To celebrate Careers in Construction Month we sat down with Landis superintendent Richie Northcutt who is currently working on St. Bernard Circle Apartments, to discuss his experience in construction:
Q: Tell me about your construction career so far?
A: I was 24 years old when I first began working in the construction industry. I started out as a carpenter, but I worked with a couple of different residential companies before beginning my career with Landis Construction. When I began my career at Landis, I was a carpenter for about 2 years and then I moved up to a carpenter foreman position. I was running a few little jobs here and there and after another 2 years that’s when they promoted me to superintendent. So, here I am now 24 years later!
Q: What are the most challenging and the most rewarding aspects of working in construction?
A: The most challenging aspects of working in the construction industry would be coordinating with the trades and managing people. My advice to someone who is struggling with this would be to listen. Listen to what people have to say, don’t take it for granted. Don’t push it to the side because even the youngest person pushing a broom out there might have a great idea to help things move along.
The most rewarding part of this job is turning over a good product to the owners. They are the ones who are paying us to be here, they are the ones who need these buildings built, and when they are happy at the end of the job it makes everything worth it!
Q: What has been your all-time favorite job since entering this industry and why?
A: My favorite project has got to be the New Orleans Jazz Market. This was my first superintendent role with Landis, and it was a very interesting but very challenging project. There was a lot of coordination that had to happen, a lot of intricate parts, and lots of outside people coming in to do different things. It was also a very high-profile job which made it even more fun!
Q: What would you tell any young adults who are thinking about joining the construction industry?
A: I would start out by saying, going to college is not required to work in this industry. In some cases, yes, it helps if you do go to college, but I believe that you can achieve all the same goals. You are never going to learn as much from a book as you would from the person working beside you. Dedication is key! Dedication to learning what you are supposed to do, watching what other people do and picking up on the trade. Be ready to work, don’t be afraid to get dirty, and if you show a good work ethic, you’ll be ready to move up sooner than you think!
