Built from Within: Wade Brown

Welcome to our inaugural employee spotlight feature! Each month, you can expect to read about an employee who has a unique story to tell—some who have been with CS for a very long time and others who are just starting out in their careers. For this first installment, we decided to focus on a standout person with a big personality who could kick off our series with an especially engaging interview for readers to enjoy. We are so excited to introduce you to Wade Brown.

Wade has a 25-year history with the company and currently serves as an architectural sales consultant here in central Pennsylvania. Starting fresh out of college, Wade came on board with CS as an estimator/drafter, later moved into a senior estimator position, and eventually went on to become a regional sales manager.

But he didn’t stop there. Wade’s dedication and enthusiasm made him an obvious choice to serve as a national sales manager in our entrance flooring division, and that’s all before landing the role he says is a perfect fit for his personality and skillset: architectural sales consultant, which is where he spends his time now. Read our conversation below.

What drew you to the construction industry?

There’s so much that I find fascinating, though I wouldn’t say I had a lightbulb moment. A Dream House course in high school got me interested enough to pursue architecture further in college, and once I started working, I got lucky with some wonderful mentors who really got to know me and helped steer me based on my strengths.

You’ve had a long, impressive career with CS. Which role was/is your favorite?

This one (Architectural Sales Consultant)—no question.

Why?

I love face-to-face sales. I like controlling 100% of what I do; it’s all relationship-driven. I talk directly with specifiers, customers, and decision-makers on projects in our own neighborhood—our own backyard—with customers who live among us. It’s incredibly satisfying.

How would you describe your piece within the bigger picture? 

People can sometimes think there is a simplicity to architecture, like it’s more of an art—and it is art, but there’s a complexity to making functional spaces that I love being part of.

You start with the owner’s needs and add things like code compliance and the desire for a functioning structure that looks nice, and you have to somehow put all of that together in a way that makes a building habitable.

There’s no intrigue if it’s just a plain square box. What happens behind the scenes is astonishing.  There’s so much that goes into it that the average person who walks into a building doesn’t realize or recognize.

We are one of thousands of products that go into a project, yet each piece is integral in making the whole thing work. We might be a small piece of a larger picture, but no less critical.

So would it be fair to say that part of the appeal for you is watching all those pieces come together to form something bigger?

Absolutely, absolutely. The challenge comes from that. When you get a call from a contractor or an architect who has a problem and could use a recommendation? That’s the part I like. Sometimes a standard product can get the job done, but sometimes you have to go into problem-solving mode to get to a solution.

What’s something about your job that the average person might be surprised by?

The outstanding project portfolio and the opportunities we get to work on are cool. For example, the World Trade Center. Being part of such a monumental, historic thing was a big deal.

Another one, which I’m frequently reminded of every time I watch the Sixers or Phillies or an Eagles game, was the Comcast [Technology Center] tower in Philadelphia—now the tallest building in the city. After our meeting to talk about entrance mats at the main entrance, the building manager asked if we wanted to go to the top, 60 stories up, just for fun.

It wasn’t done at the time, so they made us ride in the construction elevator, which was attached to a crane on the outside of the building. You just never know what type of experiences you might get to have.

What’s something you would have told your younger self?

I’d tell myself to enjoy the ride. When I started as a young college graduate and moved through all these roles, I never would have thought I’d be a part of so many well-known and notable projects around the world! For example, One World Trade, Burj Khalifa—going to job sites and seeing CS in place, and knowing I was a part of it, working with some of the largest contractors and architectural firms in the world, is truly an honor every day.

In a typical week, Wade might work with architects to assist with details or product specifications, walk contractors and subcontractors through quotes or purchasing, and consult with designers on products and finishes.

He manages the process from the start to the very end, bring a project to completion and making sure our customers are 100% satisfied. He enjoys traveling—and is on a mission to set foot in all 50 states; current tally is 48—, visiting new people, maintaining and nurturing relationships, and prospecting for new clients, identifying gaps and seeing how he can establish not just jobs and specs, but also a solid working relationship with his customers.

If you would like to connect with Wade, you can find him on LinkedIn here.