Bob Bolles didn’t grow up planning a career in construction. Like a lot of people in the industry, he found his way into it.
More than 36 years ago, after he and his wife welcomed twin sons, she started an in-home daycare. A conversation there ended up changing everything. One of the dads was a union carpenter. Bob was open to trying something new, gave it a shot, and never looked back.
That willingness to try something new and keep learning still shows up in how he approaches the job today.
On the Job with Bob
As a superintendent, Bob is responsible for keeping everything on track, coordinating crews, managing schedules, and making sure the work is done right. On any given day, that can mean juggling multiple trades, solving problems in real time, coordinating deliveries, documenting project updates, and keeping a close eye on both safety and quality.
“I need to understand all the parts of the process,” Bob said. “Not be an expert in everything, but to know what each contractor needs and how they approach their work.”
That awareness sets the tone on his jobsites.
“When contractors know you understand what they do, they know you’re paying attention,” he said. “And when they know that, the whole job runs better.”
At the same time, Bob brings a sense of humor to the jobsite. It’s that balance, holding a high standard while keeping things approachable, that defines how he leads.
Bob is most driven by the building process. He enjoys figuring things out, solving problems on the fly, and watching a project take shape piece by piece. It’s the progress and excitement of the project that keeps him coming back day after day nearly four decades since he started.
Some of the work he’s most proud of hasn’t been the easiest. Bob has been brought into projects where things went wrong under previous contractors, stepping in to figure out what happened and how to fix it.
“I am proud that I could figure out all the bad and give those owners a functional, safe building in the end,” Bob reflected.
Outside of the job site, Bob’s focus is entirely on his family.
“Family, I’m in,” Bob replied when asked what matters most to him outside of work.
Time at home, projects, birthdays, whatever it happens to be, that’s where he wants to be. This year, that includes a cruise with his wife, his brother and sister-in-law celebrating their 40th anniversary. His mom is joining them on the trip, too.
We’re glad to have Bob on the team, and even more glad for the way he shows up every day.
Lightning Round
- Early mornings or late nights? Early mornings.
- Coffee or energy drinks? Neither. My body rejects both.
- New build or renovation? New builds.
- City or country? Country. More space, less traffic.
- Steak or pork chop? Both, if they’re done right.
- Lake or woods? Lake. Leech Lake.