Employee Spotlight: Taylor Brooks

McConnell & Associates (MAC) is a 100% employee-owned civil construction company headquartered in North Kansas City, MO with additional locations in St. Louis, MO, Pevely, MO, and Wichita, KS.

We are dedicated to bringing value to our customers, employees, and the communities we work in.?Learn more about our team and get an insight into Taylor Brooks journey as a Project Manager at MAC.

Could you briefly introduce yourself and where you are from?

My name is Taylor Brooks. I'm from Parkville, Missouri. I grew up in North Kansas City and went to North Kansas City High School. When I was younger, I lived in South Carolina, and then I moved up here. I went to Park University, got my construction manager degree there, and then joined the Navy. After the Navy, I just started my career in construction management.

What is your current position, and where did you go to school?

Project Manager and I went to Park University.

How did you find out about McConnell?

LinkedIn, actually, I was looking for a new position and saw a post on it. I kind of looked at the history of the company and then the position, and I decided to apply for it.

What is your day-to-day like in your role?

I usually get different jobs and kind of go out and look at them. I do a lot of talking to customers and putting proposals together for them. If it’s a job that I've already won, I'll go out and make sure we have submittals of all the information that the city or the customer wants from us. Submit insurance stuff like that. So, a lot of office admin and then a lot of fieldwork as well.

How long have you been with MAC?

Two months.

What role did you start out in, and where are you now?

Project Manager.

How did you know you wanted to pursue a career in construction?

So, I've worked in construction since I was probably about 15. Really, I just thought I wanted to do something like business management, but I just like being around people who are in construction and working with my hands. Eventually, I kind of figured out what a project manager does and what an estimator does, and I really liked that and went out and got the degree for it and started doing it.

Why did you join McConnell and Associates?

I was looking for a new job, and McConnell & Associates has a strong history in the area and is a well-known name. I really enjoyed the interview process and meeting the people that worked here. I thought it'd be a great fit for me.

What do you think makes our team culture at MAC unique?

Everyone's really nice, and everyone's always helping each other. I've been here for two months, and anytime I have a question, I can ask anyone around me, and I get an answer pretty quickly. Everyone's trying to help me and help me learn, and they also just are nice people.

What are the toughest challenges you’ve had at work?

Probably just learning everything. Learning the way that McConnell does all their business, how the crews are constructed, and how jobs get done.

What do you enjoy most about working at McConnell?

Definitely the people. I like all the people I've worked with. So good culture, that's what I enjoy the most.

How have you grown professionally since joining MAC?

I'm definitely getting better at customer relations. That's something that I didn't have quite as much, but I think I'm growing and getting better at it every day.

What is your favorite work benefit or perk and why?

I like how I can just go out in the field if I need to look at jobs and drive around the city and look at different opportunities. Then also just working in the office.

What has been your favorite project that you've worked on? Why was it your favorite?

I really liked the project I'm on now. It's called Falcon Valley Drive. It's a four-month project, and I really enjoy it because there are so many different aspects to it and different things that I have to keep an eye on and different trades that are working on it.

What advice would you share with someone who is just starting a career in construction?

Don't be afraid to ask questions; just pay attention to everything because you'll learn more that way.

Could you describe an experience during your time at MAC that has had a lasting impact on you? Or what is the best career lesson you’ve learned so far??

Asking questions should be a top priority because you don't want to act like you know something, and then you get into a situation where you have to lie to someone because you don't know the answer.? It's better to ask questions and be honest about what you know and don't know.

What has been your most meaningful accomplishment so far?

I won a $3 million job, and now I get to run it. It's been pretty fun. It was my first month here.

What is one thing you wish people knew about your job?

You get what you put into it. You know, if you work hard and learn as much as you can, you can get a lot out of it and go as far as you want, really.

What is one thing on your bucket list?

Go elk hunting in Montana. That'd be cool. Bow hunting.

What is one thing that people don’t know about you that they would be surprised to find out?

I was in the Navy, and I've traveled to over 15 different countries in the eight years I was with the Navy.

If you could meet anyone in the world, dead or alive, who would it be and why?

Babe Ruth. I like baseball. I grew up playing baseball, and I've always enjoyed it, and I'd like to know what he was like and meet him.

What is the best place you’ve traveled to and why?

St. Lucia that's where I went with my wife on our honeymoon. We spent a week there, and it was really nice. St. Lucia is an island in the Caribbean. We loved it. So I want to go back there one day.

To learn more about MAC, get a consultation on your next project, or explore career opportunities, visit us at www.mcconnellassociates.org