Meet Eric Richardson, one of JP Cullen’s Ironworker Foreman. Eric has been working at JP Cullen for 16 years.
What sparked your interest in the construction industry?
As a teenager, I always had a side job building houses. I went to college for a year and then took some time off. And I just kept with the building. I went from building houses to building multi-story structures to now. I’m doing equipment moving and rigging. I really enjoy working outside and not behind a desk.
What has been your favorite project?
That’s a tough one. One of my favorites was Epic Building H because it was my first job at JP Cullen where I was in charge of the steel. It was a new experience for me. My new favorite, though, has been a recent project we just completed, the removal of the steeple at St. Patrick’s Church in Janesville. I really liked the challenge of the project and the detail of coordination and overcoming any unknowns.
Who has been the most inspirational to you in your career?
Another tough question. There have been so many, including Chad Schakelman, Mike Frey, Ron Becher, Mark Cullen, and J.P. Cullen. They have all been so supportive of me in my career. Mike Frey was the one who hired me and trained me and has just continued to inspire me to do my best and has always been there when I haven’t.
What do you like best about working at JP Cullen?
Being from Janesville, I’ve always liked what the Cullen family has done for the community. They don’t do it for the recognition of it. I really like how much freedom they give their employees in their roles. They let us come up with our own plan and operations and don’t just tell us how to do it. They’re always open and supportive of new ideas. And then, really, it’s the people at JP Cullen. I really like the entire atmosphere and the teammates we have.
What is your proudest achievement?
In my personal life, it has been raising my three children. I’m happy I’ve been able to watch them grow and be in their lives. In my professional life, it has been working on Epic Deep Space project. It was a really cool project to be a part of. And now taking down the steeple at St. Patrick’s Church. That was awesome. It’s those projects that we don’t always get to do every day. It’s those once-in-a-lifetime projects.
When you have 30 minutes of free time, how do you spend it?
Well, I can’t get in golfing in 30 minutes, so I would go with spending time with my family. I love just sitting down and having a beer with my family.
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