10 Questions with Thomas Quesenberry
08/27/2024
At Perlo, our people are the secret to our success. Whether at a jobsite or in our office, we have a culture that encourages open dialogue and collaboration. This dedication to the spirit of partnership is reflected throughout our company and is a major reason Perlo is consistently recognized as a top place to work in Oregon.
Today, we sit down with dedicated team player Thomas “Tommy” Quesenberry, Vice President and Partner. Tommy works closely with our project managers and clients to build lasting relationships and hone future leaders. Join us as we talk more with Tommy about what he loves about Perlo!
What is your role at Perlo?
I’m a Vice President and Partner here at Perlo. I, along with the others on the Executive team, work together to oversee the day-to-day business. My specific focus is mostly on operations. Chris McInroe and I work with our project teams to make sure they have what they need. This includes everything from project pursuits, preconstruction efforts, project execution, and all the way through the closeout process. Our project teams are what make Perlo great.
How did you get started in construction?
I have always loved building things and solving problems, so I went to Oregon State for Engineering, not really knowing what exactly I wanted to do. I transferred to Portland State University to compete in wrestling for a bit, where I met some friends who were in the construction industry. Through them, I discovered the Construction Engineering Management program, and that became my path. After college, I worked for Currie & Brown out at Intel and Andersen Construction before coming to Perlo. There were a few folks that I had previously worked with who came to Perlo and wouldn’t stop raving about how great the people and culture were. I finally joined Perlo in 2017, and the rest is history.
What do you consider to be our most important “Perlo Practice” and why?
I’m all about Perlo Practice #1: Do what’s right. I was raised with a very similar mentality to always work and act like someone is watching. The world is a small place, and the construction industry is even smaller. I want to be known for doing what’s right and as somebody people can trust. Perlo is the same way. I’ve worked with some good companies in the area, but one thing that I think really stands out with Perlo is our commitment to choosing good people. Our people do what’s right, not because they’re told to, but because it’s their gut reaction, their instinct. It makes you proud of your work.
How do you see the industry evolving in the near future and what can Perlo do to adapt to these changes?
Things are always evolving and changing. I’m a big believer in keeping a pulse on new equipment, software, or technology, but we need to be sure it adds value to our projects. I like what the book “Good to Great” by Jim Collins, says about technology: you don’t have to be the first to do something, but be the best. First, crawl, then walk, then run. Perlo is all about quality, so if a new product or process will make our projects better, we need to be adaptable and willing to learn. If it’s just about being on trend, though, we need to be careful.
What is your pet peeve?
Failure to follow through. If you say you’re going to do something, you not only need to do it, you need to see it through to the end. In our world, there are a lot of moving parts, and time is of the essence; people have to trust that you can get it done and push the process. You can’t just be a role player; you need to be someone who takes action and initiates progress – even if it’s not in your lane. Make it happen. Get it closed.
What do you like to do for fun?
I’m all about family time, being outside, and barbecuing. I’m not a competition chef by any means, but food is a great way to bring people together. My kids are all old enough now to be social with us, too. I’ve really enjoyed getting to golf together, travel, and hang out with other families with them. If we’re not chauffeuring them to sports or school stuff, we’re finding something fun to do as a family.
What or who inspires you?
For me, everything I do is for my family. I do what I can to support them, build them up, and make opportunities for my kids. I want to be proud of what I’ve done for them, and I hope they can be proud of me. I’m not big on idolizing a single person; I’m much more about helping my team, whether I’m at home or at work. At the end of the day, they’re who you grind for.
What advice would you give to someone wanting to enter the construction industry?
Stay hungry and build up a strong work ethic. We can teach you all the skills you need to do your job well, but if you don’t have the drive, you’re going to struggle in this field. Construction has a lot of moving parts and a lot of options for navigating a single process, and you can easily get lost in the shuffle if you don’t apply an almost entrepreneurial mindset. That sounds daunting, but it can also be really exciting. You can be creative in everything you do as long as you see things through.
We work with a lot of personalities in this job, too. Develop ways to find common ground with even the most difficult teammates. After that, just be adaptable. You can gain a lot of experience really quickly, but application can be difficult. No job is ever exactly the same as the last, and no problem is ever exactly the same as the last time you saw it.
How do you handle high-pressure situations or heavy workloads?
I like to take everything one step at a time. There are so many moving parts and details on our projects that you can easily spend months just looking at a single aspect of that project. We have to prioritize and keep things moving, though, and a lot of times, there are bumps in the road that are out of our control. That can seem really overwhelming when task after task is building up while the clock is ticking, but I like to start with making sure the client is happy; then I see how we can get today done. I’ll choose somewhere to start and just start grinding. When things get heated or others start screaming, I try to be as calm as possible. A clear head can influence the rest of the room to calm down and focus on solutions.
Why Perlo? What makes us unique?
I’ve got to know the industry pretty well, and I think we truly have the best culture, the best teams, and the best group dynamics. We really embody the work hard, play hard mindset, but more than that, we take care of our people. This is a hard, stressful industry, but if you can care about your people and feel proud of your work, that’s amazing. I also really appreciate how everyone at Perlo truly has a voice. When I first started, people would ask me for my opinion even if I wasn’t directly tied to the situation. They wanted to know if I had a different way of doing something and if it could help. Knowing that you have the ability to really make a difference is how you build stronger, tougher, more experienced teams than any other company.
Final Thoughts
Thank you, Thomas, for taking the time to share more about your career and path to Perlo.
If you’re interested in opportunities to work with Perlo, check out our Careers page today.