Producer Member of the Month: Satterfield Construction Celebrates Homegrown Talent on Their Team

 

Tara Alexander, Satterfield Construction Company

Everyone loves homegrown talent. The local who “makes it big”. We root for that story in sports – it is why so many fans love Derek Jeter, John Elway, and Magic Johnson. The Yankees, the Broncos, and the Lakers drafted those individuals when they were young, poured resources in to them, and then cheered as they became Hall of Famers. Tara Alexander is a wonderful example of homegrown talent on our team. She is a native of Laurens who has risen through the ranks at Satterfield Construction in Greenwood. When her career started, she was the front office attendant; today she is an integral part of our Estimating Team. In her 12 years at Satterfield she has risen to every challenge and embraced every opportunity given to her. She believes the lessons she learned at each stop along the way aid her in the role she plays now. “In my first position as our team’s receptionist, I learned about Satterfield’s structure and culture. I got a front-row seat to how we operate. I still recall what I learned during my first several years as I represent the company to customers and vendors today.”

After Tara worked in the front office for 5 years, she took over the Contract Administrator role for our team. In this position she processed DOT estimates and subcontractor payables, handled billing for private jobs, compiled all information for monthly lettings, set up and maintained projects, and prepared change orders among other tasks. These responsibilities gave her an awareness of the operational aspects of being a heavy-highway contractor. Her role also allowed her to begin interacting more closely with SCDOT representatives, subcontractors, as well as the leadership team at Satterfield. Gene Sartain, President of Satterfield, notes that one of Tara’s best traits is how thorough she is on behalf of our company, how she understands the importance of the details – both large and small. What he really respects about her is that “she accomplishes our goals while maintaining a very pleasant and engaging personality that external contacts value working with.” She honed this skill while growing as a Contract Administrator, making it a natural progression for Tara to join the Estimating Department when a position became available. She contributes on every level in Estimating – take offs, reviewing proposals, requesting and reviewing subcontractor and material supply quotes, preparing and submitting bids, attending pre-construction meetings, and developing relationships with SCDOT and municipality personnel. Tracy Baggett, Satterfield’s Controller, commented on how quickly Tara grasped and excelled in her new role, showing an astute understanding of the value of fostering relationships inside and outside of the company. “Tara understands that our best relationships are viewed as a partnership where both sides succeed. It is easy to connect the dots that her previous experiences at Satterfield helped create that understanding.” To further demonstrate the respect she is earning in our industry, Tara was asked in early 2020 to join the SCAPA Young Professionals Committee.

Tara has absorbed all that she has learned at each stop along her professional journey and is now putting that knowledge to use every day for the benefit of our team. She accomplished these goals through her dedication, ambition, willingness to learn new skills, and challenging herself to keep growing. She embodies what legendary UCLA basketball coach, John Wooden, meant when he said, “If you are afraid to fail, you will never do the things you are capable of.” Tara is capable of many great things and we are so grateful that she is showcasing her talent on the Satterfield team. She is extremely well-respected within our company and is well on her way to being a Satterfield Hall of Famer!

For more information about Satterfield Construction Company, visit www.satterfieldConstruction.org

Thank you, Satterfield Construction Company, for being SCAPA's Featured Producer Member for September and for your continued support!