanoke, Virginia
In this blog, I want to share something deeply meaningful that I experienced on the Carilion Crystal Spring Tower project in Roanoke, Virginia. I had the privilege of walking the site with Josh Young, a senior superintendent at Robins & Morton, and witnessing firsthand how he leads with compassion and connection. Construction is often thought of as numbers, scope, budgets, and deadlines, but what I saw here reminded me of something much greater. This project is not just about building half a million square feet of advanced medical space. It is about building people, building culture, and building trust that extends far beyond the walls of the facility.Connection That Inspires Change
From day one, Josh stood out because of his genuine care for people. In our industry, compassion can sometimes get lost under pressure, but he has held onto it as his guiding principle. During my visit, I saw posters created by workers after a mental health awareness event. The messages were heartfelt: “You are not alone” and “Keep going.” These weren’t just decorations. They were reminders that this team values humanity above everything else. Josh also shared a powerful personal story about an employee he hired who came with a difficult past. Many would have walked away from giving him a chance, but Josh believed in offering a hand up, not a handout. When that employee relapsed and faced a low point in his life, Josh could have moved on. Instead, he called, met him, listened, and supported him through entering inpatient treatment. That decision changed everything. Months later, the man returned, sober and stronger, and is now thriving in a leadership role managing others. He even gave Josh his 30-day sobriety chip mounted on a piece of granite from the project, a symbol of hope, resilience, and gratitude. For Josh, that moment mattered more than building half a million square feet of hospital space. One life change was worth it all.Lessons for All of Us
Walking the site, I noticed something that struck me deeply. The right people were doing the right things at all the right levels. It wasn’t just the superintendent or the executives leading culture. It was the workers, the foremen, the field engineers, and the entire project team. Everyone had been invited to step up, to connect, and to make a difference. This is what happens when culture is placed above process. Tools and systems are important, but they only last when people believe in them. When workers feel cared for, they bring their best to the job. That is what I saw here, and it made me realize again that great builders focus on building people first.Key Takeaway
I learned that true leadership in construction is not about scope, budgets, or schedules. It is about people, culture, and connection. When we build people first, the projects will follow with even greater success.If you want to learn more we have:
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Meet Jason Schroeder, the driving force behind Elevate Construction IST. As the company’s owner and principal consultant, he’s dedicated to taking construction to new heights. With a wealth of industry experience, he’s crafted the Field Engineer Boot Camp and Superintendent Boot Camp – intensive training programs engineered to cultivate top-tier leaders capable of steering their teams towards success. Jason’s vision? To expand his training initiatives across the nation, empowering construction firms to soar to unprecedented levels of excellence.
On we go