December 21, 2021

HGC Teammate Spotlight: Toby Wiles, Project Manager

Tell us a little about yourself—How did you get started with a career in construction, and what led you to your current role?

TW: My family had a paving and grading company my whole life and I grew up working with them … it was kind of all I knew! I went to college and thought I wanted to be a lawyer, but a few years in I realized that was not the case, so I got back into construction. I joined a company after college, helping with anything they needed. I didn’t even have a title at the time, but that’s how I got started. Then, I worked for a couple different companies as a Project Manager and Estimator when some connections led me to HGC. I was aware of how strong the culture was and that led me to come over in late 2020.

What do you enjoy most about your role?

TW: The best part about being a Project Manager is the flexibility to split time between having some office days and getting out in the field. I don’t think I could have a job where I just sat at my desk all day and looked at a computer. Being able to get out into the field and interact with the team, being in the dirt and around heavy equipment is always cool.

HGC has five core values – which one do you think is the most important?

TW: Do What It Takes is my favorite. It’s the overall attitude of the company and all the people we work with. From Project Admins to our Operators, Superintendents, and Team Development,  you’re never going to hear anybody from HGC say “that’s not my job.” Everybody is always willing to jump in and help get things knocked out.

Doing What It Takes at the Concord EOC Project

What would you tell someone who is considering a career in the construction industry?

TW: It seems that lately, not many young kids coming out of high school want to go into construction. There is a misperception that it’s a dead-end job or there’s not much opportunity for advancement, but that couldn’t be more wrong. There aren’t many industries that you can come in as an entry-level operator or laborer and work your way up to a skilled operator, foreman, or a superintendent. The advice I would give someone is if they’re willing to work hard, their career is really limitless, especially here at HGC. I’d stress to them that there is a lot more opportunity in the industry than they might think.

What do you think the construction industry will look like in 20 years?

TW: We’re really already seeing it with the advancements in technology. I think our industry is going to become more and more sophisticated, and the jobsite precision will get even better!

What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?

TW: It’s definitely watching the transformation of a project. Seeing an open field or a bunch of trees become a neighborhood for hundreds of families or a large industrial site for our clients is pretty great to watch. Taking a site from bare ground to a finished product has to be the most rewarding thing we do.

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Skybrook Oaks Project

Tell us about one of your favorite projects.

TW: My favorite project has probably been Torrence Ford. It’s not a very large site, but we have been firing on all cylinders there. We have overcome a lot to meet schedule milestones and the customer has been happy with us. We’re providing them with a good product, and we have received our materials on time (which is a big issue right now). It is probably my favorite because of how smoothly it has been running – that isn’t always the case!

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Torrence Ford Project

Describe the culture at HGC.

TW: It’s unlike anywhere I’ve worked before. Do What It Takes definitely applies to the culture here too. Our leadership is unmatched, and they instill a sense of pride and ownership into each of us. HGC is better than anywhere I’ve ever worked.

Closing Thoughts.

TW: It’s super exciting to see where the company is headed. We’re growing like crazy and could really be growing faster. This is a rapidly changing industry, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, but there’s no better company set up to handle the unexpected than HGC.

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