The Crowther Group is growing and, as more talented construction leaders consider working with us, we want to offer an inside look into our culture and people who have found a home here and who continue to contribute to our success. Today, meet Project Engineer, Marc Bernhardt.

What are 3 or 4 defining moments for you as your career progressed? Think of events or things that shaped your career path, had the most impact on making you who you are today, and led you to add value to your companies.
I worked my way up from a part time labor position while I was going to school to a project manager overseeing multiple projects at a time for a design/build company. This is really what sparked my interest in construction, as I went to college intending to be a mechanical engineer. I was introduced, at this point, to client relations and managing expectations to maximize quality standards and efficiency.
Another defining moment was when I was approached by a private equity investor who wanted me to oversee and manage his real estate investment projects. It was at this point that I took a leap of faith into entrepreneurship. I operated and grew my company from the ground up and learned many valuable facets of what it takes, not only to the benefit of my own success, but to the relational outreach of working with clientele, trade partners, suppliers, etc.
I have had the great fortune of joining The Crowther Group. Through their partnership with McCarthy Builders, I can work side-by-side with one of the largest healthcare builders in America! This will provide exposure to every aspect of the construction process and will facilitate my growth in my career more than anything I’ve done before.

What is your favorite part of your job?
I enjoy the challenges. When you have a great team to work with, challenges truly make you stronger.
Which of your personal attributes have been most beneficial to you in your career? Explain why.
I grew up as a very introspective person. That may seem like an odd answer, but I have been able to develop this trait into an instrument for strong decision making and to having intention behind everything that I do. This is helpful as well in communication which is the most important component to anyone’s career.

What do you do for fun while you’re not at work?
I love to ski (when I’m back home in Denver) or enjoying really anything outdoors with my wife. Hiking, biking, kayaking, you name an outdoor activity and I’m up for it.

What are the two or three most important lessons you learned along the way that others could benefit from?

1. In the words of Zig Ziglar, “Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude.” It’s important to understand that there is no roadmap to success, it’s a matter of loving others while constantly challenging yourself to be better than you were yesterday.

2. You will be better off if you convert failure into transformation, mistakes into initiation, and dreams into undertaking.

3. Prudent people seek perfection in everything they do, even though perfection is not attainable. The way to achieve it is by adjusting your perspective to understand that perfection is not a destination but rather a direction.

Who have you mentored and how did your guidance impact that person, your team, your department, and your company?
I mentored the assistant superintendents at my previous job to guide their growth so that they could learn without making the mistakes I made that ultimately guided me. I also stressed the importance of transforming failure into useful experience to continue to learn from as you go.

How do you describe your leadership style?
I try to keep humility at the center of my leadership style. Respect cannot be conveyed without humility and lack of respect cripples a team mentality.