A Chat with Matthew (Matt) Lawson, General Superintendent at DPR Construction

A marathon, not a sprint: leading by example to prepare next-generation superintendents for greatness

By Chris Maday Schmidt

With 33 years of industry experience, Matthew (Matt) Lawson is a general superintendent at DPR Construction. An experienced construction professional, Lawson has worked on a wide range of projects, from small- to large-scale facilities throughout Northern California. His background includes a broad spectrum of building types, including biotech facilities, public facilities, education and office buildings. Join Construction Superintendent as Lawson talks about his biggest advocate, his biggest non-negotiable in the business, as well as the project that made the biggest impact on him and more.

(Q) We always like to ask the million-dollar question: How did you come to make a career in construction? Or did construction find you?
To start, I am going to give some family background: Construction has always been a part of my life. My grandfather owned a construction company that built residential homes in and around Menlo Park, California back in the 40s and 50s. My father worked for his company when he was growing up and then, after college, decided to join the Carpenter’s Union and went to work for a large commercial contractor here in the Bay Area named Williams & Burrows. He worked there for 25 years before they closed their doors in the mid- to late-80s. In 1990, my father went to work for a small startup construction company named DPR Construction Inc.

As a result, I always had an interest in building since I can remember. I lost my first thumbnail when I was five years old from trying to pound nails with my dad’s hammer. I would always jump in and help where I could when my father was building something. From there, it led to building skateboard ramps for my buddies and me when we were kids. I started working on commercial construction projects at the age of 15 during summers and holidays, mostly doing laborer’s work but occasionally getting to build things like safety rails or helping with layout. After high school, I attended a couple years of community college and decided at age 20 that I was done with school and was going to go to work full time in commercial construction. I got hired in 1992 by DPR Construction as a union laborer and, six months later, switched to the Carpenter’s Union and started my apprenticeship. I finished my apprenticeship four years later as Apprentice of the Year in 1996 from the Morgan Hill Training Facility. Shortly thereafter, I was promoted to foreman where I worked my way up to assistant superintendent, superintendent, senior superintendent and now currently general superintendent.

(Q) Your background hits a wide variety of building types. Which project over the years has made the biggest impact on you? Why?
This is a tough one for me to answer because I have built so many memorable projects, with so many amazing people and highly functional teams. Every one of them has impacted me in one way or another, but the one that I always go back to is what I consider my first construction project. I was 15 (almost 16) years old when I went to work as a laborer for Stolte Construction at the Sheraton Palace in San Francisco, circa 1988. My first day, I was scared beyond belief; this was the real deal! I was put to work on a demo crew for three months where I swung a 20 pound sledge and a fireman’s axe pretty much all day long, tearing out old terra-cotta walls and hauling them out of the building. This was a massive demo project, and I was truly a child compared to the rest of the crew and it was some of the hardest physical labor I have ever done. I was frowned on by many, and I’m certain that most people did not think I would succeed. But the thing that was so memorable to me, is that in the end, it didn’t matter that I was a kid because hard work and perseverance earns respect and acceptance in this industry. Because of that, I was welcomed back the following summer and worked for another three months.

(Q) As far as safety on the jobsite, how would you describe your role?
Safety begins and ends with me on any of my projects. It is easy to say or even preach the right things, but that doesn’t prove out results. It’s about creating a culture that everyone wants to participate in. As a leader, it is imperative that you listen to what employees have to say and make sure to take action. Leading by example is the best place to start. From there, it is about connecting with the workers and making sure they know that safety is a value that should never be compromised. We make hundreds of choices every day while we are working. We have the choice of doing it the right way or doing it the wrong way in almost every task that we perform. Creating a culture of safety where people don’t cut corners in order to increase production is an extreme challenge, but absolutely has to remain the ultimate goal.

(Q) Who would you say was your biggest advocate upon your introduction to the trades? Why?
My biggest advocate was most certainly my father. Even though he wasn’t intentionally pushing me toward a career in construction, he most definitely was the one who gave me so much exposure to it. I can remember most of the construction projects my father worked on because I went to all of them at least once. Couple that with him teaching me how to build things, and the satisfaction you feel when you can see the results of your hard work, while having fun doing it, naturally drove me in this direction. He loved to tell me that he could get me a job, but he couldn’t keep it for me.

(Q) What advice would you share with up-and-coming superintendents interested in a construction career?
Well, an individual wouldn’t be an up-and-coming superintendent unless they had already chosen a career in construction so I am going to give two answers.

For up-and-coming superintendents, the best advice I can give is always be humble; this industry will force that on you as soon as you think you have it mastered. Go to work every day with the objective to learn something new. Lastly, make sure to pass it on to the next generation along the way.

Anyone interested in a construction career should know the path is a marathon, not a sprint. Technical things can be learned quickly, but experience cannot be taught; it takes time. You have to be in it for the long haul. It’s a lot of hard work, long days, huge amounts of stress, but if you truly love building, there is nothing more rewarding.

(Q) Since your start in the industry, what would you say is the biggest change you’ve experienced?
So many things have changed in regard to safety, cost, types of materials, design completeness at start of construction, the speed in which we build — but the biggest change has come in the way of technology. With BIM modelling, virtual design in construction, scheduling, Bluebeam, PlanGrid… the list goes on and on and is changing at an unbelievable pace. I never thought that when I started in construction that we would be able to have what would have been 50+ pounds of drawings or more at your fingertips on an iPad in the field. All of these technologies have played a large part in the speed in which today’s construction projects can be built, but how technology has changed our ability to transfer so much information so quickly is the biggest game changer. From the cell phone, to digital photos, to e-mail, to text messages, video conferencing and data storage have really changed the way this whole industry operates.

(Q) What has been the most challenging aspect of your position as general superintendent?
Time management and work/life balance are always the most challenging. There is always something to do and always a meeting where you are needed. If you can’t multitask and manage four different things at once, you will soon fall behind. Being able to plan and prioritize is hugely important, but it’s also important not to forget to set aside some time where you get away and don’t even think about work; otherwise, it will consume you.

(Q) Are you involved in any type of mentorship or apprenticeship programs at DPR? If yes, share a bit about your experience.
I’m currently involved with our Foreman Steering Group, Superintendent Leadership Group and our Field Engineer Program, along with being a coach for field engineers, foremen and superintendents. Just recently, DPR began rolling out a new coaching initiative, which I believe is going to pay dividends and be hugely impactful in the long run. We have been doing something similar with our foremen for the past 20+ years and it has been such a pleasure working with our younger employees and seeing their progress as they grow and develop their careers. It really just boils down to the fact that at this point in my career, it feels like it is my responsibility to pass along as much knowledge as I can to the next generation. I’ve built a lot of great structures, but the people I have helped build are my greatest accomplishments.

(Q) What is a non-negotiable in order to enjoy a successful career in construction?
Outside of saying, “make it fun for you and your team,” the biggest non-negotiable for me is integrity. This industry is extremely small; it feels big, but it isn’t. Never be willing to compromise your integrity.

(Q) If you could handpick your next project, what would it look like?
It would be new construction, out of the ground, large project with plenty of room for laydown, storage, parking, construction office, etc. Since this rarely happens where we are, I’m always looking for technically challenging projects with elements or design that haven’t been done before. Even more importantly, I would want to choose a collaborative, cohesive team to build it with. A cohesive team can build the most difficult project more easily than a dysfunctional team building the easiest project.

(Q) What is the one tool that has made your job easier and you never leave home without?
My iPhone, without a doubt. Communication is everything and I can do almost everything from my phone. It may not be as efficient as a computer for some things, but it can get me by in a pinch.

(Q) When you’re not on the jobsite, where can readers find you spending the most time?
I love the outdoors and my two favorite places to be outside of work are deer hunting with friends and family, or in the duck blind with my son or daughter, and of course my four-legged best friend “Auto.”