The Dynasty Continues - 'D3" Celebrates 20 Years

Over the last 20 years, David O’Shea III has seen O’Shea Builders grow from a small family operation in Springfield to a leader throughout Illinois. And when he says “leader,” he’s not only talking about construction.
 
“We’ve branched out to become leaders in the communities we work in as well,” he points out.
 
David first began his career at O’Shea two decades ago as a delivery driver in the warehouse. He then worked as a carpenter before moving into the office, in the estimating department.
 
“I came to work here all those years ago because this is where I’ve always belonged,” says David, who is the great-great-grandson of company founder John O’Shea. “From the time I was old enough to understand, I’ve always known I would end up working at O’Shea Builders.”
 
Over the last 20 years, David reflects on the relationships he’s developed – not only with his coworkers in the office but in the field as well.
 
“I’ve had the privilege of working with some of the most talented and hard-working trades people over the last twenty years,” he says.
 
“I think if you wrote a ‘who’s who’ of trade workers in Central Illinois over the last 50 years, I’ve had the pleasure of working with most of them. Names like Aldrich, Copp, Devlin, Grider, Grogan, Long, Miller, Ruble, Steiner, Steinhour, and Walters would be written all over that book. The friendships I’ve been able to make will last a lifetime.”
 
The biggest change he recognizes during his 20-year career – aside from O’Shea’s growth as a whole – is the safety culture within O’Shea Builders.
 
In the early 2000s, safety “just wasn’t the first thing that came to our minds,” David recalls.
 
Today, however, safety is the first priority for O’Shea. And David is proud to be part of a company that truly cares about the safety and wellbeing of everyone involved in each project – from O’Shea workers to the client-owners and the customers or healthcare patients they serve.
 
“Now we start jobs with meetings discussing how we’re going to achieve the job and do it safely. I think that is perhaps the best change we have made. Ever,” David shares.  

Pictured above: Young David O'Shea III attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the David "Bud" O'Shea Dormitory at the Carpenter's Union in Pekin.