Aaron Retherford Named Building Design + Construction 40 under 40

GROWTH WIZARD

Aaron Retherford
VP Business Strategy

AGE: 37

EDUCATION
Bachelor of Science Construction Management, Illinois State University

ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Helped grow Castle Contracting’s annual revenues from $15 million to $55 million.

Developed a turn-key civil design-build service for site development work.

Helped Castle Contracting increase its prime site work client relationships by 150%.

Led geographic expansion that included establishing a permanent Omaha office.

Success at Castle led directly to new role at VP Business Strategy role at Kadean Construction (2020).

EXTRACURRICULAR
Board Member/Treasurer, Greater St. Louis Honor Flight

Committee Member, KIDstruction

Committee Member, St. Louis Council of Construction Consumers

Member, AGC of Missouri

OFF THE CLOCK
Loves golf and anything that involves the outdoors.

Spending time with wife (Jaclyn), and two sons (Ace and Jett).

SECRET LIFE
Once hit a hole-in-one for $10,000.

Master of the musical jingle – “I keep a journal of catchy jungles in my night stand just in case I decide to make a career out of it.”

WHAT IS THE BEST CAREER OR BUSINESS ADVICE YOU HAVE EVER RECEIVED?
In a world that is seemingly fast moving where you are told at a young age “you can be whatever you want to be when you grow up”, there’s this notion that quick career promotion is something that is expected. I realized early in my career to focus on the job at hand and believe that you will be rewarded for doing well. So the advice I received was to keep your head down, work hard and good things will happen. I’ve always done that. Success is a long game and it doesn’t happen overnight. If you can couple that with enjoying what you do, then you’ve reached absolute perfection!

HOW ARE YOU STAYING SANE IN 2020?
I’m a very social person and thrive off human interaction, so to say 2020 has been challenging for my self-satisfaction is an understatement. I’ve found sanity in playing more golf, spending more time outdoors with my kids, connecting with friends……and booze! 

WHAT HS 2020 TAUGHT YOU ABOUT YOURSELF?
To slow down and pull my head up once in a while to see the big picture. It goes back to that fast moving world we live in where everyone needs everything right now. I tend to load my plate with all the fixings! Because 2020 hindered social interaction, forcing me to spend more time at home, I could lift my head and think about the big picture, not only with my career but with my family. And in a strange way I’m thankful for that.

Source: Building Design + Construction