From a young age, Aaron was mechanically inclined. At the top of almost every year’s Christmas list included something from Craftsman.
You could say that this might have been the start of his career – through the years he became adept at fixing bikes, lawnmowers, and “fixing” the alarm so he could sneak out at night.
After high school, Aaron began a career in the equipment rental business. From renting a single shovel to outfitting an entire worksite with top-notch equipment, he was immersed in the world of construction and more importantly the sophisticated cost structures involved. It’s working with big budgets and meticulous business owners that forged his reputation for being open, honest and not afraid to lay out rental vs. cost of ownership plans.
It was in this role that Aaron’s understanding of process, price and productivity made him stand out. His customers big and small appreciated his breakdown of costs, timeline and helping them sort out a plan that would fit their budget and project size.
With his invaluable experience in the equipment rental market, Aaron entered a new chapter in his life – moving to Illinois and working as a project manager with Miller Trucking and Excavating, a cornerstone pre-construction outfit serving the Quad Cities area on the Illinois and Iowa border.
At Miller, Aaron worked closely with the owners to help grow and monetize their service offerings. Where the company would typically take on projects dealing with earthworks and utilities, they now had a trusted manager in Aaron to estimate and plan more ambitious projects and ultimately grow their business. In the five years Aaron worked for Miller Trucking and Excavating they doubled in size and added a concrete recycling plant which opened up new business opportunities for the company.
In 2007, Aaron returned home to Spokane to go to work for Vandervert Construction. At Vandervert, Aaron was exposed to the world of commercial real estate development, tenant improvements and large ground up commercial projects. Aaron estimated and ran projects in every sector of commercial construction to include but not limited to: Retail space, Class A office space, restaurants, fast food, churches, athletic centers, malls & related tenant improvements, medical, dental and chiropractic spaces.
Aaron worked for Vandervert for over 11 years starting as a project manager and finishing up as a senior project manager. In those 11 years he successfully estimated and completed over 90 million dollars worth projects in the Pacific Northwest. Those projects ranged from $25,000 tenant improvements to the Whitworth Recreation Center valued at over 7 million.
