At Raymond, we have outstanding employees, so we decided to feature some of them on our blog. We’d like to highlight Mark Kennedy, Senior Project Manager in Las Vegas. Mark started with Raymond in 2002, working in our warehouse. He transitioned into project management and is now running several projects: The Summit Clubhouse, Bellagio Spa Tower Room Remodel, Elara Build-out, and the Rio Ipanema Tower Remodel.
We sat down with Mark to learn more about him and his time at Raymond.
What do you like most about working in construction? The days are different, no monotony. There is always an issue that needs to be addressed or fixed. It’s rewarding to figure that out as a team.
What have been the most significant changes that you have seen over your years in the industry? The importance of safety and getting the crew back home to their families each night. It costs more money, but that money spent is invaluable.
Have there been any challenges on your current projects and how have they been overcome? Yes, many. Design changes have proved to be costly for many trades. Working through how they have impacted Raymond, getting new approval from the general contractor and Owner, and working out how to recover any costs have been quite the task!
Three words to describe Raymond: Family, integrity, and growth.
What has been your favorite project with Raymond and why? All the work we did at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. We were there for a few years doing various remodels of the rooms and many of the venues. The owner’s rep became a mentor to me and taught me so many things that I am very grateful for.
Photo Credit: The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas Room Remodel Images
Are you working on any personal passion projects? I’m training to run (let’s be real, jog) a half marathon. I’ve never been a fan of running, but a few people have inspired me to do this.
What’s the best thing about your job? The people. Whether it’s an employee from Raymond, the general contractor, or owner. People come from all backgrounds and it’s great to hear different stories and takes on things. Our world is filled with some amazing people.
What is your proudest moment at Raymond? I’ve driven thousands of miles while working for Raymond with only one speeding ticket and no accidents!
What is the most challenging part of your job? I guess it conflicts with the best thing about my job. The people😉
How would you describe your career progression at Raymond? Awesome and humbling! I started out in our warehouse not knowing a single thing about construction. Some days, I still feel like I don’t know a single thing about it. But I’ve learned from the smartest and best mentors in the industry.
What is the best advice anyone ever gave you? Follow the Boy Scout law. Be someone that is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent.
What advice do you have for prospective Raymond candidates? Be honest. Your integrity holds a lot of weight.
What do you like doing when you’re not at work? Anything with my family. We enjoy camping (well, my wife doesn’t), snowboarding, golfing, bonfires, and swimming.
Before working at Raymond, did you have any other interesting jobs? Lifeguard at the Luxor pool. Not as cool as you would think.
What inspires you? Knowing that God has a plan for all of us. We just need to learn about Him and follow the best we can and love each other for who we are as humans.
What’s one thing you couldn’t live without? Knowledge of God and my family. They mean everything to me. And tacos.
What is the best place you have traveled to and why? Alaska has always been on my list of places to go, and I was able to go a few years ago. I want to do an Alaskan cruise, but my wife says I’ll have to do it alone since she is more of the tropical type. I’m working on her though.
What country do you want to visit but haven’t? Germany. Both my wife and I have ancestors from there. I took German in High School (should’ve done Spanish because I only know the bad words😉) and learning about its culture was the highlight of the class.
What meal could you eat every day? Tacos, or really anything Mexican.
What’s your idea of a perfect day? Relaxing in the woods and cooking over the fire for my family.
How do you balance your career and your family? My wife taught (told) me to leave work at work and home at home. She taught me that lesson after a soccer game for one of my sons. I used to coach and after a game I was yelling at one of my sons because of his performance. She told me to look at him because he had tears in his eyes. On the field, I was Coach and he listened to everything I said no matter what. But it came across different once I was back to Dad.
What is something most people don’t know about you? I’m not good at it, but I am an amateur astronomer. And I mean very amateur. I’ve owned a couple telescopes and love to look at the moon, Saturn, Jupiter and other celestial objects. We melted one telescope as we pointed it at the sun, so it reflected on the brick wall in our backyard. You could see the sun’s spots, but then we quickly realized what had happened. Expensive lesson learned.
What is the most spontaneous thing you’ve done? We took our kids to meet the entire Real Salt Lake soccer team. We picked them up from school without their prior knowledge and drove six hours, then spent the next day waiting to meet them and get their autographs. We were first in line. Awesome memories that we still talk about to this day.
