“It’s not about what your capable of, it’s about what you’re willing to do.”
-Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach
While Pittsburgh is known as a Steel City, one of tough, hardworking people, it is also known as the City of Bridges, both can explain Bob McDonald LandSouth’s Vice President of Operation’s working philosophy – extremely loyal, hardworking, and dedicated while also reaching out to help others to realize their potential.
Introduction to the construction industry
Like so many others in this industry, Bob was introduced to various facets of construction through family. He learned the basics from his grandfather, all around handy man skills and building decks. His stepfather owned a roofing business where he worked during summer months and while attending high school. Carrying shingles for years made the decision to go to college an easy one. After graduating from Kent State University, he worked for a company selling building materials for a short time then ultimately got a job as a field engineer for a General Contractor that focused on multifamily. While working as an FE, he was tasked to learn how to use Microsoft Project and to maintain the project’s construction schedule. This experience early in his career established his priority on schedule management and the need for stability and structure to have successful projects.
He has a diverse background which includes multifamily, single family, site development, and renovation work. Bob’s work ethic comes from his role models in his family who would often work seven days a week. He continues to tinker on projects on weekends, as he has a difficult time turning it “off” because it is ingrained in his spirit.
LandSouth Tenure and Role
Bob has been in the construction industry for over 30 years, and with LandSouth for about 4 ½ years, starting as a Division Manager, and promoted to Vice President of Operations just over two years ago. He feels his primary responsibility is to manage resources and put people in positions to be successful. He works with Mary Tippett, Operations Manager, and the three Division Managers, with the goal to promote from within by developing people to ascend the ranks of the organization. Serving as VP of Operations, he is ultimately responsible for every job, which he takes very seriously. He supports his project management team to ensure project consistency. Bob’s “buck stops here” drive is what makes him tick, and he does so with determination and tenacity.
Leadership Philosophy
Bob believes that everyone’s role must be clearly defined with tools and training to be successful in that role. Once expectations are set for a team member it allows for accountability which must work both ways. Not only should someone be expected to be accountable in their role, but managers should be expected to be accountable to their teams.
He says it’s impossible to treat everyone the same, but it’s important to treat people fairly. He leads by example by demonstrating a strong work ethic and believes there are no such thing as a short cut and looks to work with those who share similar characteristics. Every project starts with a focus on what needs to be done to make it successful: driving client’s schedules, being organized, fully dedicated, all without compromising safety and quality.
What makes LandSouth different?
Bob says this company truly cares about its employees. There are processes and plans in place to develop and elevate our people and that’s what makes LandSouth different. It’s not a “check the box” program, all departments are involved in the development of our team. LandSouth’s operational levels of support are also what sets this company apart from others: three Division Managers, an Operations Manager, an Administrative Support Manager, and Construction Administrators, all present to offer support and make the jobs flow. The People Development department’s primary focus is training. There is also the quarterly Shared Fate Bonus program, monthly Staff Meetings, the annual All Hands Meeting and Holiday Party, quarterly newsletters, Superintendent Rallies, and transparent communication. Training and metrics have been established to reinforce LandSouth’s commitment to quality, safety, and clean projects which are constantly assessed by our Safety Manger Corey Drake.
Working and growing at LandSouth
Traveling to projects in various geographic locations and catching up with the teams in real time brings Bob back to his time as a Superintendent. Multifamily is a fast-paced environment and seeing the progress of the projects first-hand offers Bob a chance to problem-solve with the team. He loves walking the site with our field teams to review the schedule and consistency with our processes. He looks forward to completing projects, and the preparation of starting new ones, which creates new opportunities for internal growth for the LandSouth team.
Thoughts on the future of LandSouth
Bob is excited to see the benefits of the elevation of our team and People Development training initiative come to fruition, resulting in the professional growth of our team and new ideas. While promoting from within is the goal, sometimes specific hires from outside the organization bring in new ideas and perspectives.
A great example of that team elevation is Tim Retamoza who joined LandSouth as an Assistant Superintendent. After working several projects as an Assistant Superintendent, he recently completed Integra Myst in Deltona as the lead Superintendent under budget and on schedule. As a former baseball player and graduate of the University of North Florida he brings a competitive edge to his approach in his current role as a Project Manager. Bailey Ghazi also joined LandSouth as an Assistant Superintendent. Since joining he was promoted to Superintendent and has completed two successful projects as the lead. He has a strong background in framing which he used recently to lead a training session in Orlando for the company. Both Tim and Bailey are examples of the future in motion and are becoming leaders in the organization.
Emphasis on ELEVATING Others
It goes back to leading by example. Bob describes James Pyle, Founder and CEO, as a genuine, humble, charitable, and true servant leader who sets the tone. The Executive and Leadership teams share his core principles which carries through the entire organization and LandSouth is a better company with more well-rounded people because of it. Bob emphasizes that that leaders need to embrace being challenged and should be open to change. Embracing change and continuously trying to improve is a critical component to the Leadership team.
Bob creates an atmosphere where people understand the importance of their role and understand their impact to the team. Yes, there are rules, structure, and schedules, but that preparedness makes for better results. LandSouth wants people to grow, and by developing them, and potentially promoting them, it is a natural progression of elevation.
Mentoring Simone Frauenfelder
Bob characteristically takes his role as a mentor very seriously. LandSouth has a strategically planned mentoring program that pairs up rising professionals with a mentor to provide feedback and guidance on career elevation. In mentoring Simone Frauenfelder a new Project Manager, he challenges her to have tough conversations for transparent and professional relationships with subcontractors, developers, teammates, and colleagues. She is a hard worker, and her athletic background gives her a drive which was evidenced in her recent win at the Seamark Mud Run. Simone answered Bob’s recent challenge to come up with a team building exercise and she decided to launch the LandSouth Golf League. She is leading this event for peers to join in a group activity in a sport they enjoy.
Beaches Habitat for Humanity
Bob’s affiliation with Beaches Habitat for Humanity is a natural fit for him to help others. Their mission is to build affordable housing for families in need and give them a decent place to live in the Jacksonville Beaches area. Habitat asks its volunteers and homeowners to invest “sweat equity” into the projects. This investment of hard work and helping needy families has drawn Bob to this charity and he’s thankful they let him team up with them.
Bob has taken his affiliation with this wonderful non-profit a step further, by introducing a partnership of high school girls’ athletic teams to Beaches Habitat for Humanity. It is not only a way for the team to work together to help build a home for someone in need, but it also introduces them to the construction industry, which is a path they might not think of taking. The inaugural group was the Bartram Trail Girls softball team, of which his daughter is a member. She and the team, along with Bob and wife, Shannon, spent a morning priming and painting a home. It was a day they will never forget, and maybe there was a spark for a future career in construction. This partnership will continue with other sports teams in the Jacksonville area on a biannual basis.
Life outside of LandSouth
Outside of work, Bob enjoys time with his wife of 21 years, Shannon, and their two children. He enjoys the great outdoors, CrossFit, travel, and building stuff. He enjoys working out with his son who recently graduated from high school and works with a civil contractor in Jacksonville. His daughter is a senior in high school this year and has committed to be Blue Raider and play for the Middle Tennessee State University softball team, so the family will travel to the mountains to cheer her on.
Allegiance and Loyalty
As mentioned earlier Bob is a native of Pittsburgh and he is not shy about sharing his allegiance to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Pittsburgh is known for its hard-working mentality and Steelers fans are loyal to the team. As a LandSouth Executive, Bob McDonald embodies both of those characteristics.
A few words of thanks
Bob said the Division Managers: Joyce Englander, Dan Garner, Kenny Walker all do a great job, and he appreciates the hard work and travel they put in to make the projects successful. All three DM’s were project managers at LandSouth and their diverse background and experience are huge assets to the company.
He also highlighted Mary Tippett, Operations Manager. They both started at LandSouth around the same time, and while they share a strong work ethic, he claims no one can outwork her. She challenges him and he relies on her and appreciates their working relationship.
In turn, Mary Tippett said Bob really cares about his people and this company. She said, “Bob leads with intent and purpose” which cannot be denied.