Employee Spotlight:
Tim Peel Jr
Exceptional people build a great business; as a service-based consultancy, our people are our brand. This month, we spotlight Tim Peel Jr, Sacramento Regional Manager. Tim consistently delivers high-quality construction management and cost estimating services that help clients achieve their goals with confidence. From thorough document reviews to seamless coordination and on-time deliverables, he plays a key role in keeping projects on schedule and within budget, making every project both dynamic and rewarding. Follow below to learn more about Tim!
“Each role I’ve taken on at OCMI has built upon the last, helping me grow both technically and professionally.”
Q: How has your role evolved since you joined the team?
A: Coming to OCMI with civil and geotechnical experience, I was looking to expand on my knowledge of the industry with a new role in Construction Management. Starting as project engineer on the Sacramento Convention Center and Theater, the knowledge gained with the size and complexity of the project quickly prepared me for a project manager position. As a cost estimator after that project, my previous experiences helped that role evolve organically to be more client-facing and with a deeper understanding of costs. That has all brought me to my current role where there is again much to learn to continue to grow.
Q: What AEC industry trends do you think will have the biggest impact in the next few years?
A: The trend I hope makes a big impact in the long term is the adaptive reuse of existing buildings for new purposes, especially housing. It’s a sustainable building strategy that will also increase the energy efficiency of the buildings. The trends I think will have the biggest impact though, are the need for more data centers due to increased implementation of AI technology, and the shortage of skilled labor.
Q: How does your estimating experience influence decisions you make in the field (or vice versa)?
A: The estimating background lends itself well to instances where there is a potential change to be considered and the client would like a quick idea of what cost they can expect to see. This can help prepare a client to make a decision and minimize the sticker shock before formal costs are received. The CM experience is helpful when preparing estimates for the constructability aspect, where you’ve become familiar with where inconsistencies tend to occur in drawings. Flagging them for the design team and suggesting items for them to address can help the client avoid additional PCOs during construction.
Q: What advice would you give someone considering a career in construction management?
A: Don’t be afraid to make the phone calls or send the emails to get issues resolved. The answer isn’t always immediately apparent, could take coordinating with multiple parties with different interests and be uncomfortable to work through. If you can assist in having an issue resolved quickly by starting the discussions, do so. It is a benefit to the entire project team.
Q: What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
A: Spending time with my family, especially at one of our many favorite places including the zoo, train museum, aerospace museum, art museum, children’s museum (just realizing we go to a lot “museums”), local parks, river trails, Chipotle, Costco, and home. For passive recreation, I enjoy watching most sports (especially tennis). For active recreation, I’ve been playing soccer nearly my whole life and like to get touches in when I can, and now that the little one is walking, soccer in the home has become a favorite until the kicks get stronger.
