HIGH ACHIEVER
A varied background and two national building awards put Bob Wheeler in a good position to run his own construction company and to judge the work of others.
When asked what achievement he is most proud of, numerous Rotorua building projects come to mine for the Glencoe Construction
founder, but winning the national Registered Master Builders' House of the Year title in 2007 and 2008 tops the lot.
"It was a great achievement for our company."
Registered Master Builders was also impressed and invited Bob to become a national judge for the annual awards.
"During the four years I have been in this role, I have been privileged to see some amazing building work throughout the country. It has given me a good insight into how other companies operate and made me more aware of all aspects of the building industry."
Bob judges projects from around the country in a specific category each year, but the company is still actively involved as an entrant in the annual awards. This year Glencoe Construction won the regional New Homes $250,000-$350,000 category, picking up a gold award to progress to the national competition.
He brings a range of experiences to his role running Glencoe and to judging.
"My first real job was working in a local architects' office. I then spent a few years in Australia working as a construction manager.
"One of the most important things I learnt working in the architects' office was the importance of good documentation and the value of listening to clients requirements to achieve the end result."
During his time in Australia, Bob was transferred to Darwin to help rebuild the town after it was destroyed by Cyclone Tracey in 1974.
On returning to New Zealand, he worked as a carpenter for a while before starting Glencoe Construction in 1978. Although he is now largely involved in the design and management side, Bob is still very hands-on.
"While I no longer do the physical work, I spend a lot of time on site sorting out any issues that may arise and meeting regularly with our clients to ensure that the building process is enjoyable for them."
He says involvement in the awards, as an entrant, has helped his company to grow.
"It gives my staff a sense of achievement when one of the projects they have worked on does well in the competition."
Bob also applies his experience in the community through Rotary, having been made a Paul Harris Fellow for his contributions to the organisation's programmes.
IN HIS OWN WORDS
What was your first job and what did you learn from it?
My first job, while I was at school, was working for race horse trainer, riding out horses for morning training in the Hawke's Bay. This taught me a good work ethic and responsibility .
What do you see as the three most crucial factors to consider when deciding on a building design?
The most crucial factor is to listen to your client's requirements and then be able to interpret this into a design, taking into account different aspect of the building site such as sun, views and, of course, the client's budget.
Regular meetings with the client are essential for the project to run smoothly.
What do you see as the greatest challenge for your industry in the next 6-12 months?
The greatest challenge for our industry in the future is to get some stability and growth back. For many companies it has been a tough three years.