Meet our People: Dave Coolidge

What key skills do you believe contribute most to your success as a Senior Estimator at CM&B?

Hands-on experience, both in the field as a tin knocker and carpenter as well as learning to draft by hand in evening courses. The combination of field experience and drafting skills helps one understand how things go together and gives insight into work or materials required that don’t necessarily show up in the bid documents.

What values or aspects of CM&B resonate most with you?

Work-life balance is the first thing that comes to mind. Many organizations talk the talk, but few walk the walk, at least not to the extent that CM&B does. Not only does CM&B show respect for one’s home life, but the office atmosphere is personable and encourages its employees to have fun.

What do you think is the biggest benefit of a multigenerational workforce?

A multigenerational workforce combines the lessons of experience with the contemporary modes of operation. While young people bring skills such as technology and the latest “book smart” body of knowledge that older employees may struggle with, the latter bring hard-won perspectives that can help younger people navigate the construction process and identify red flags as well as opportunities.

You just returned from an epic trip to Alaska, what is the next adventure??

My wife and I are eager to explore the places in this country that we haven’t seen before, Alaska was a great start to that. Neither of us has been to the Grand Canyon, so that’s probably next. Other possibilities are Death Valley, Mount Rainier, and Glacier National Park.