MOHAMAD WASEEM
PRESIDENT | TAH CONSTRUCTION
MONMOUTH JUNCTION, NEW JERSEY
What made you want to start your own general contracting firm?
After working for a general construction firm for several years in various markets, I wanted to do something independently. I initially had planned to start as a project-management consultancy, but as I spoke about this in my network, a GC opportunity for a Holiday Inn renovation project came about through a friend/colleague. I then took a leap with a few other projects that came to me and have not looked back since. Still grateful for those first few opportunities and the trust shown by clients and colleagues in a new firm.
What is your favorite type of construction project to work on?
I really enjoy developing with/for new entrepreneurs looking to venture into various commercial businesses. We specialize in building out in hospitality sectors, especially restaurants and retail food businesses. A lot goes into planning for these projects, and along with tight schedules, these build-outs make for a great challenge for the team to accomplish.
Do you have a New Year’s resolution for 2024?
I gave up on big New Year’s resolutions a long time ago, but I do have our personal and professional goals that we will strive to achieve. One big goal for next year is to expand our services and have an office in the Maryland/Virginia market.
How do you keep your teams motivated and productive while working on a project?
It is important to always have an eye on the final product/vision and spread that vision to all the contributing members of the team. Defining, updating and clearly communicating targets/goals to the team in a timely manner eases the tension and keeps everyone focused. This also ties into listening to the feedback coming from the team in the field. It is important for the project-management team to realize that the projects are built onsite, not in office trailers or home offices.
Based on your location in central New Jersey, do you root for the New York Giants, New York Jets or Philadelphia Eagles?
That’s a rough one! I’m always the one rooting for the underdogs, and the Jets became the ultimate underdog to root for as I started following football. Hope to see this team do well!
How are you feeling about the future of the construction industry?
I’m actually very optimistic about the future of the industry. As many challenges as we have faced, this industry has been the backbone for job creation, and with the boom in the service industry and multifamily markets, I expect this growth to continue in the near future. The challenge with the labor/trade shortage will keep this growth in check long-term, however.
