President & CEO
Burke Construction Group Inc. (33 years in Nevada)
Type of Business: Commercial General Contracting Firm | Hails from: Mulvane, Kansas | 28 years with company in Nevada | Based in: Las Vegas, NV
How did you first get into your profession?
Since my father was an engineer, I was inspired to follow in his footsteps, and received a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Kansas State University. I always wanted to be in business with my brother (a childhood dream) so when he started our company in 1984, I followed him to Las Vegas in 1989.
If you could be any fictional character, who would you be?
Captain Kirk – he was the ultimate explorer who grew up in the Midwest and never backed down from a challenge.
What is a little known fact about yourself?
I grew up in a small rural community in Kansas and worked on a farm.
What business advice would you give someone just starting in your industry?
Construction is a great industry, but it is an endurance career with long hours, so one must be patient while learning the fundamentals of the business.
When you were a kid, what did you want to be?
I wanted to follow in my father’s path and go into the Air Force. I actually went as far as applying to the Academy – but decided against it during my senior year in high school.
If you could have coined a single phrase of wisdom, what would it be?
“The quality of a person’s life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor.” – Vince Lombardi
What do you wish you would have learned at the beginning of your career?
It is okay to follow your gut. Live your life now. The only things that you will regret are the things that you did not do.
What was the toughest lesson you’ve learned in your career?
Diversification, whether it be market or geographic, is vital to provide a certain level of insulation to the cyclical swings in the industry.
What is your favorite thing about living in Nevada?
There is not just one as there are many. I love the entrepreneurial spirit and the sense of community. As a cyclist, I love the weather too!