Q&A with Craig DeBrigard, Project Superintendent at Highland Development

Training hard, working smart pay off in the end

By Chris Schmidt

Craig DeBrigard, project superintendent and company safety officer with Highland Development, has overseen the builds of housing developments, schools, a TV station, chain stores, wood and steel structures and managed the general day-to-day coordination of field operations. Prior to joining the Highland Development team in 2004, DeBrigard apprenticed as a carpenter for the home improvement show “This Old House” before founding Mass Bay Builders—a high-end historical restoration company. He served in the U.S. Airforce, holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering from the University of Massachusetts and is a Massachusetts Licensed Construction Supervisor. Join Construction Superintendent as DeBrigard talks safety, setbacks and success in the field.

(Q) How long have you been wearing a hard hat and supervising a construction crew?  

I can"t believe it, but it has already been 25 years. I started out directing carpentry crews with small residential jobs. This was a great opportunity to work in a fast-paced and intense environment that allowed a learning curve that would not make or break the schedule if every judgment call was not perfect. This position also allowed me to develop a keen understanding of each trade's scope and see firsthand how coordination of their respective parts fit into the big picture of the project.

(Q) How did the opportunity to apprentice as a carpenter for “This Old House” present itself and what did you take away from the experience?

It's all about who you know. My parents are long-time friends and neighbors of Tom Silva, a contractor on “This Old House.” The summer I turned 16, I wanted a job in construction and Tom was generous enough to offer me a position on his crew. The Silva's have cached a lifetime of useful tips, tricks and linear methods of construction that I still remember and utilize to this day. I was constantly blown away by the thoughtful instruction.

(Q) Any interesting tidbits about the show that the viewer at home may not be aware of?

Once Silva Brothers Construction became the go-to for the show, the company reps would come by in vans and dump piles of tools off at our feet.

(Q) You"ve also worked with high-end historical restorations—describe some of the challenges that come with that job.

Most of my work has been in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In that town, there is an endless supply of houses that are 150-200 years old. The historical commission often requires that all exterior details remain the same, so the creative process to recreate existing woodwork is quite challenging. Recently, a home built in the 1850s was renovated by Highland Development. The exterior details, barrel-vaulted ceilings, intricate staircases and stained glass repairs all presented a unique challenge. Sometimes knowing where to source materials or skills is half the battle.

(Q) In your career as a project superintendent, talk a bit about your most rewarding project.

Nearly five years ago, the Agassiz Baldwin Community of Cambridge hired Highland Development to build a visual arts center. Named the Maud Morgan Visual Arts Center, the venue offers a variety of programs in pottery, printing, painting, sculpting, etc. The reason I find this project so rewarding is that every time I go by to make sure all is well, there is a mass of children going in and out of the building having what appears to be the time of their lives. Typically, you do not get to oversee builds where there is so much fun everywhere you look.

(Q) You are also Highland Development's safety officer, responsible for the implementation and enforcement of all safety programs. Explain what this entails on a regular basis.  

Constant training. The construction industry has a varied and wide-reaching footprint and listing everything an employee should be aware of has only short-term benefits. Refreshers strengthen the concepts of the safety program and make it more familiar to the crews. Random inspections of the worksite are also necessary to ensure compliance, safety and general upkeep.

(Q) Do you have any unique approaches to safety?

All of us have made it this far in our lives by learning gradually along the way. Safety, for someone new to the concept, takes time to learn. When a potentially dangerous situation is identified, I stop the crew, do what is necessary to make the situation safe, and then thoroughly walk everyone through the details to show what could have gone wrong. My intent is not only to have the hazard addressed, but to also teach the crew useful information to identify, and thereby avoid, similar situations in the future.

(Q) What is the most valuable advice you, yourself, received as a new superintendent, and what would you tell aspiring superintendents?

Work hard right out of the gate. Even though a completion date seems like a long way off, it's not. There is never enough time. Spend the time on the rough to get everything right the first time. This speeds up the finishing touches and brings the project to a successful close.

(Q) In the past 25 years, what would you say has been the biggest boon to the construction industry?

Cordless tools, cell phones and laptops.

(Q) Name the biggest setback you"ve experienced overseeing a project and how you overcame these challenges.

Money drives these jobs. When the money stops flowing for whatever reason, the job suffers. Regardless of who, or why, it's necessary to be the most polished diplomat you can be. It doesn"t help anyone to dig in and hold your ground. The job will sit, milestones won"t be met and, ultimately, everyone loses. Sometimes, all sides try the hard way and the job goes nowhere. When everyone agrees to a middle-ground compromise, the project gets back up and running with organized production until completion.

(Q) How do you spend your time when you"re not wearing a hard hat?

I got into this trade because I enjoy being outside, so I would say look for me in the yard rather than the living room.

(Q) What is an anecdote from the field or a parting thought you"d like to leave with readers about a day-in-the-life of Craig DeBrigard?

Get up and get to work on time every day, earn your paycheck and make the company who signs it look great!