[ GENERAL CONTRACTORS ]
Andrew Geier Rick Collins Vice president of development Ryan Companies U.S., Inc. ryancompanies.com
Chris Harrison Executive vice president & general manager The Weitz Company weitz.com
Jeff Keck Regional vice president of operations Adolfson & Peterson a-p.com
Justin Kelton Executive vice president McCarthy Building Companies mccarthy.com
LAST YEAR Ben Strobl JE Dunn Construction Bo Calbert McCarthy Building Companies Dave Crawford Sundt Construction Dave Sellers LGE Design Build Peter Berg DPR Construction
Executive vice president Layton Construction Company, Inc. laytonconstruction.com By DAVID MCGLOTHLIN
Andrew Geier wasn’t too eager about leaving his friends and Kansas State University after seven years to join the professional workforce, but once he did, Geier quickly climbed the corporate ladder and found the career, company and job he loves today. He started with Layton Construction in 2004 as the first employee in the Phoenix interior construction group. By the time he was 29-yearsold, Geier worked his way up to executive vice president, which made him the youngest shareholder in the company. Construction was not always Geier’s plan although he describes being exposed to the industry at a young age while working for his dad’s company. Geier says he originally attended KSU to become a lawyer, which didn’t go according to plan. “After a Van Wilder-like college career, I gravitated back to construction,” he explains. “I love the business, the rewarding feeling that goes along with the accomplishment of a completed project and the consistent barrage of challenges.” His first job with Layton focused on business development but today his work entails managing the preconstruction side of operations, which includes the estimating groups, customer acquisition and strategic planning. “My favorite part of the business is the thrill that goes along with pursuing new projects,” he says. “I love the strategy, the preparation and the pitch that goes into earning new business.” Next, he works to retain said new business. “We have numerous projects where after we not only have a repeat client, but also a new friendship,” adds Geier. One example is the Dunn Edward project from a couple years ago, which still resonates with him because of how the team members were singularly focused on the success of the project. “That project literally reinvented the way Dunn Edwards made paint after 90 years of doing it the old fashioned way,” he says. “As successful as the project was, it pales in comparison to the friendships made on the project, which still continue to this day.” In Geier’s opinion, relationships are the highest form of currency in this business. Overall he describes business as good. “We have a tremendous amount of momentum right now and a wide variety of projects coming up,” Geier adds. “That variety helps us draw lessons learned from one project type to other project types.” One upcoming project he is particularly excited about is the new $2 billion Ritz-Carlton development in Paradise Valley because of its unique design. Once completed he says, “I’m looking forward to multiple cocktails overlooking the 400-foot pool and views of Camelback Mountain.”
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PEOPLE AND PROJECTS TO KNOW 2016