Shane Saltzgiver

Growing up as the son of a handyman and GC, I fell in love with construction and working with my hands at a young age. At the start of my career in GC and electrical contractor project management, I experienced the beauty and pain of project delivery. Our industry is so rich in what it provides to our communities yet there is so much waste and room for improvement. I started VEC with the goal of us being a leader in this needed change, challenging the status quo, helping the best build better, and creating enjoyable and fulfilling AEC careers. My personal 'why' has really only just begun.

One of my most memorable customer experiences stories occurred near the end of one of our early mega projects. I was in a meeting with our client, one of the large contractors on the project, and I asked for feedback on my team's performance and how the client is performing on the project (the true metric of our success.) He leaned back in his chair and said, "I probably shouldn't tell you this, but it shouldn't be this easy." I took out my journal and wrote it down immediately as this was the first major validation that we ARE improving project delivery and making work more enjoyable for our clients.

Well, I probably have 1000+ amazing memories with the VECrüe so here are a few that come to mind! Living/traveling in a motorhome with my wife working together to start the company. Our first office (aka storage closet) at SFO and finally moving into a legit office on the SF waterfront. Companywide retreats, pool parties, hangouts. Trips to Ukraine and Brazil. Late evenings with the team at HQ. The new hire 'build-a-chair' test (early days) and famous employee toast/quote "from building a chair to building an empire!" Golfing with the team and watching first-timers play their first round. Conferences and escapades. Global milestone celebrations. Better Together!

Know what it is that you personally want to achieve or become, believe you can achieve it, find the right environment/team to support your personal journey, then give it everything you've got. If you want to achieve above average results, first give above average effort.

Working with my hands for my dad on residential projects. I learned that technique and the right tool for the job makes all the difference. I'll never forget swinging a sledge hammer all day trying to break a concrete pad and barely making a crack, then my dad swings it a few times and said "see, you just need to start from the corner."

Hanging in the backyard with my family.

Drums, rock 'n' roll, golf, skiing.

Limitless ability to pursue the vectors we choose.