In this on-going Q&A series, go Inside Baldwin General Contracting to get a closer look at the dedication and attention to detail that goes into each individual project, while also recognizing the talented people – Project Managers, Project Engineers, and fellow staff members – who have helped build BGC into an industry leader throughout the Pacific Northwest.
Connor Spevacek knows a thing or two about building things, including his own career path.
From the kid who once assembled LEGO sets and dreamed of building bridges to becoming a Project Engineer at Baldwin, Connor’s own development in general contracting over the last three years is a steady reminder about the opportunities that await, and hard work always pays off.
“Having the ability to be a part of something bigger and leaving a footprint with my professional career has always been my focus. I now get to work with amazing teams not only within the walls of Baldwin but with architects, engineers, and owners to deliver beautiful projects,” Connor said.
“There is a special feeling when we get to hand over the project at the end…it serves a reminder as to why I do what I do.”
With 2025 officially upon us, the year ahead is already looking bright with bids and projects taking shape in Oregon and Washington thanks to Baldwin’s Executive team, Leadership team, and Project team, which Connor is proud to be a part of. Along with sharing the valuable lessons he’s learned since joining Baldwin and helping work on the largest project in Baldwin history, Connor also takes a ride down memory lane by making his own impact on the campus of Oregon State in the latest installment of “Inside Baldwin General”.
You have a pretty diverse background working in construction, along with building your career in the business since your time with Baldwin. How did you get your start in construction?
Construction was instilled in my blood from a young age visiting my great grandpa in Montana and all the projects he built purely because there was no option but to figure it out in the middle of Montana. Before I was ever even able to build with my dad I would build with LEGO sets, including making a replica of my family’s house when I was 8, foreshadowing my future in the industry. I then grew up building miscellaneous projects with my dad in his shop and progressing to decks, fences & interior remodels.
I was initially pulled to Civil Engineering due to my immense fascination with bridges which lead me to go to college for it. While in college I worked at Lowe’s as a sales specialist & supervisor in which I began to have the desire to work for a general contractor begin to come into lens as I helped families’ dreams turn into reality. I found an opportunity at Baldwin General as the Warehouse Manager where I was able to develop the field perspective of construction. As I progressed, I opted to move into an estimating role with Baldwin for a couple years where I had the unique opportunity to soak up invaluable knowledge from some of the incredible minds we have here at Baldwin. With a constant desire to learn and expand my opportunities I recently made the transition to the project team side of things to continue to become an asset to the company. I now get to live out the dreams of my younger self by building LEGOS in real life.
How did those previous work experiences and responsibilities shape you professionally and personally?
Having the ability to be a part of something bigger and leaving a footprint with my professional career has always been my focus. I worked with families at Lowe’s by helping pick out flooring, appliances, and finding other creative solutions to challenges for customers. I realized the ability to work through new challenges on a multitude of projects and providing a finished product that the owner will admire for years to come, helped bring me the satisfaction I was searching for in a career. Merging this with my engineering mindset I truly feel like I have found my home with my career in general contracting. I now get to work with amazing teams not only within the walls of Baldwin but with architects, engineers, and owners to deliver beautiful projects.
Why was it the right time for you to join the staff in 2021 and what did you learn the most in that first year working as an Estimating Coordinator and Warehouse Manager?
A large part of why I ended up at Baldwin was really due to a typo on my resume and our business manager’s persistence on getting me in for an interview. The Lord works in mysterious ways, and I am incredibly grateful for the blunder I made that resulted in me coming to Baldwin. In my first year the staff at Baldwin was about a third of the size that it is now. We have had tremendous growth since then. Three main things became abundantly clear right away when I joined Baldwin. One is relationships, working together and having good relationships with those you are working with is pivotal. Two is communication and over communication, I have learned that it is better to have clear and concise information repeated multiple times rather than letting something slip through the cracks due to lack of communication. The final piece that has helped launch my knowledge and value is simply attention to detail. Making sure every note and detail has been accounted for helps daylight potential problems ahead of time to allow for timely resolutions.
Baldwin has thrived over the last four years, and you have been a big part of that as you now serve as a Project Engineer. What are some of the projects you are most proud to have worked on or grew attached to?
My first project that comes to mind is being part of estimating the Nuovo Apartment building in Bellevue, Washington. It is the largest project in Baldwin history and I love that I can say I played a minor role in making it happen. I have multiple friends in Bellevue that I have been able to tour around the site and show them a small glimpse of what I do for work. The other project is the Dixon Recreation Center. This one was very personal for me as I remember my older brother, Tyler, pulling me around Dixon when I was just 12 years old thinking I was the coolest kid on Oregon State’s campus. This project was one of my first big opportunities to prove my worth as a lead estimator for the very same offices my brother worked in.
As a Project Engineer, is there such a thing as having a favorite part of a project: the beginning, middle, or end?
I truly do enjoy the organized chaos at the start of projects. This is especially true on short-term projects where we have to give everyone the heads up that we have to operate fast out of the gates to hit deadlines. From there you essentially grab everyone by the hand and start sprinting. This creates fast paced, high stakes environments that bring out my competitiveness to work against the clock. With that being said, there is a special feeling when we get to hand over the project at the end. The staff gets to see their new space for the first time and we get to witness the overwhelming joy that overcomes them. It serves a reminder as to why I do what I do for work.
What are some challenges you’ve faced in your role and how do you overcome those?
The role I am in at Baldwin requires a great deal of patience. As a GC we can be the connection point for dozens of companies and hundreds of people on any given project. With this there is a wide array of personalities that we will come across and each person takes great pride in their work. It is our responsibility as the GC to not only be able to navigate these obstacles but also help provide a resolution that not everybody will necessarily agree with, but that they can at least all buy into with the greater good of the project in mind.
Yohn has said time and again that, “the people who work here are the company’. Knowing the industry can be competitive, what do you feel makes the company different from the competition around the Pacific Northwest?
The team atmosphere here at Baldwin is impeccable. The reality of being younger without as much experience in the industry, it is quintessential that I am able to swallow my pride, admit that I need help and am able to go to any one of my teammates that knows better than me. I have never once felt as though I was burdening anybody on our team whether it is a quick question to those who are the next desk over to me or a lengthier phone call with someone in our Washington department. Everyone has embraced a collaborative atmosphere that is the backbone to Baldwin’s growth, both past and present.
With 2024 out the door, are there any current projects that you are excited to see come to life next in 2025?
We are coming close to delivering our Family Tree Relief Nursery here in Albany. With the vision of Family Tree, I believe the impact this building will have on the community will be felt for decades to come. We have been able to continue to strengthen our relationship with Varitone Architecture in a great feat of collaboration on this project that I look forward to continuing into even more projects this coming year as well as other irons in the fire across the Pacific Northwest.
To learn more about Baldwin General Contracting or for any questions, connect with Baldwin on the company website or on social media at Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
