Living out a legacy
Chris Pashkevich, Clark Construction
Having worked for Clark Construction for 45 years,
Chris Pashkevich says that friends and family are
probably getting sick of him pointing out jobs he’s
worked on in the Maryland and Washington, D.C. areas.
“I did a job recently where I stood on one corner and saw ten
different buildings that I had worked on,” he said. “I’ve done a hundred
or so jobs, easily, just in D.C.”
Construction, for Pashkevich, is a family affair.
His father was a pile driver beginning in the early ’50s until he
retired in 1992, and his older brother started in 1971 until his 2016
retirement. Likewise, Pashkevich’s younger brother started at Clark
Construction in 1980 and still works there today.
“My family has always been here,” he said. “We all drive pile.”
Even with retirement on the horizon, driving pile will continue
to stay in the family. Pashkevich has a son and stepson who are
both foremen at Clark Construction, in addition to another stepson
who works for the company as a foundation superintendent.
In spite of his long career and family legacy in the industry,
Pashkevich didn’t always see himself working in construction – he
originally wanted to be a police officer. But when he went down
to the police academy in 1973, he was told that at 5'7", he was
two inches too short. That’s when he decided to join his family
in construction.
At the start, Pashkevich jumped from one company to another
until he eventually learned of a job opening at the company his
brother worked for. Excited at the prospect of working alongside
family, Pashkevich applied for the job in person and began working
for the company the very next day. At the time, the company
was Hyman Construction – it would later change its name to Clark
Construction Group in 1995.
Among other things, Pashkevich credits his success in the
industry to his curiosity.
“Back in the first couple years I was working, my nickname was
‘Why.’ I was always asking, ‘Why do you do this; why do you do
that?’ So, they just called me Why.”
He encourages others to ask questions, too, as understanding
processes on the job site is crucial to advancement.
“If you see something, ask why it’s happening. Don’t just walk
by. If you want to move up, you have got to learn what is going on
around you.”
On top of asking questions, Pashkevich says that bilingualism
and computer skills are becoming key competencies to success in
the industry. He admits that he is not proficient in either, but that
the industry is changing. While those skills were not as necessary
when he began his career, today those skills are critical.
CAREER STORY
Additionally, Pashkevich encourages incoming pile drivers to
get as many certifications as possible – including rigging, First Aid
and CPR and welding.
“When there’s no pile to drive, you’re normally welding or burning,”
he said. “You need a lot of different training so you are never
out of work.”
That’s how Pashkevich himself has been able to have such an
extensive portfolio of construction jobs, from sports stadiums
and government buildings, to military bases and beyond. Though
as a sports fanatic, the Washington Redskins and Washington
Nationals stadiums are amongst his proudest projects.
By Natalie Pressman
Chris Pashkevich up in a basket in 2017
Photos: Chris Pashkevich
www.piledrivers.org PILEDRIVER | 41
/www.piledrivers.org
