Shane Napper
President of Construction
Rockford Construction
Grand Rapids, Michigan
I’ve had a lot of positive role models throughout my career who have impacted who I am today.
One person who stands out along the way is Wes Higgins from W.J. Higgins & Associates. Wes created his company through hard work and dedication, staying true to himself throughout the process.
My Uncle Jack is also important to me. I started working with him when I was 14 years old. His parents started Holwerda Furniture & Upholstery decades ago, and the lessons I learned were about what it means to be a business owner and a hard worker.
I also had an opportunity, early on at Rockford Construction, to work with Pat Corderman. He took me under his wing and taught me how to interact with people, what to do in tough situations and how to be confident and stand up for what’s right.
Thanks to those on this list, I have been continually inspired to seize opportunities and always act with integrity. It’s now my responsibility to take those things I’ve been taught and invest in others.
Wyatt Wiggins
Eastern Shore Sales & Business Development Manager
Chaney Enterprises
Gambrills, Maryland
In order to recognize a great leader, you must first identify the qualities that make one admirable. I believe great leaders have four crucial attributes: determination, passion, vision and teamwork.
In the last year, I had the privilege to join Chaney Enterprises after being with the same organization for over 15 years prior.
Within the leadership team at Chaney Enterprises, I have found that all four attributes are viral. These leaders were the main deciding factor when I accepted the new position with the Chaney family. They have all developed into my mentors and continue to set examples for the leader I strive to become.
A business hero should present values you believe are admirable. Learn from those you admire and, better yet, invite them to mentor you. A true leader will display those four aforementioned positive qualities and, when executed brandwide, the entire team will become great leaders and affect the culture of the organization.
Justin Azbill
Director of Safety
Callahan Construction Managers
Bridgewater, Massachusetts
One of the first construction companies I worked at was Kiewit, where my first job was under the construction manager, Dale Keech.
On the numerous jobs I worked under Dale, there were rarely safety incidents. He’s a hero to me because of the ways in which he managed each project site with regard to team safety. Dale valued communications across the entire team, recognizing the cruciality of ensuring all project team members are on the same page. In Dale’s mind, if one person was hurt, the whole team was hurt, no matter their title.
As I have moved forward in my career, I’ll always remember Dale’s mentorship and his emphasis on a team atmosphere. We still remain close friends. As I step into my new director of safety role at Callahan, I intend to build upon the company’s strong safety initiatives and continue to foster an outstanding safety culture. I firmly believe that a team-first mentality can improve a jobsite, improve a company and improve an employee’s quality of life outside of work.
