Name: Fred Bueler
Profession: Building and Construction
Age: 39
What do you do for a living?
I am a project director for a company called CHASSE Building Team. We are a local general contractor, which is more or less the team that coordinates and supervises every aspect of a building or remodeling project If you have ever been to Town & Country Shopping Center in Phoenix or visited Scottsdale’s Cheyenne Traditional School, Phoenix’s Madison Meadows Middle School, or Tempe’s Wood and Frank Elementary Schools––then you have been to something I’ve helped to build. When we work with schools on building or remodeling, I am also one of the leaders of our student engagement program. An important aspect on every project we do with schools across Arizona is making sure we involve the students, staff, and community. We do this through hands-on learning, getting the students involved in the construction process, giving firsthand experience on the construction of their new school, and even teaching kids and teens about the different career paths the construction industry offers.
What type of training do you need to do your job?
For my specific career, a bachelor’s degree in construction management or engineering is preferred. However, there are a variety of ways to enter a career in the construction industry including trade schools and other bachelor degrees in college.
What’s your favorite part of your job?
Working with the project teams, collaborating as a team and watching amazing things get built. At the end of the project, everyone gets to be proud of what the team was able to accomplish and build together.
What did you want to be when you were growing up?
I grew up playing on a ping pong table that was almost completely covered in Legos. My dad owned a construction company in my home state of Missouri, so I got to see a lot of the moving pieces and jobs involved in building throughout most of growing up. I knew I wanted to do something in the field most of my life. I moved to Arizona to attend Arizona State University, where I studied civil engineering with a concentration in construction. This allowed me to learn several disciplines within the world of building and construction and really hone in on what I liked best. I also got the chance to do five different internships with five different companies, which really helped me narrow my focus and get experience.
What advice would you give to a kid who wants to have a similar career?
Enjoy your Legos! Also, start working in groups from a young age––be it a science club, glee club, or in sports. Working in construction is all about teamwork and communication. For those in high school, definitely take advantage of opportunities to shadow people in all levels of construction and building to see what “a normal day” looks like for people working in the jobs that intrigue you most.
One fun fact NOT about your job?
I volunteer with this group called the Scottsdale Charros. Our mission is to serve as Scottsdale’s Goodwill Ambassadors while raising funds via Spring Training and other outlets so we can make annual grants and donations to organizations in need with a clear focus on education.
