MEET TODAY'S GUEST:
NICK KUELSKE is the Regional Procurement Manager for Turner Construction Company – based in their Detroit office.
By way of background, Nick grew up in mid Michigan near the campus of Michigan State University. His father worked for a local general contractor and also later bought into another subcontracting business, so Nick was definitely raised around the construction industry. Upon graduation from MSU, he took an entry level position with Turner in Chicago – and has since worn many unique hats for Turner – which is why I was determined to interview him for this podcast.
As you about to hear, his range of experiences is notable, and we talk about some of the important lessons learned and advantages he has gained from many of them. For example, Nick’s project portfolio ranges from mega projects, industrial projects, data centers, healthcare facilities, and stadiums. On the other end of the spectrum, he has also worked in Turner’s Special Projects Division – which is focused on smaller, fast-paced projects. And lastly, he also ran one of Turner’s self-perform divisions, which encompassed crews of skilled tradesmen (e.g. carpenters/laborers/operators) who performed demolition, drywall, drop ceilings, and other general labor on multiple Turner projects – all of which grew his direct building knowledge and expertise in labor productivity and scheduling.
Fast forwarding to today, Nick’s longest tenure with Turner has been in their centralized procurement (or purchasing) department, which he now heads up for the Midwest region. We talked at length about the unique nature of this organizational role in the general contracting industry and the advantages that can be derived from it for all parties.
Outside of work, Nick enjoys working on cars, hunting, and shooting sports. And by the way, he still plays hockey, with loving memories of the days when he played goalie for MSU’s club team and won a national championship.
I started my own career with Turner and I remember it with much fondness and gratitude. They remain one of the world’s most prestigious construction companies – so if you have any interest in learning more about how to build a highly successful career within the Turner ranks, then this episode is for you.
CONNECT WITH TODAY'S GUEST:
Contact information for Nick Kuelske and other helpful links regarding this episode are listed below:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-kuelske/
https://www.turnerconstruction.com/life-at-turner
CONNECT WITH YOUR HOST:
coty@cotyfournier.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/cotyfournier/
Please visit the Construction Management Program at Michigan State University for more information on how you can build the career of your dreams in the construction management industry.