Avenues for Success

Stephanie Salazar joined Skender in 2016 as a Workplace Culture Coordinator, bringing 10 years of office admin experience and a degree in Business Administration.  Since then, Steph has grown into a Senior Project Accountant position, contributing to numerous Healthcare projects and helping her peers and team to solve some of the most challenging accounting issues that can come up on a project life cycle. 

What makes Skender special?

“During my annual review my Team Leader asked what other fields I was interested in. It stumped me and I had to actually take a chance and express how I really enjoyed taking accounting classes in college. I was asked to talk to the controller as a mentor and she was just an amazing person who took me under her wing. From training me on the basics of corporate accounting to what a project accountant did. This allowed me to choose which path to down.”

What advice would you give to someone at the start of their career?

“It is okay to take a chance and ask lots of questions. Feel comfortable enough that you are able to express growth with your leader.”

Kevin Bonilla joined Skender in 2019 as an IT Intern. Since then, Kevin has grown into a Help Desk Specialist, where he has helped to protect Skender’s IT Security and the overall health of our business in a myriad of different ways. 

What makes Skender special?

“I basically grew up with Skender as a professional and a person and with that, it’s helped me learn through the many talented people we have here in both aspects. I wouldn’t be the person and professional I am today without Skender’s appreciation and support to keep my development going through school and taking a chance on me.”

What advice would you give to someone at the start of their career?

“Enjoy the butterflies and enjoy being naive. Take any lesson to keep growing and don’t be afraid to make mistakes or ask for help because everyone’s trying to succeed in this world.”

Brian Simons joined Skender in 2007 as a Project Manager, coming with both heavy civil and luxury homebuilding project management experience. During his time with Skender, Brian has taken on progressively more and more responsibility, seeing five promotions and actively contributing to numerous company milestones. For Brian, the most meaningful achievements have been “the lifelong relationships with Skender employees and their families, trade partners, owners, and design teams.” Beyond that, he is incredibly grateful for the opportunity to impact so many team members’ careers, even if being only a small part of their growth journey. 

What makes Skender special?

“I would say it’s the countless charities and families that Skender supports in a meaningful way. Skender’s attention to what really matters in life, beyond the daily operations of construction, has meant a lot to me.”

What advice would you give to someone at the start of their career?

“There is no substitute for hard work, integrity, honesty, and being a person who treats people right. Never lose sight of that, especially as inevitable temptations are thrown your way to abandon these values.”

Margie McConnell joined Skender in 2015 as a Project Coordinator, bringing a degree in Marketing and four years’ experience working in a fast-paced information services position. Since then, Margie has grown into her role as Skender’s first ever Operations Technology Specialist, contributing to the long-term success of numerous Skender new hires and authoring continued training programs across multiple technology platforms.

What makes Skender special?

“Any time I expressed a desire to take on something new/different, I was met with encouragement. I’ve been given the space and support to evolve.
For my most recent promotion, leadership identified a company need and thought I’d be a good fit for the role.”

What advice would you give to someone at the start of their career?

“Most people are unsure about where their career path will lead! Stay curious and don’t hesitate diving into something just because it’s unfamiliar to you – that’s where the growth and opportunity will happen.”

Brian Kane joined Skender in 2008 as a Project Engineer, bringing a degree in Civil Engineering. Over the last seventeen years, Brian has seen seven promotions and is currently a Vice President overseeing Skender’s Healthcare market. He has played an active role in Skender’s success over the years, but the most rewarding part for him has been watching his colleagues grow, thrive, and build their own successful careers.

What makes Skender special?

“The leaders at Skender saw potential in me (perhaps that I did not see in myself) and pulled me into new opportunities to grow, learn, and find what makes me passionate about construction. This sort of selfless and idea-positive leadership makes Skender a place where you can not just work, but thrive. My journey has been varied, challenging, and rewarding. I attribute that to the culture across the organization.”

What advice would you give to someone at the start of their career?

“Be present (mentally & physically) at all times to absorb the knowledge (both construction, interpersonal, and relational) around you every day.”

Be vulnerable, authentic, humble, and develop relationships that go beyond the professional level with colleagues, architects, subcontractors, owners…etc. They are people just like you.

Connor Van Arnam joined Skender in 2017 as a Project Coordinator, coming with a degree in Economics and Business Management. Since then, Connor has grown into a Project Manager for TI, contributing to a myriad of exciting projects. Most noteworthy for Connor was getting to work on the Hyatt House project in West Loop. This was “Skender’s first project that involved a tower crane. It was a lot of fun being part of a large project team and learning from folks who had completed dozens of high rises. The opportunity to be part of that team and learn alongside those people and then being able to see the Hyatt House from our office [in Fulton Market] is a great reminder of that achievement.”

What makes Skender special?

“Skender views employees as part of a family and not by your title. They allow and encourage through quarterly check-ins open dialogue and feedback. If you see a need and are willing to tackle a problem they are very willing to transition people who are good cultural fits to roles that best suit that person.”

What advice would you give to someone at the start of their career?

“Humility and hunger. Be a sponge – and ask a lot of questions. No opportunity is a wasted one when you are just beginning your career. Even if your first job isn’t a ‘fit’ it is still an opportunity to operate in the professional world. Even if the job doesn’t become your career at a minimum you have found something you know you don’t ‘love’ and you gained professional experience. Ask questions – there is not such thing as a bad question. Curiosity leads to opportunity.”