“I’m one of those kids who grew up and never got out of the sandbox. The job is always different and the scenery is always different. It’s why people do what we do.”
Bob is the Vice President of Linde Corporation’s Civil/Mechanical/Electrical Divisions. He oversees field construction activities and project administration. He also has the longest title in the company. Bob’s division also includes trenchless technology, directional drilling as well as pipe ramming and traditional auger boring. Bob started out as a heavy equipment operator, running bulldozers, excavators and front end loaders on residential construction and infrastructure jobs. In 1985 Bob came aboard with Linde and ran a winter road job. From there he went to the Pike county resort of Woodloch, doing more infrastructure work. Eventually Linde put Bob in charge of a crew of 40 building roads, sewers, golf course paths, houses and even a water tower. Bob stayed at Woodloch for 9 years, beginning as an operator and ending as a vice president. Or, as Bob remembers it, “I started out as a sculptor with a 20-ton piece of iron strapped to my rear end, and ended up as a fireman. I coordinate, and count on really good people to make me look good.” As for Linde’s growth, Bob is philosophical. “This is skilled work, so the challenge is to find enough experienced people. Then if we can lose them half as fast as we hire them, we’re winning.”