HUFF EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT: WILL HUFF, SUPERINTENDENT | 25 YEARS OF BUILDING EXCELLENCE

Portrait of Will Huff, Superintendent, with a graphic about his 25th' work anniversary at Huff Construction Company

At Huff Construction, we believe in celebrating our team members who have dedicated their careers to building not just structures but also the very foundation of our company – a commitment to excellence, collaboration, and unwavering integrity. As we mark a significant milestone in our journey, we are delighted to shine a spotlight on one such remarkable individual, Will Huff, who has reached an incredible 25 years of service with our company.

Join us as we sit down with Will, a Superintendent whose dedication, expertise, and unwavering spirit have been instrumental in shaping Huff Construction into what it is today. Throughout his remarkable journey, he has not only overseen countless successful projects but has also played a vital role in nurturing the sense of camaraderie and dedication that defines our Huff Team. Will’s journey is a testament to the power of passion, perseverance, and the lasting impact that one individual can make within a close-knit construction family like ours. Read a little more about Will and his 25-year journey at Huff Construction down below.

Name: Will Huff
Title: Superintendent
Hire Date: 1998

Where are you from?
I am from Modesto, CA

What do you do at work?
I’m a Superintendent – I oversee the construction process, ensuring our projects come to life smoothly, on time, and with top-notch quality.

What did you do before working at Huff Construction?
I was still in high school when I started working weekends at Huff Construction.

So, Will, with the last name ‘Huff,’ do you own the company or are you just a relative of the owners?
No, I’m not related to the owners of Huff Construction. But, as a kid who grew up in Modesto, I would see the Huff Construction job site signs everywhere and I would always joke and tell everyone, “Look, it’s my company over there!”

How did you get your start at Huff Construction?
I owe my start at Huff to Leroy Kinser, a longtime Huff employee. He hooked me up with a weekend job cleaning Duane Huff’s house, which he was building in Oakdale at the time. From there, Duane offered me a summer job after I graduated high school, and my journey with Huff began.

What has been your proudest moment at Huff?
My proudest moment at Huff was when my son worked with me on the Save Mart #1 project one summer after high school. I saw him deal with our trade partners, learn from his mistakes, and handle tough situations.

What is your favorite project that you have built?
That’s hard to put a pin on but if I had to pick one, it would be the Stanislaus Cardiology project off Coffee Road in Modesto because it had a lot of unique finishes and details.

What are your top 5 favorite projects that you have built?
In no particular order:

Which project is/was the most complex?
I would say the project I’m currently working on is the most complex: Lightfighter Village Affordable Veterans Housing in Marina, CA.

What’s your favorite part about working at Huff?
It’s the team! Over the years, I’ve forged incredible friendships and learned invaluable lessons from some truly amazing people. The sense of camaraderie and support here is what sets Huff apart.

How does Huff support you as an employee?
Gary and Brad are amazing owners, and they make sure we have everything we need to do the job correctly. If I have an issue, I know I can call them at any time.

What do you find sets Huff employees apart from people working at other companies?
Our employees are extremely loyal to the company. It’s rare in the construction industry to find individuals who have dedicated over 20 years to the same company, but here at Huff, we have many team members who have reached that impressive milestone.

What advice would you give to someone just starting their career in the construction field?
Keep that phone in your pocket and ditch those last-minute calls to skip work. Trust me, if you can commit to this for a couple of months, you’ll learn a skill that can build a rewarding career. It’s hard work, but it’s incredibly fulfilling.

Are there any construction techniques or technologies that you find fascinating or enjoy working with?
PlanGrid is amazing. The fact that I have a complete set of plans on me at all times saves me so much time in the field. I have access to all my RFI’s and submittals with no lag time and the biggest time saver is the punch list it creates. No more blue tape and notepads to punch a building out.

Who has been your greatest mentor during your career at Huff Construction?
I was trained by some amazing superintendents and have stolen bits and pieces from each of them. They all could be on this list. But Tim Bughi pushed me to become a superintendent and start this path. He told me I was wasting my talent in my then-current position at Huff and he made me Dave Royalty’s (a retired Huff Employee) new assistant superintendent. He was always there for me when I needed help at work or if I needed advice in my personal life. He has taught me so much through the years, and I appreciate everything he has done for me.

What are your favorite things to do outside of work?
Outside of work, I spend most of my time fishing with my son or at the softball field with my daughter. My schedule is usually pretty booked up for my kids’ activities, and I wouldn’t change it one bit.

Any random fun facts about yourself that you can share with us?
In the last six months, I’ve started collecting vintage comic books. It all began as a casual interest, and now I enjoy hunting them down at yard sales during the weekends.

We take this opportunity to express our heartfelt gratitude to Will for his tireless contributions, his invaluable mentorship, and his unwavering commitment to the values that define us as a company. Will’s journey is a testament to the power of passion, perseverance, and the lasting impact that one individual can make within a close-knit construction family like ours. 

Women in Construction 2023

In celebration of Women in Construction Week, we’d like to recognize all the hard-working ladies who are a part of the #HuffTeam.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, women only make up about 10.9% of the construction industry workforce. At Huff Construction, women make up about 33% of our total workforce and we are proud to have women working in diverse roles throughout our company.

a photo highlighting women in construction week at Huff Construction Company. Women flex their arms on the job site.

(Pictured are just a few of the hard-working ladies who work at Huff Construction)

#BuildingExcellence #WIC2023 #womeninconstruction #constructionindustry #wicweek #wic #construction

Employee Anniversaries

We are grateful for another year with these team members who recently celebrated their work anniversaries at Huff Construction:


Connie Ruiz, Project Administrator | 17 Years 🎉
Chris Creedon, Project Manager/GM | 17 Years 🎉
Josh Day, Superintendent | 12 Years 🎉
Jesus Sanchez, Superintendent | 8 Years 🎉
Melisa Fulan, Payroll Clerk | 4 Years 🎉

Thank you all for your dedication and hard work. We appreciate you!
Join us in congratulating these team members.

#HuffTeam #BuildingExcellence #workanniversary

Employee Work Anniversaries

We are grateful for another year with these team members who are celebrating their work anniversaries:

Miguel Lopes, General Superintendent | 11 Years
Fernando Arteaga, Marketing Manager | 6 Years
Steel Rocha, Project Engineer | 5 Years
Garrett Ardis, Project Manager | 4 Years

Thank you all for another year of hard work and your dedication to Building Excellence. Happy work anniversary!

Happy Veterans Day!

Happy Veterans Day from all of us at Huff!

We are proud to support our nation’s veterans through the Saint Andrews Legacy Organization which uses the magic of Saint Andrews and the game of golf to motivate and inspire ill and injured veterans to improve their health, well-being, and stability.

Tom Cosentino, Owner of Huff Metal Buildings, has organized a golf & dinner fundraising event at the Del Rio Country Club over the past 9 years and has raised over $600,000 to support our veterans. Take a look at some of the photos from this year’s event.

Thank you to all the brave Americans who have served our country.

Huff Employee Spotlight: Miguel Lopes, Promotion to General Superintendent

We would like to recognize and congratulate Miguel Lopes on his recent promotion to General Superintendent. Get to know more about Miguel and his experience working at Huff Construction down below.

Name: Miguel Lopes
Title: General Superintendent
Hire Date: 2011


Where are you from?
I am from Turlock, CA

What do you do at work?
I am a Superintendent, Team Leader, Motivator, Supervisor, and Builder.

What did you do before working at Huff Construction?
Before working at Huff Construction, I was working as a turnkey custom home builder and I ran a production framing crew.

How did you get your start at Huff Construction?
I was hired as a part-time restoration & rebuild specialist.

What makes you excited to go to work in the morning?
Knowing that I have an opportunity to continue doing what I love. I’m passionate about building, it doesn’t feel like work to me.

What’s your favorite part about working at Huff?
My favorite part about working at Huff includes working with design teams, developers, and the Huff Team. At Huff, I enjoy coordinating teams as a leader, striving for the highest quality, modifying details to better the project, striving for a zero punch list, and having the ability to make decisions knowing that upper management will continue to support me. At Huff, we are a Team!

How does Huff support you as an employee?
Huff supports us to make appropriate decisions, furthers our training & education, and provides one-on-one mentoring.

What has surprised you about working at Huff?
What surprises me is the diverse array of projects, in industry and scale, that we build. I enjoy being a part of a team that builds different types of projects.

Do you have a favorite Huff quote or mantra?
“The Huff Way”

What projects have you built?
I’ve had the privilege to build many projects over the years but some notable projects include:

The Element Hotel in San Jose, CA

Residence Inn / Fairfield Inn & Suites Dual-Branded Hotel in San Jose, CA

Residences @ The Enclave at Del Rio in Modesto, CA

Turlock Christian Elementary in Turlock, CA

 

What is your favorite project that you have built?
I’ve got two favorite projects: The Turlock Christian Elementary School and The Enclave at Del Rio

Which project is/was the most complex?
The Element Hotel in San Jose, CA was the most complex.
(Pictured below is Miguel standing outside of the Element Hotel while under construction)

What has been your proudest/favorite moment at Huff?
My proudest moment was when I was given the opportunity to be Lead Superintendent at The Element Hotel in San Jose, CA.

What are your favorite things to do outside of work?
My favorite things to do outside of work are spending quality time with my wife and family.

Who or what inspires you?
My father inspires me the most.
(Pictured below is Miguel & his father, Joao Lopes, standing outside of the Residence Inn/Fairfield Inn Dual-Branded Hotel)

Where is your favorite place to eat?
My favorite restaurant is Golden Steer Steakhouse in Las Vegas.

Where is your favorite place to travel to?
My favorite places to travel to are Portugal and Florida.

Huff Team: Employee Work Anniversaries

We are grateful for all of the hard work and contributions of these Huff Team members who recently celebrated their work anniversaries with Huff Construction!

Leroy Kinser, Superintendent | 26 Years
Shella Pennington, Accounts Payable Administrator | 7 Years
Josh Stice, Construction Laborer | 4 Years
Elise Huff, Receptionist | 4 Years
Chris Fitzgerald, Construction Laborer | 1 Year

Thank you all for another year of dedication to building excellence!

Huff Team: Non-Profit Housing Conference

The Huff Team had a great time representing at the Non-Profit Housing Association of Northern California (NPH) annual conference.

We are excited we were able to be involved in such a fantastic event! The Huff team is thankful for all of the new connections we made! We are looking forward to attending NPH next year and hope to attend more events like this in the future!

Huff Team: Employee Work Anniversaries

We are grateful for the following team members who recently celebrated their work anniversaries with our company!

Kevin Ferguson, Superintendent | 17 Years
Ken Marshall, Superintendent | 12 Years
Bobbie Nastro, Project Administrator| 1 Year
Marco Zampieri, Project Engineer | 1 Year

Thank you all for another year of hard work! We appreciate you.

Huff Team Construction Update: Turlock Self Storage

The Huff Team and our Client for the Turlock Self Storage project completed an owner-punch-walk to ensure the quality of our team’s work.

At Huff Construction, we stay true to our founding values of commitment to quality and hard work, and as expected, we got a thumbs up! We are very thankful for the opportunity to build this project and can’t wait to show you all the complete facilities. Stay tuned for final photos of our team’s work.

Please visit the project page to see more of our team’s progress!