David Torske is a Calgary-based Project Coordinator and Associate Project Manager building a steady career in residential and commercial construction. His work centers on scheduling, documentation, workflow systems, and trade coordination. He focuses on the systems behind the job site that keep projects moving on time and within scope.
David grew up in the interior of British Columbia. He spent his early years playing basketball, volleyball, hockey, and baseball. Team sports shaped how he thinks about discipline, roles, and accountability. That mindset carried into his career.
He began in hands-on construction. He worked on new builds, siding installations, roof repairs, framing, and drywall. He learned how delays happen and how small errors compound. Over time, he moved toward coordination and project systems. He found that structure and planning made the biggest difference.
David completed a Project Management in Construction Certificate at Mount Royal University with a 4.0 GPA. He earned his CAPM certification from the Project Management Institute in 2024. He is a member of PMI and the Alberta Construction Safety Association.
He is known for strong documentation, schedule control, and clear communication. He works with tools like Excel, Microsoft Project, Procore, and Moraware Systemize to improve workflow and reduce risk.
Q&A with David Torske on Success
What does success mean to you?
Success means building something stable over time. Not just a title. Not just income. I think of success as steady progress. I moved from hands-on construction work into project coordination because I wanted more responsibility. I wanted to understand the full lifecycle of a project. Success for me has been earning trust on job sites and growing my skill set year after year.
How did your early career shape your definition of success?
I started in the field – roofing, framing, drywall, siding. You see how hard the trades work and the skill required to produce great results. You also see how a missed delivery or unclear instruction and planning slows everything down and can lead to mistakes. That experience shaped me. Success is not about being the loudest voice. It is about making things run smoother for everyone else. When the schedule works and trades are not stepping on each other, that feels like success. There is no other way to achieve builds that meet or exceed stakeholder expectations and planned outcomes.
What role did education play in your growth?
Education gave me structure and a broad-based knowledge of project management skills and techniques. I completed a Project Management in Construction Certificate at Mount Royal University with a 4.0 GPA. That program helped me connect theory to what I had already seen in the field. Earning my CAPM certification in 2024 was another step – the PMI methodology is the basis for a gold-standard approach for managing projects effectively.
It required disciplined study. It showed me that professional growth is not accidental. You have to invest in it.
What habits helped you move forward in your career?
Documentation and preparation. I keep detailed notes. I review schedules daily. I try to anticipate problems before they become expensive. When I worked at The Granite Guys, I used Excel to build fabrication schedules and procurement trackers. I also worked with Moraware Systemize and helped improve communication through automation – industry-specific software or applications are complementary to project management systems. Building and refining small system improvements compounds over time.
Have you faced setbacks?
Yes. Early on, I underestimated how much coordination depends on communication. I once assumed a trade understood a sequencing change because it seemed obvious to me. It was not obvious to them. That mistake caused a delay. Lessons were learned and practices adopted to ensure clarity and comprehensiveness in work orders.
I have also transitioned careers. Starting over in a new field is never easy. That required humility and focus. I approached it like a long-term project plan; break it into milestones, earn certifications, and build experience.
What advice would you give someone chasing success?
Focus on fundamentals. Learn the basics of your industry deeply. In construction, that means safety, scheduling, scope, and documentation. Get credentials that matter, like the CAPM. Join professional groups. I am a member of PMI and the Alberta Construction Safety Association. Being part of a professional community matters.
Also, respect process. Success is rarely dramatic. It is consistent work. Open the file correctly. Produce project plans that are accurate, achievable and constantly monitored and reviewed. Procure materials with care. Communicate clearly. Do that every day.