Employee Spotlight: Kres Menges, Onsite Construction Manager

From managing active job sites to coordinating subcontractors, owners, inspectors, and project teams, field leadership requires equal parts communication, adaptability, and attention to detail.

This month’s Employee Spotlight features Kres Menges, an onsite construction manager at DeLauter whose work takes him across different locations, project types, and construction challenges. As DeLauter continues to grow, Kres plays an important role in helping projects move forward in the field while maintaining the coordination and communication needed to deliver quality work.

We sat down with Kres to learn more about his experience at DeLauter, what life on the road and job site looks like, and what he has learned throughout his career in construction.

How long have you been with DeLauter, and what first brought you to the company?

Three years in November, I was looking for a national general contractor that would provide the opportunity to travel and work in different locations and various projects on a regular basis.

How has your role at DeLauter evolved since you first started with the company?

As an onsite construction manager my role has basically been the same with the exception of implementing new communication tools and “Teams “meetings into every project with the owners and now the subcontractors helping to alleviate mistakes and project delays.

What has been the biggest challenge traveling throughout and working on various types of projects?

The biggest challenge has been with the ever-tightening budgets, the architects are not producing adequate plans to construct the project as smoothly as in the past. Accurate site surveys are not being performed, many details and specifications are missing, which intern adds extra work and time to everyone’s demanding schedule.

What does a typical day look like for you in your current position?

Arrive and assess the conditions of the site, wait for the subs to arrive and contact the scheduled ones who have not arrived and find out why they are not on site. Open today’s daily report and start documenting all the various items that take place during the day. Participate in whatever “teams” meeting is occurring, work on all the various forms and documents as well as required schedules. Receive questions from the subcontractors investigate and reply to them in a timely manner. Walk with the inspector and document any deficiencies “if any” and get them corrected. Complete the daily report, take pictures, upload both to Builder Trend, turn off the lights lock the gate or door and call it a day.

What do you find most rewarding about your role and the projects you work on?

The certificate of completion, knowing that through the coordination of the team we have provided our client with a quality product that we can all be proud of.

How has DeLauter evolved since you first started, and what has kept you here over the years?

Delauter has grown exponentially in the last three years, it’s the excitement of being with a growing company and its everchanging projects that keeps me in the game and part of the team.

What’s one project or accomplishment you’re especially proud of during your time at DeLauter?

My last project actually. The Live Well animal hospital in Jacksonville, FL. It was a TI project with many intricate pieces built into one, from normal office scenarios to dog wards, surgery rooms, x-ray facilities, treatment and pharmacy areas as well as regular exam rooms each having its unique type of construction and challenges.

What qualities do you think are most important for success in field leadership roles like yours?

Being able to effectively communicate with everyone from laborers and trade partners to architects, developers and owners.

What advice would you give to someone just starting out in construction or new to DeLauter?

Be flexible, remember there is no stupid question, nobody knows everything there is to know about construction you are going to learn something new every day.We all make mistakes, own it, correct it and try not to make the same mistake twice.

When you’re not on the road or on a job site, how do you like to spend your time?

Fishing with my family and friends.

Kres’s perspective reflects the realities of field leadership: staying flexible, communicating across teams, solving problems as they arise, and keeping each project moving toward completion.

As DeLauter continues to take on new projects across markets and locations, team members like Kres help turn plans into finished spaces through consistent coordination, field experience, and a commitment to delivering work the entire project team can be proud of.