Meet Nate Heiner

Meet Nate Heiner – Superintendent and the final Hard Hat Hang-Up feature this year.

Nate has been a do-it-yourself kind of guy since he was a kid, learning from his mechanic father the tricks of the trade. When Nate was 18, his mother asked him to build a treehouse for his younger brother and his Uncle Bob came over to help with the build. Bob Huff, who has been a Superintendent with Chesapeake Contracting Group for over 25 years, suggested he come work with him at CCG and the rest is history.

Nate has worked on some of CCG and CCG Residential’s largest projects such as Foundry Row, The Village at Waugh Chapel, Overlook at Franklin Square and most currently, Sandy Farms Apartments. Nate enjoys problem solving and seeing a completed project as a result, comparing the building process to working on a puzzle. He explains, “Figuring out how to sequence trades so that they move quickly and efficiently, producing solutions to design issues or unforeseen conditions, figuring out a quick correction to a quality control issue, even building a schedule so your start and completion dates are aligned with the contract. It all has somewhat of a mechanical feel to it. There are moving pieces that must go in the right place to get the right outcome.”

When Nate isn’t on the jobsite, he keeps himself plenty busy with hobbies such as collecting and rebuilding antique engines and tractors, playing the mandolin, chasing his kids around and doing as much as he can outdoors. Read more from Nate’s interview below:

What got you into the construction industry?

When I was kid, I was always “making” something.  My father is a mechanic and used to own his own business.  Due to that, I had a plethora of stuff at my reach to be able to make just about whatever I wanted to.  Also, I had a very “do it yourself” and “hands on” childhood.  There was never a lack of work to be done nor things to do.  When I graduated high school, my mother wanted to build a treehouse for my younger brother.  My uncle (Bob) came over to spear head the build.  It was when we were nailing the shingles on the roof that he invited me to come work for him here at CCG.  I was 18/19 at the time and the rest is history

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not at work?

Oh boy.  Well not much has changed since my childhood as far as that is concerned.  I still try to do just about anything I can myself.  Partly out of a sense of curiosity to see if I can.  Due to that, I have gotten into quite a bit of hobbies.  I guess the list of majors would go as follows;  collect/rebuild/restore and use antique engines and tractors, play the mandolin, butcher hogs and venison, try to keep up with 19 chickens, build never ending wood and metal projects around the house, chase my kids around, camping, hunting, fishing, you name it.

What do you like most about being a Superintendent?

Well, I guess you get the point by now that I like fixing things.  It’s the problem solving and seeing a completed project as a result that gets me.  I like figuring things out.  So, it’s like working on one giant puzzle.  Many facets of a project are like individual puzzles that then turn into bigger pieces for an even bigger puzzle.  Examples are as follows; Figuring out how to sequence trades so that they move quickly and efficiently, producing solutions to design issues or unforeseen conditions, figure out a quick correction to a quality control issue, even building a schedule so your start and completion dates are aligned with the contract.  It all has somewhat of a mechanical feel to it.  There are moving pieces that must go in the right place to get the right outcome.

What’s your favorite thing about working at CCG?

I would have to say relationships with my co workers and management.  I feel like a member of a very tight knit team here.  I feel like there is a level of vested interest and care here that is hard to find.  I don’t think that there has been a time where I simply felt like a cog in a machine.  I know that CCG cares about my success, continued growth, and well being on many different levels.

What project are you currently working on right now?

Sandy Farms Apartments

Favorite project you have ever worked on?

This is another tough one.  I cannot definitively pick one.  I can list a few that I have enjoyed.  Waugh Chapel 2 – Many different buildings on one site with a great site team.  Foundry Row – Very similar reasons with the addition of Tilt up buildings.  Who doesn’t love a good tilt up building.  The first tilt up building had some interesting features in its design that was a first for not only me.  Also, very interesting site package to see come together.  Laurel Towne Center – I built my first post tension structure there.  Also, a very tough project.  I had some large puzzles to put together there.  Republic national warehouse expansion and office renovation – Great site team.  Large tilt up expansion.  Steel package had some large-scale members. I also had the opportunity to help with some of the office renovation.