Career changes are scary no matter what, but taking the leap to own your own business is a different level of risk. 

Many of us experience a variety of roles in our careers and some of these take place in companies that at first seem great, but then the dysfunctional work culture is uncovered. In today’s episode, my guest and business partner, Michael Parnell describes his journey to owning his own construction business. He dives into his roles on mega projects, working within a dysfunctional work culture, starting his own business, and his passion for nonprofits.

Michael Parnell is a seasoned Project Manager who has worked on well over a half-billion dollars in construction work. He has worked on projects over $100 million dollars such as the RedBull Arena and the Conrad New York Hotel. His negative experience working with The Holder Group led to him starting his own business, MPC Builders. Through MPC Builders Michael donates 10% of each project to the Cure JM Foundation which raises money and awareness for the autoimmune disease, juvenile myositis, which his daughter suffers from. 

Learn about project management of mega projects, owning a construction business, and juvenile myositis on Episode 5 of Constructing Greatness.  

Questions I Ask: 

• How many people are working on projects of this magnitude? (2:00)
• What were your responsibilities as a senior project manager on large projects? (3:40)
• What were your responsibilities as a project engineer? (7:31)
• What was your role in the Holder Group? (12:39)
• When did you decide to open up MPC Builders? (18:13)
• When did you know you wanted to get into the construction management world? (23:39)
• Tell us about how you became an adjunct professor? (29:36) 
• How will Covid-19 change the construction industry? (33:51)
• Tell us about the Cure JM Foundation? (38:24)
• Are you considering starting your own nonprofit? (45:41)
• What do you do outside of work? (50:48)
• What would be your advice for someone that wants to get into the construction industry? (53:58)

In this Episode, You will Learn:

• Michael’s experience working on the Red Bull Arena (2:14) 
• Senior project manager duties on large scale projects (3:52) 
• The beginning of Michael’s construction career (7:35) 
• Michael’s experience as a project engineer (8:13) 
• Michael’s career journey (12:03)
• Michael’s dysfunctional experience within the Holder Group (15:35)
• What led to Michael opening up his company, MPC Builders (21:47)
• What sparked Michael’s interest in construction (23:44)
• How teaching helped Michael overcome public speaking fears  (31:11)
• How Michael thinks Covid-19 will be affecting the construction industry (34:16)
• Michael’s daughter’s experience with juvenile myositis (39:23)
• Michael’s upcoming fundraiser (47:27) 
• Michael and Nicholas’s hiking endeavors and goals (52:19)
• Michael’s advice for people interested in construction (54:26)

Connect with Michael

• Michael’s LinkedIn
• MPC Builders Website 
• Cure JM Foundation
• Support Michael’s Fundraiser 

Let’s Connect!

• LinkedIn
• Instagram 
• Twitter
• MPC Builders - Website
• MPC Builders - Facebook 

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