This year, General Superintendent Mike Kaminsky celebrates 40 years with Shannon Construction, a career that has taken him from laborer and carpenter apprentice to leading projects and helping develop the next generation of Shannon’s field team.
Mike’s connection to Shannon Construction actually started before his own career. His father worked for Larson Builders and later Shannon for 40 years. Mike spent summers during high school working in the warehouse, stocking and organizing tools and materials. Larson Builders was founded by the grandfather of Shannon President Ken Schultz, beginning a family construction legacy that now spans four generations.
After high school, he tried a few other things before returning to Shannon in 1986. “My first job as a laborer was at the Grant Building, where we were working on multiple floors,” Mike recalled. A year later, he joined the carpenters union, beginning his apprenticeship at Two Chatham Center on a nine-floor renovation.
From Pagers and Paper to Today’s Jobsites
When Mike started, nearly all of Shannon’s work was in Downtown Pittsburgh. “There were days you would carry your tools through town and visit multiple jobs,” he said. The technology was a little different, too. “The only thing we had when I started were pagers and paper. If somebody wanted you, they would page you, and you had to go find a phone to call them back.”
Today, Shannon’s work extends throughout Western Pennsylvania and beyond, and cell phones, computers and tablets have transformed how projects are managed. But for Mike, the fundamentals of running a good job haven’t changed. “Strong communication skills, the ability to plan ahead, treating people with respect, being able to handle pressure, and having the drive to get jobs done on time and under budget.”
Projects That Stand Out
After four decades, two projects immediately come to mind for Mike. At Cranberry Mall, Shannon replaced approximately half a mile of storefront and sidewalks while keeping every store accessible and working around heavy traffic. Another was the renovation of the center core at Pittsburgh International Airport, which included demolition and the construction of nine new high-end retail stores.
Both required extensive coordination and planning, skills Mike developed by learning from many experienced foremen and superintendents throughout his career. “I took different things from each of them to develop the way I run jobs,” he said. “I also learned a lot about construction and work ethic from my dad.”
Passing It On
Today, Mike is helping the next generation of Shannon’s field team learn the same way he did. His advice is straightforward: communicate with your crew and project manager, plan ahead, keep a good daily log, continue learning and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Most importantly, he believes experienced tradespeople have a responsibility to teach those coming up behind them.
“Teach the apprentices and younger carpenters. They are our future,” Mike said. “I hope a lot of our younger guys are doing this same 40-year interview in the future.”
What Hasn’t Changed
A lot has changed at Shannon since 1986, but Mike says one thing hasn’t. “The way Shannon and the Schultz family treat their employees. I’m now working with the fourth generation, and they have all treated the employees and coworkers very well.”
That is also a big part of what has kept him here for 40 years. “You couldn’t ask for a better place to work or a better family to work for. I’ve been lucky to work with a lot of great people over the years.”
Of course, not every Shannon tradition survived four decades. Mike remembers when employees received a 20-pound frozen turkey and a box of candy for Christmas. George Schultz, Ken Schultz’s father, and Ken would load the turkeys into George’s station wagon and personally deliver them to Shannon jobsites. “It was always fun carrying a 20-pound frozen turkey up the hill from the job to the parking lot at the Civic Arena, or carrying it home on the T.” Some parts of working in construction really have gotten easier.
Congratulations to Mike on an incredible 40 years with Shannon Construction. Thank you for four decades of hard work, leadership and for helping pass that experience on to the next generation. We look forward to the positive impact you will continue to have on the organization.