Pay It Forward: "Stay Flexible and Pivot"
"The advice I’d give to the next generation is to find a place that feels like family and provides opportunities for mentorship and growth," says Michael Taylor, president and CEO of Current Builders.
Michael Taylor, 62, president and CEO of Current Builders in Pompano Beach, FL.
Michael Taylor is the firm’s CEO and president. In addition to an extensive multifamily resume, Taylor has overseen much of the firm’s 15 million square feet of commercial and industrial construction.
Area of expertise or focus: Construction Industry/General Contractor.
What has been the biggest challenge in your particular role, and how have you overcome those obstacles/? One of our biggest challenges is finding employees as there is a shortage of talent nationwide and finding qualified individuals to manage projects has been difficult. We’ve created incentives to attract more talent in an effort to ease the labor issues we’ve been experiencing. There’s been a significant increase in salaries and hourly wages in the past year across all sectors. Our success is driven by our people and by allowing our employees the opportunity for growth and promotions within the company. The loyalty and professional satisfaction of our reputation have led us to become nominated and recognized for many local and industry awards.
What about your current role at the company are you most happy with? I’m grateful to be a part of a team that instills community involvement and philanthropy at its core. Current Builders contributes to charitable organizations including Rebuilding Together, Toys for Tots, Habitat for Humanity, the Dolphins Cancer Challenge and Best Buddies. We’ve celebrated over 16 years of Charitable Giving and have donated over $500,000 to our local charitable organizations to date.
Do you have any advice specifically for the next generation? I joined Current Builders in 1982 following graduation from the University of Florida and have been here ever since, rising through the ranks to become CEO. The advice I’d give to the next generation is to find a place that feels like family and provides opportunities for mentorship and growth. Be sure to find an employer who will build you up with professional development opportunities so you can succeed.
Would you advise any younger person to begin a career in CRE, and what would you advise them to do to get a foothold in the industry? Absolutely, every day will look different and bring a new challenge. Keep moving forward and asking questions so you can continue to learn and grow. There are so many different ways to get involved such as attending networking events, joining regional industry associations, participating in internships and shadowing programs while at a university level. Today there’s a lot more opportunity to connect with people in the industry through the use of networking platforms such as LinkedIn and other social media networks allowing people to create a strong support network in the palm of their hands, something that was not possible when I first started out.
Please share an initiative that you are working on that you are most proud of. Over the past 40 years, I’ve watched the residential and commercial real estate industry evolve tremendously. One major component of this is integrating sustainability efforts into the construction process. We are proud to cut down on material waste and carbon emissions. One way this can be done is by measuring embodied carbon, the carbon emissions associated with the construction process. Measuring the emissions allows construction firms and developers to set a baseline of awareness of their output while working toward offset initiatives to make the development process more sustainable for the future.
In your opinion, what takeaways did we learn from the COVID-19 crisis? The real estate industry and related sectors across the country have seen some of the most unprecedented highs and lows during the past three years. This has brought on challenges but also opened the door for opportunity. The one constant throughout these times is change, and now more than ever, it is of the utmost importance to stay flexible and pivot; two things the construction industry hasn’t always been known to do. There is more pre-planning than before due to supply chain woes and demand becoming much greater than the supply in South Florida in particular, though these factors are impacting construction.
How would you describe your work mindset? I’d describe my work ethic and our company ethos as “delivering on promises.” We take pride in delivering quality work, on time and thoroughly which is why we have worked with clients for decades and continue to do so. I’ve had the opportunity to meet and work with bright individuals who want to grow in this industry and with that, I’ve learned the importance of these traits for myself and how to show them the same.
