Meet Mike Hume—Project Manager Extraordinaire
On this episode of NS Builders Podcast, I sit down for a conversation with Mike Hume—who has proven to be not only a talented and capable project manager and the employee who’s stuck with me the longest, but also a good friend. I genuinely like the guy and respect his insight. We talk about Mike’s history with the company and what he enjoys most about working for NS Builders.
FROM SMALL BEGINNINGS
Mike and I had met at JLS, and then later he commented on something I had posted on Instagram, and I said, “Hey, when are you gonna send me your resume?” And the rest is history! Mike came on board as a carpenter in December of 2016 and has worked his way up to a project manager. Honestly though, I can’t put him in a box with a single “project manager” title—I think “master of all” would be much more accurate regarding his skillset and abilities. He’s had my back as NS Builders has evolved and grown into the company it is today—I couldn’t have done it without him!
THE FREEDOM TO ASK QUESTIONS
I know what I’m thinking in terms of where I see myself and my business growing, but I wanted to get Mike’s thoughts on moving forward and what makes him most excited about working with the NS Builders team.
“I guess with everything that we’re doing, it’s always like pushing the envelope… constantly trying to improve on everything that we do,” Mike said.
And I couldn’t agree more. We’re never content; we’re continually reviewing and doing a deep dive into what we could improve upon. And allowing everyone the freedom to ask questions is what works for us: “Is this the best way? Can we tear this detail apart and figure out a really cool way to accomplish something even better? Should we rip it out and start fresh? How would we do it differently?”
Coming to work doesn’t always have to feel like “work”—especially when you get to use your brain and your hands, meeting the challenge of coming up with creative and innovative solutions to tackling a project. Always learning something new keeps you on your toes.
“That’s always kind of been our goal from the beginning,” Mike said, referring to our work environment where we actively promote open and honest communication. We want employees to feel free to express their concerns, question methods or the standard way of doing things, and offer suggestions. It’s crucial to success.
MOVING FORWARD
Mike has proven adept at making the transition from carpenter to a project manager, but he hasn’t forgotten his days of swinging a hammer. “I feel like everybody that’s a carpenter, like they always have that passion for doing it,” Mike said. But life moves forward, not backward, and you have to adjust and adapt. Although moving into the management side has been challenging, what Mike loves most about it is “figuring all this stuff out.”
Whether on-site or in the office, Mike uses his carpentry background to approach problems, determining a different way—a faster or better way—to elevate the work from acceptable to outstanding. And what I appreciate most about Mike is his ability to become whatever is needed—keeping clients happy, keeping projects on track and on budget, training assistant managers, building up the team, and keeping up with the never-ending to-do list to meet deadlines. It’s not an easy job and requires tremendous focus and follow-through.
NS Builders isn’t slowing down—in fact, we’re busier than ever. And I know I’ll reach my personal goals as well as those for my business with guys like Mike Hume at my side. Surround yourself with talented people who love the craft as much as you do, and you’re sure to have success!
It’s time to discover what NS Builders can intentionally craft for you! Contact us today to get started on your custom dream home. Together, we can make it happen.
—Nick Schiffer