2 minute read
Member Spotlight
Meet Bill!
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New this yea How did you get involved in the industry?
In the summer of 1989 (reminds me of a song), I had a good friend’s father ask me what I was going to do with my life at the end of the summer. I told him I wasn’t sure, and he asked if I knew anything Bill Lastinger, about the construction industry. General Superintendent Benchmark Construction Co., Inc. I asked him what he meant. He 4121 Oregon Pike said, “Have you thought of working Brownstown PA 19508 with your hands...doing carpentry (717) 278-1346 wlastinger@benchmarkgc.com work?” I told him that I took a www.benchmarkgc.com drafting class in high school, and that was the closest thing to carpentry I knew. A few weeks later, I found myself working as a laborer on a construction site.
It didn’t take me long to realize that I could make a good career working in construction. I went through the apprenticeship program at ABC Keystone, and after graduation, Benchmark brought me on as a lead carpenter, followed by a promotion to foreman, and eventually, I became a superintendent.
As you can see, this doesn’t happen overnight, but with hard work and a goal-oriented attitude, you can achieve a lot. Over the last 13 years, Benchmark has placed me in leadership positions in which I help encourage others to achieve their goals. This craft and this industry have provided me with so much opportunity in my career, and I would like to continue sharing these opportunities with others.
How does ABC provide you value?
ABC Keystone has helped us grow our business by providing a variety of technical and leadership training courses for our employees. The more employees learn skills that apply to their day to day responsibilities, the better your company will be. Knowledgeable employees are more engaged in their work and more valuable to our clients. That has proven itself over and over again through the apprenticeship certification program, management training options, and technical training opportunities, such as ASHE certifications and competent person safety training.
Project: UPMC Pinnacle West Shore Overbuild Photo credit: Jeffrey Totaro Photography
Share your company's story:
For over thirty-five years, commitment to our client’s vision, a passion for collaborative building practices, and a culture of balance, integrity, leadership, and loyalty have made Benchmark Construction Co., Inc. the ideal building partner for the region’s most forward-thinking organizations. With offices in Lancaster County, PA, and Elkridge, MD, Benchmark is a trusted partner in the healthcare, senior living, education, and commercial sectors, with an extensive portfolio of projects.
We offer general contracting, preconstruction, construction management, and design-build services. We currently have over 200 employees and self-perform field operations to control quality and schedule.
What is an interesting fact about your business most people don’t know?
Benchmark has been fortunate to have four current or past employees who have held leadership positions on the Board of Directors at ABC Keystone. We feel that this level of engagement has made us better business partners and provides us with more opportunities to be involved within our surrounding communities by promoting the trades.
Thank you to Bill Lastinger for serving as Chair of the ABC Keystone Apprenticeship & Craft Training Committee.
