Employee Spotlight: David Persen, ECA Superintendent

David Persen is a superintendent working at Eastman Cooke. He joined us with 20+ years of experience in the construction industry. 

With a ton of field experience and attention to detail, David has efficiently and effectively worked on and supported some of our projects, including Jaguar Land Rover Glen Cove and Jaguar Land Rover Brooklyn. As a superintendent with experience in both residential and commercial projects, David has a plethora of industry insights while still remaining dedicated to learning on the job and working together as a team. 

What are some of the most important skills and traits to have as a construction superintendent? 

First and foremost, I believe some field experience in a trade is very important. It’s crucial to have some firsthand knowledge of construction. Attention to detail is also incredibly important.

What are the keys to ensuring a safe jobsite and to keep projects running smoothly? 

Safety is key here at Eastman Cooke. All of our employees are OSHA trained to ensure safety remains a top priority. To help keep jobs running smoothly, scheduling is also very important. You have to know the flow of how a job moves forward and schedule trades to be onsite in order to keep things going smoothly.

What are some of the ways in which you and your team continuously maintain an effective workflow and strong productivity? 

Working with the ECA team has truly been a pleasure. There is always an open line of communication and a great sense of teamwork.

What Eastman Cooke projects are you most proud of and why? 

I have only been with Eastman Cooke for a short time, but I’d have to say the job that impressed me most was the Jaguar Land Rover dealership in Glen Cove. This was a ground-up project with beautiful finishes and great details. Also, I enjoyed working with the whole team. They were very welcoming and supportive as I joined the company and hit the ground running.

What significant factors do you rely on when it comes to building strong relationships with your project teams, subcontractors and clients? 

Personally, I always try to have a fair and friendly relationship with all my clients and contractors – whether it be a laborer or the president of a company. I feel very strongly that everyone needs to be treated fairly and respectfully. Mutual respect and trust are critical.

How have advancements in technology helped to enhance productivity in construction?  

Technology has played a huge role in productivity in construction. One of the tools that we use on a regular basis is called Pro Core. This program has been essential in finding information at the touch of a button from drawings to approvals to schedules.

What advice would you give to someone starting out in the construction field? 

Work hard and be open to learning from people that have experience in the field.

With 20+ of experience in construction, what advice would you give to someone starting out in the field? 

Be teachable. Nobody knows everything, so it’s important to always be open to learning new things.

How has your experience in industrial and residential construction helped to fuel exceptional outcomes in commercial construction projects? 

I feel that I go the extra mile to ensure quality and client satisfaction in all projects I’m involved in.

How has your construction knowledge and experience helped to fuel exceptional outcomes for Eastman Cooke’s clients? 

I think my extensive field experience and dedication has helped with the quality of outcomes on Eastman Cooke projects.

How has your early career experience as a carpenter helped to enhance your work as a superintendent and contribute to the success of your projects? 

In my early career I was instilled with a great work ethic. I was also taught how to treat people fairly and professionally.

Prior to joining Eastman Cooke, you worked in residential construction. What were some of the ways in which you achieved a successful transition to commercial work? 

It was quite a change to go from a hybrid of residential and commercial to just commercial work. I think I made that transition work well by being teachable. I really looked to my co-workers who had more experience than me and continued to work hard no matter how big or small my role was on a project.