Born to Build Blog

Ellie Kasparie’s father was not the type to tell his kids to stay away from his tools.

He’d bring Ellie and her four siblings to his family-owned construction company on many Saturdays while they were growing up and let them explore.

Kelly Boston fondly recalls the excitement from her and her sister Janelle Boston Fanning when their father built them the clubhouse they’d been begging for as children.

“He also constructed several sheds around the house for farm equipment and tools, and he built our brick family home in 1986,” Kelly says. “My dad is a very self-taught man when it comes to construction, and he is very particular about the construction process every inch of the way.  Even though he didn’t make a living in the construction industry, I could tell it was something he was passionate about.”

Mike Sunley, senior project manager, really was “born to build.” As long as Mike can remember, he knew the construction industry was for him. “I grew up with tools and always had an interest in building and improving things, so when I was in kindergarten, I said I wanted to be an architect.”

But his dream of being an architect was short lived for young Mike. Instead of designing facilities, Mike decided he wanted to build them. Since Mike is the third generation of his family to work in the construction industry, he knew where to go to learn about the industry.

The year was 1965. Construction finished on the St. Louis Arch. The popular soap opera, “Days of Our Lives,” debuted. The Beach Boys’  “California Girls” and “Help Me, Rhonda,” were climbing the billboard charts, and “The Sound of Music” became the musical movie of the year. It was also the year Darrel Grider joined the O’Shea Team.

Darrel had worked as an apprentice for a local realtor building houses in what would become Cherry Hills and Indian Hills in Springfield. But the residential work dried up and Darrel was laid off. As is often the case, when one door closes another opens. For Darrel that door was the opportunity to work for O’Shea. His career at O’Shea, which would span four decades while working under four O’Shea family members

Steve Ludwig, chief estimator, was “born to build” as the second generation of his family to work in the construction industry.

“I grew up with blueprints (remember actual blueprints?) rolling around in the back seat of my father’s car. Over time, I started to notice the projects he was involved with. When we were going around town together, he would introduce me to people from the industry.”