Another year around the sun, means another Father’s Day is coming to pass. For some, time with their fathers or father-figures can be sparce, but some can spend lots of time together and have lots in common. These four pairs of fathers and sons found their way into the construction industry and now work together at Stevens-Leinweber Construction (SLC). Whether it was by accident or by fate, these fathers and sons are sharing their experiences working together and what effect it has had on their relationship.
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Terry DeMars Sr. began working with SLC 20 years ago, and his son joined him six years in. Terry DeMars Jr. started with the company on a summer job in college but recalls working on projects with his father in their family garage long before that. The pair love working together, talking shop and being able to share and understand each other’s high points and low points. DeMars Sr. says he and his son “play off each other’s strengths, knowledge and experiences.”
What is it like to work with your father/son?
TD Sr.: It’s great to have the ability to have a conversation with another person that has walked in your shoes… through the mud and complicated issues, and through trials and successes while dealing with construction elements, clients and crew members.
TD Jr.: Working with my father has been an amazing addition to my life. Having the chance to start my career with his guidance has been invaluable.
What can working together do for relationships between fathers and sons?
TD Sr.: I believe that it is a rite of passage and responsibility of a father to guide their sons on a path that they choose. TJ chose construction, and I am very proud of and humble about that. Every day that I receive a phone call from him, asking for advice or information, it makes me feel happy.
TD Jr.: I believe that working together has helped to build and maintain a good relationship between us. I have many friends who rarely speak to or see their fathers, except on special occasions. Having the commonality of work helps keep us closer.
How do you balance the family relationship and the working relationship?
TD Sr.: My son and I have never struggled with balancing work and family. We have high expectations and respect for each other, and we have very clear, unspoken rules on when to talk about work and when it’s family time. Basically, our loving wives tell us that we need to go to the garage to talk about work. SLC’s family culture supports our relationship as well. They are family first.
TD Jr.: Why rewrite something that was already written well. I’m going to take the easy path here and steal what my father has already said!
What can fathers and sons learn about each other by working together?
TD Sr.: For me it was more of a confirmation that the apple does not fall very far from the tree. TJ has a strong aptitude for creativity and thinking outside the box.
TD Jr.: I’ve learned how strong my father’s work ethic is, but with the ability to always keep family at the top of the list. This is a skill that means a lot more to me now that I am a father as well.
Terry Sr., did you always want your son to follow in your footsteps?
TD Sr.: I was always hopeful that he would show interest in what I was doing, based on his upbringing. I also understood that he had his own choices to make. I smile when I see him go through life with confidence, and a similar smile.
(Funny true story: SLC upper management asked me many years ago if I could clone myself because they needed young new Superintendents in order to grow and keep up with market demand. So, I introduced them to TJ, my son. End of story… or the beginning!)
Terry Jr., did you always want to follow in your father’s footsteps? Why did you?
TD Jr.: As a child I did and still today I continue to look up to my father and want to be like him. This desire to emulate my father helped me learn many skills that I first used at other jobs and adventures in my life. That the journey led me to SLC to work alongside my father was really just a happy accident. Truthfully, I don’t believe it was ever a conscious effort to follow alongside my father this closely, but it is something that I am happy happened.
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John Barnes and son Robert have officially worked together for 11 years but have unofficially worked together for nearly all of Robert’s 33 years on the earth. John says, “He’s been in the field since he was too young to be in the field.” Robert remembers being “the gopher,” “clean-up guy” and anything else he needed to be to help his dad before having the opportunity to officially work with him at SLC. Now, they are both happy and grateful to be working together whether it is Robert calling his dad for advice on a project or pairing up on an extra project outside of work.
What is it like to work with your father/son?
JB: I got to work with and train Robert briefly when he was first hired on at SLC. I like to think I’m a good resource that he can always reach out to.
RB: So much fun. My dad taught me a work ethic that I have rarely seen in my generation, and we always have fun. We can work nonstop but it never feels like it. Sure, I’d be tired and sunburned at the end of the day, but we’d have always had a good laugh about something.
What has working together done for your relationship?
JB: We’ve always been super close since he was a kid. Working together at SLC has only enriched that.
RB: Working together has made our relationship stronger than ever. We both can relate to the other when work goes wrong or right. It’s fun to brag back and forth on the progress of our different projects.
How do you balance the family relationship and the working relationship?
JB: It’s all mixed together, honestly. Things blend between family life and day-to-day.
RB: Sometimes it comes naturally, and we both turn off work mode and enjoy family time. Other times you just work until the job is done.
What can fathers and sons learn about each other by working together?
JB: Robert is a lot smarter than me when it comes to technology.
RB: My dad can multitask, lead and problem solve at a record pace. At home he doesn’t need to rush or make a decision asap, so to see how fast and decisive he is at work is fun.
John, did you always want your son to follow in your footsteps?
JB: I wanted Robert to aspire to do whatever he wanted to do to make him happy. I’m glad that I had the opportunity to help him join this company and grow with it. But as a kid I had no idea what he would end up doing.
Robert, did you always want to follow in your father’s footsteps? Why did you?
RB: I wanted to follow in my father’s work ethic more than his career. However, once he gave me a chance with SLC, I knew this was the path I wanted to take. I have the chance that not every son gets – I get to work and learn from my dad every day. Time with him can never be replaced, and I consider him my best friend. Who wouldn’t want to work with their best friend all day?
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Andrew Garza grew up in the construction industry and at SLC. He remembers going to Christmas Parties and working in high school there to save up and buy his first car. It was only natural that when he “needed a job and wanted a career” his dad, Ted, directed him back to SLC. After years of working together, the pair is pleased to know they have common interests.
What is it like to work with your father/son?
TG: We don’t work together directly but I love working with him when I can. Training my son was the most time we’d spent together. I loved making fun of what he wore every day.
AG: We don’t work alongside each other, but I trained under him 18 years ago and learned the foundations from him.
What has working together done for your relationship?
TG: We have a deeper bond because of construction and it’s always fun to teach your son lessons.
AG: It has made our relationship stronger.
How do you balance the family relationship and the working relationship?
TG: We keep it to fun talk… sharing information about the trade.
AG: We keep it separate.
What can fathers and sons learn about each other by working together?
TG: We think a lot alike. Andrew takes a joke well.
AG: My dad is a detail-oriented man. He’s also the best Superintendent I’ve ever seen, and I’ve worked with a lot of them. I’m not just saying that because he is my dad. He sees things before another person even thinks of doing them.
Tad, did you always want your son to follow in your footsteps?
TG: I never thought Andrew would follow in my footsteps. He went to ASU (Arizona State University), and I didn’t expect him to end up in construction. But I’m glad that he did. As a dad, it’s nice to have someone in the same field as you.
Andrew, did you always want to follow in your father’s footsteps? Why did you?
AG: Actually, I originally wanted to be a police officer. I tried but the economy was a mess, and in the end, I realized SLC was the best place for me.
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For Tad and Kolby Mentzer, their official working relationship started with one specific project about five years ago. Tad was working on SLC’s ground up division which at the time was brand new, according to Kolby. His dad brought him on to assist and Tad says, “He’s been here ever since and is a great addition to the team.” Kolby says they both enjoy getting to work together.
What is it like to work with your father/son?
TM: It is great! I love it.
KM: I know who he is and how things go, and that makes it quite easy.
What can working together do for relationships between fathers and sons?
TM: Working together has brought us closer.
KM: Working for the same company has given us more time together… and another topic to bond over.
How do you balance the family relationship and the working relationship?
TM: We’ve always had a great relationship, so adding the working aspect is an easy addition.
KM: We don’t really find ourselves needing to balance because we get along so well. He’s my father and someone I’ve looked up to my whole life.
What can fathers and sons learn about each other by working together?
KM: My old man is incredible at his job, and I hear it all the time from subs letting me know how easy and fun it is to work for him. It makes me want to run jobs well, as he has for such a long time.
Tad, did you want your son to follow in your footsteps?
TM: Whether my kids would follow in my footsteps never really crossed my mind. I will support whatever path my kids take in life 100%. If this is the path my son wants to take, I will support it.
Kolby, did you always want to follow in your father’s footsteps? Why did you?
KM: I did not expect to follow in his footsteps, but life doesn’t always follow our plan. He helped me get a job and learn good life skills. That is not something you find every day.
