No one knows his way around a construction site like Luke Hagler. Find out what he has been up to.

Going on his 26th year with Charter, Luke wears many hats: Commercial Team Leader, Mentor, Friend and a very competitive winner. So lucky to have someone on the team who always does what’s right.

What should people know about Seattle Commercial Construction? The Commercial Construction market in Seattle has been impacted by material pricing escalations as well as the extended concrete strike. Price escalations and material procurement specifically are making it difficult on developers from both a financing and execution standpoint. At this time, most material supply industries are not able to hold their pricing for more than 15-30 days due to manufacture volatility. In the face of these adversities the Charter Construction Commercial Team continues to push through a strong year, striking a balance between supporting our subcontractors, and then identifying and proactively heading off potential delays while collaborating with project teams to hold pricing and meet schedule deadlines.

Where do you find your inspiration??I find inspiration in Faith, Family, and Friends/Co-workers.?This has been my motto as developed from my own father,?John (who at one time worked for Charter) and his work ethic.?I stand on my faith and work hard to support my family first and foremost, but nearly as important is supporting the livelihoods of my team and co-workers.?This was a strong part of the culture that Frank Firmani and Peter Saladino developed at Charter and one that I strongly agree with, and hope that I continue to embody with my team.

?What’s the one power tool you couldn’t live without and why? The one power tool I need is my computer.?Not typically seen as a power tool, but for me it’s essential.?With a computer I’m connected to everything, helping clear the path for the guys who do the real work (Superintendents and field workers) to be able to efficiently get the work done.?My laptop allows me to connect with clients, my team, and the internet at the push of a button.?I still remember a time when much of this work was done without a computer and in some ways we are vastly more efficient, but in other ways we handcuffed ourselves.?An effective person with a computer can accomplish a lot.

?What’s your favorite Charter project over the past 25 years? My favorite project still has to be the Equinox project.?It was Charter’s largest single project in its history, and I was one of the few Charter people that was there from cradle to grave.?It was a significant learning experience for both me and Charter.?It was also something I am very proud to say that I accomplished and completed, to drive by that building and look at the beauty of what “we” accomplished is something for myself and Charter to be proud of.

What’s your tip/trick for time management? ORGANIZATION – it’s critical to be overly organized, especially when things get crazy busy.?To have a very good method of organization helps avoid things falling through the cracks.?I always tell my team that typically no one method of organization works the same for every person, you have to find the best method for you and be fanatical about it.

?Favorite athlete? I’m a huge baseball guy as anyone that works with me for 5 minutes knows.?If I was to pick a favorite athlete, it would probably be Dan Wilson or Buster Posey because of the way they played the game.?They went about their business, gave it everything they had and cared more about the team than the individual stats.?That said, my true favorite athletes are my own boys (Christian, Micah, and Joel). I love watching them play whether from the dugout or the stands or on video.?It’s something I will always remember and miss as they move on in life.

Final word of advice for your fellow construction enthusiasts? I read in a book not long ago about three critical keys to great members of your team: Humble, Hungry, and Smart. You can have 2 of 3 and be a decent employee, but to really be exemplary and create a great working culture, you have to be at least satisfactory in all 3.?Smart you can learn, but it’s not just book/construction smart, but also smart in how you deal with other people (co-workers, clients, subs, etc.).?Hungry, I equate to Work Ethic/Passion, typically someone who is passionate about what they do, don’t need to have their work ethic questioned because they care so much about it. It can be difficult to have a great work ethic if you are not passionate about what you are doing.?Make sure you are in the right place and industry to have a passion for it.?Humble, most people think of the quiet person in the corner that doesn’t say much, however I think you can be very confident and vocal in what you do, but still do it with humility.?Realizing that no one person can accomplish what we need to do on their own, you are required to have an awesome team around you that hopefully you care about just as much as family and want to see them grow, develop, and succeed.?Be humble by protecting your team, helping them succeed, and showing care for them.