Careers in Construction Month: Rick Hook still works on a campus – just in a different role

Rick with wife Deb, and children Harper (8) and Lincoln (4)

Kitchell Senior Project Manager Rick Hook grew up in Chicago and was exposed to the construction industry by working for a few trades throughout high school and college. Since he wasn’t sure what he wanted to do with his career, he majored in education. After getting his degree from Calvin College in Michigan, he worked for about eight years teaching subjects such as social studies, geography and history. When Rick’s wife, Deb, decided she was ready to start a family, she told Rick he needed a career with more moneymaking potential than teaching.

“We were both teachers, first in the UK and then in California, then in Seattle. And when you want to start a family – of which I was told in no uncertain terms we were going to do – I knew I had to do something else to pay the bills,” Rick said.

Rick attended night classes at the University of Washington, obtaining a certificate in Construction Management. In 2011, Rick’s brother, Kitchell Project Director Ryan, called to say there was an opportunity to work on a Banner Desert project in Arizona. Since coming on board that year as a Project Engineer, Rick has worked on a succession of award-winning Kitchell landmarks, including Chandler Regional Medical Center, Phoenix Children’s Hospital and eventually the University of Arizona Health Sciences Innovation Building in Tucson. Put in a leadership role to manage that project, Rick realized how the skills he used in teaching transferred to a career in construction.

“When you’re a teacher, there are many different personalities,” he said. “How I talk to one student may not work for another, so I need to adjust. Working and talking in front of a group is second nature when you’re in the classroom. A lot of the soft skills – managing, mentoring, communicating – they all transition nicely.”

Now Rick is back on campus managing the University of Arizona’s Grand Challenges Research Building, with a Kitchell team of 12 and project workforce of about 175 people.

“I do love this job,” Rick said. “I love that it’s new, interesting and unique every single day. I love the challenging projects and feel completely blessed to have worked on them. They’re great and interesting, and it’s ever a dull moment. We have a great collection of people, super teams and coworkers who aren’t only that, but become part of your lives.”

Suffice to say, Rick was “hooked” on a career in construction. Who do you know who would be a good fit at Kitchell?

Kitchell Development breaks ground on Elliot 94 industrial distribution complex

Kitchell Development recently commenced construction on Elliot 94, a Class A industrial distribution complex located at the northwest corner of 94th Street and Elliot in Mesa, Ariz.

Elliot 94 will be a 214,548-square-foot encompassing two buildings with modern functionality including 30-foot clearance, ample parking and efficient use of natural light. Located in the prime Elliot Road technology corridor, the project is directly south of the Meta Data Center campus and near Amazon and Apple locations in the East Valley. It is anticipated to be complete by March 2023.

“With the average tenant size of 80,000-plus square feet, Elliot 94 will be ideal for enterprise companies looking to have an expansive, full-service location with both warehouse and administrative space,” said Kitchell Senior Director of Development Kevin Miller.

Elliot 94 is a joint venture of Phoenix-based Kitchell Development and Park Ventures of Manhattan Beach, Calif. The project was designed by Butler Design Group and is being constructed by Nitti Builders, with financing provided by UMB. Leasing is being handled by CBRE.

“The Elliot Road corridor is clearly underserved with industrial product. With the access it provides to a large population base, which includes a very diverse labor pool, we expect continued demand throughout the area” said Tanner Ferrandi with CBRE.

The high demand for industrial space and low inventory in California, as well as a trend toward domestic production – are factors helping to drive robust activity in the metro Phoenix area. Industrial vacancy rates in the Valley are trending between 4 to 5 percent.

Kitchell Development has a long history of high-performing developments in Arizona and Southern California, encompassing retail, industrial, office and multifamily projects. Other Kitchell industrial projects in recent years include the Freeway Logistics Center and 67th & Grant in Phoenix and the Chandler Airpark, 800 Germann and 202 Val Vista in the Southeast Valley.

Read the full story at this link.