Superior Construction CEO: Every Great Mentor Was Once an Apprentice

Nick Largura says it's never too early to invest in the future of the skilled workforce. As CEO of a fourth-generation family business, he is leading the company's next step to inspire careers in construction.

According to an announcement Superior Construction shared with Construction Dive, the company plans to break ground later this year on an in-house facility at its Jacksonville, Florida headquarters, creating a dedicated space for the future workforce.

The two-story, 13,000-square-foot training center will feature classrooms and office space, heavy equipment simulators, and a gym.

Here, Largura discusses with Construction Dive the timing of the facility, its training mission, and the value of the mentorship chain.

Construction Dive: How did the plan for this training facility come about?

Nick Largura:I think there's never a perfect time to make an investment like this, but nevertheless, this plan has been brewing over the past five to seven years. It stems from the need to train successors for an aging generation. Most of our skilled tradespeople are over 40. The number of younger employees coming in is concerning.

That prompted us to launch a leadership development program, which spans both the field and the office, aimed at developing mentors and apprentices, similar to union apprenticeship systems.

But what we're even more proud of is our field and craft employees. We give them real, hands-on experience, allowing them to preview actual work before they even step onto a job site. We believe this experience can spark enthusiasm in a new generation.

Why is focusing on entry-level training and development so important?

We have a strong interest in attracting young people fresh out of school, who might be looking for opportunities during the summer and want a quality experience. We face intense competition for labor, especially in the Florida market. If you take the traditional route into the trades, there's limited annual advancement, which restricts your ability to reach a comfortable financial level.

So, a major goal of ours is to help these employees get a fast start, enabling them to gain more skills and thus earn higher wages. We believe this will act as an accelerator, allowing people to move up to different positions more quickly while filling the pipeline of future talent behind them.

Do you think young people entering construction today are aware of the trades as a career option?

That's a big part of this initiative. When we built our current office building about 25 years ago, we wanted to create a space that would give people a different perception of the industry.

I think by incorporating some new technologies, we can present construction as something that isn't separate from the tech world. The industry still needs to leverage technology more, and that will largely depend on young people who are passionate about implementing new technologies.

I'd say the trades aren't typically the first path people think of. All we want to do is raise awareness of these opportunities, because it's a tough battle.

Can you describe in more detail how the new facility will be used for training?

I would break it down into three categories.

We just welcomed our first group of high school students, who are currently working in temporary modular buildings set up at our facility.

The second category is laborers on site who don't have a skilled trade, and we see their potential. It's a way of saying, "Okay, how do we provide them with opportunities for upward mobility?" We're not just talking about physical labor, but also leadership courses, work ethic, communication, and other essential skills.

The third category is more about office training. I might be critical of this, but it's how the world is evolving: more and more conversations happen through screens. While I think that can be very effective, there's high value in bringing people together, generating collective energy, seeing peers, and sharing "war stories," so to speak. So, the third category is our existing employee base, and we want to continue driving their ongoing learning. This facility will be perfect for that.

You mentioned mentorship as part of the new initiative. Why is that important to you?

This is my family's business. I have several family members who are role models for me. I think for anyone entering this industry, it's important not to feel overwhelmed by the initial lack of knowledge, but to have someone they can follow and grow with.

Our view is that every great mentor was once an apprentice. They once looked up to and aspired to be someone who gave them direction. That's what we mean by the family element. If someone has mentored you, you have an obligation to mentor others.