Time With The Boss - Todd Staley, IWR Building Systems

Todd Staley
IWR BUILDING SYSTEMS
Website: iwrbuildingsystems.com
Industry: commercial construction

What is IWR’s mission?
To become North America’s top building-enclosure contractor. We are a company whose intuition stays current in an ever-changing industry. This allows us to continuously provide our clients with the best possible solution for the entire exterior enclosure of a building all under one company.

What was your first job?
I started working long, hard hours at a very young age, both at my father’s electrical company and farm. I can remember thinking at the time how lucky my friends were with their summer jobs as lifeguards and pizza delivery drivers. What I didn’t realize was how this regimented tough work ethic was molding the inner workings of my professional career. These early years instilled habits that I carry through my daily life today.
 
What led you to your industry?
When I was finishing up my degree, very eager and competitive, I was under the impression bigger was better, so I started working for one of the largest companies in the U.S., where travel and relocation was imminent. I made an early career move which rooted me in St. Louis with a large general contractor. As I continued to develop as both a construction manager and community leader, I began forming a real aspiration to make an impact influencing others in a positive way through leadership and strategic business planning. After a couple years of observing market data and construction industry trends, I fell in love with the company IWR and its rich history and compelling company culture. Five years ago I made the move and a commitment to the specialty contracting industry with IWR and haven’t looked back.

What was the smartest thing your company did in the past year?
Where other companies in our arena are focused on their specific skill set and less focused on client expectations and greater opportunities, IWR has evolved into a total building envelope contractor. We saw an opportunity to provide our clients with a single-source solution to mitigate risk on building envelopes and provide fully transparent cost management techniques on high-profile construction projects. We are able to streamline many efforts by allowing them to connect with one contractor on the entire building enclosure in lieu of the traditional buyout that involves several different companies and trades. Our employees make this model successful. As we continue our growth, we are supplementing our already dynamic staff with other industry leaders to ensure our clients always get efficient and expected service.

How do you differentiate your business from others in your industry?
Where competitors are focused on just one section of the building enclosure, we are focused on the total envelope. We have hired very talented managers familiar with greater scopes of work and allow us to provide our clients with less coordination efforts, one contract to write and, more importantly, one warranty for everything on the outside of the building.

What advice would you share with new entrepreneurs?
You are your brand. Be impressive.  

What is your favorite place in St. Louis?
The opportunities St. Louis offers for children and families is incredible. Growing up surrounded by nothing but cornfields, I continue to be impressed with the variety of parks, educational curricula and athletic programs offered by the city. n