A Chat with Mike Mealor, Superintendent at Skanska

Supporting the team from military helmet to hardhat

By Chris Maday Schmidt

Mike Mealor is a superintendent at Skanska with 11 years of experience in the construction industry. With a degree in construction management and two deployments under his toolbelt, he brings a unique perspective through serving in the military, as well as serving on the jobsite. He is located onsite full time during the construction phase and responsible for onsite activities, including supervising, sequencing and coordinating and monitoring all work to ensure it is completed to the highest quality of standards. Join Construction Superintendent as Mealor talks trends in different types of building projects, strategies to maintain a safety mindset with his crew, the key to overcoming project challenges and more.

(Q) First, thank you for your military service. As a United States Army veteran, talk about how the time you served overseas prepared you for your role in construction.

There are tons of parallels between my time in service and my experience in construction. Two that standout most are working toward a singular, common goal shared among the team and the comradery developed by working through new challenges with a team.

(Q) How did you get involved with the skilled trades before your two tours in the Army?

I received my degree in construction management while at the University of Florida. As a student, I had the opportunity to intern with some great companies and gain some experience in the industry. Upon graduation, I received a commission to the Army where I served as a Tank Platoon Leader, Scout Platoon Leader and Operations Officer over 4 1/2 years. After completing two deployments, to Iraq and later Afghanistan, I decided to return to civilian life and return to the world of construction.

(Q) Name a few similarities between serving in the military and serving on the jobsite?

The biggest similarities were mentioned above with the biggest being the level of comradery that exists on a jobsite.

(Q) With a strong background working on higher education and sports facilities, what type of trends are you seeing in each?

We are seeing a lot more technology integrated into the classroom and public spaces, and we are seeing a greater focus on sustainability. The focus on sustainability is on both the energy generation systems, as well as the conservation systems within the buildings. Some of the owners we are working with have really started placing a greater focus on retrofitting their existing facilities, and incorporating some of these systems, rather than full-scale replacements. There are some neat options out there now where we have been able to help schools really lower their consumption, while improving their indoor environment for students.

(Q) Of all the projects you’ve worked on, which presented the most challenges and why? How did you solve these challenges?

The expansion and addition to the University of Central Florida Baseball Stadium was a neat one which, in itself, was a straight-forward project. The challenges came due to an extremely compressed schedule, coupled with the need for the team to train, practice and even play games and tournaments, all while construction was underway. This required a significant amount of planning and coordination with the athletics department, coaching staff and facilities team, to progress our work and then isolate our tools, equipment and work area to allow fans to fill the stadium and support their Knights for the evening, and then get right back to work the next morning. Challenges like these can only be solved through constant communication and a team focus and we had a great team on that project.

(Q) What would you say was your all-time favorite project? Why? 

My favorite project was the UCF Downtown Academic Commons project. This was the anchor building for the new University of Central Florida campus in downtown Orlando. As part of the transformation of the Creative Village district in Orlando, it will have an impact on our community for years to come. We had a great team that came together to deliver a significant project that serves our community and contributes to the positive growth of Central Florida.

(Q) How would your crew describe your supervisory style?

I learned early on as a junior officer to trust the folks that you are leading. Give people the information and equipment they need to accomplish their task to set the conditions for success. I like to give the “mission and intent” to borrow a military phrase, and let them do what they are trained to do and then be there to help clear any roadblocks in their way.

(Q) What strategies do you employ to maintain a safe jobsite?

I believe in creating a culture of community where people are looking out for each other because it’s the right thing to do, rather than because someone or a sign told them they had to. Many injuries happen because someone was well intentioned, just “trying to get it done,” and cut a corner. We have all been in that situation, and I like to address this and let everyone know that they are responsible for looking out for the person to their left and right that is just trying to “get it done” and tell them to slow down and think about what they are doing and what kind of situation they are putting themselves in. We build some great things, but none of them are worth a father/mother/son/daughter not going home to their family at the end of the day.

(Q) Favorite tool on the job? Why?

It would be a toss-up between a tower crane and an all-terrain forklift. Tower crane because, who doesn’t love a tower crane, and forklift because no matter the location or size of a project, every component of a building has to come off a truck and a lull is a pretty effective tool to get material from point A to B.

(Q) Where do you see yourself in the next 10 or 20 years?

I see myself in a leadership role where I can contribute to the positive growth of my community and have the opportunity to build the things that matter.

(Q) Best advice you’ve received in both of your careers?

Surround yourself with people who have common values even, or especially if, you have different opinions. I also learned that loyalty goes in two directions, both up and down.

(Q) Where do you enjoy spending the most time when you’re not on the jobsite?

I’ve got a wonderful wife and three young kids, so when I’m not working, we like to split our time between being out on the water and the mountains of North Georgia.