OAK BROOK, IL - National Construction Appreciation Week is a time to recognize and celebrate all the dedicated men and women in the construction industry who play a major role in building our world. At Krusinski, we understand that success in this industry hinges on the strength of our team. Our project management team is part of our core team that works collaboratively to get the job done right the first time, The Krusinski Way. Take a dive into the insightful Q&A session with Justin Risetter, Project Manager, who offers a glimpse into his role and the significance of being a project manager at Krusinski Construction Company.
What does your day-to-day look like as a Project Manager for Krusinski?
My day-to-day involves monitoring the overall health of current and upcoming projects, ensuring everything is on track for successful completion. This includes phone calls with superintendents to review progress and address roadblocks, working with project engineers to stay on schedule with material approvals and procurement and meeting with owners and architects to ensure alignment on top priorities.
What skills or qualities do you think are essential for success in project management?
The most important skill for success in project management is communication. With so many stakeholders involved in any given project and a large volume of information to manage, my job is to ensure that information flows smoothly between owners, architects, engineers, subcontractors, and field teams. Clear communication is essential to keeping work on schedule.
How do you manage and balance the workload throughout the duration of the project?
I use a weekly checklist of priorities to track reports, owner requests, meetings, and contracts that need to be written. I also rate myself on how well I’m completing those tasks. While there’s never enough time to do everything, it’s reassuring to know that I’m focusing on the items most critical to the success of my projects.
How does Krusinski support you and your needs to deliver an excellent building experience for our partners and clients?
The greatest support Krusinski provides is a team of high-quality coworkers. The success of a project isn’t just about my contributions; it’s about what we can accomplish as a team and as a company. Everyone associated with a project has an important role to play. At Krusinski, we all take those roles seriously with the success of the project always top of mind.
Do you notice any trends or changes in the construction industry that will provide a positive impact on the industry?
The big push right now is toward sustainability and green infrastructure. This isn’t necessarily a new trend, considering LEED’s influence on the industry over the past 20 years to adopt more sustainable materials and building practices. Today, the corporate environment emphasizes net-zero energy or carbon-neutral buildings, as well as green infrastructure like EV charging stations and solar panels, to reduce environmental impact. This focus is growing and will likely continue to be a key growth area through the near future.
What do you look forward to in the future of the construction industry?
I look forward to the continued advancement and adoption of technology that improves communication, reporting, and building practices. These innovations will streamline project management and enhance the customer experience.
What are you most excited about coming to work every day?
I find great satisfaction in seeing hours of hard work materialize into state-of-the-art facilities. These buildings will likely serve and benefit their communities for the next 40+ years, which is incredibly rewarding.
What is your favorite part about working for Krusinski Construction Company?
The best part about working for Krusinski is the people. The Krusinski family has a long history of generosity and treating everyone with respect. My coworkers are passionate about construction and highly skilled but also remain humble. When problems arise, there’s a “whatever it takes” mentality across the team to ensure the project’s success.
Share a rewarding experience or accomplishment that helped advance your career or pushed you to be a stronger construction professional.
I strongly believe in continuing education and the value of pursuing certifications and additional degrees. Earning my LEED AP BD+C certification and currently working toward my Project Management Professional (PMP) certification have been key milestones. However, my most impactful accomplishment was earning my MBA from the University of Chicago through night classes. Completing that degree coincided with my promotion to a project management role and prepared me for the additional responsibilities that came with it.
If you can describe your job/role in one word, what would it be?
Orchestrator
What are some fun activities or hobbies you do outside of work?
Outside of work, I spend most of my time with my two young daughters who are 4 and 1.5 years old. When I find time for hobbies, I enjoy competitive sports. My favorites are soccer, volleyball, and pickleball. My nerdy pursuits are reading and board games. For outdoor activities, I enjoy beekeeping, disc golf, and backpacking.