Shawn Mayers is a construction superintendent with over 30 years of hands-on experience in residential building. Based in Kinston, North Carolina, he began his career in New York straight out of H. Frank Carey High School in 1988, starting as a labourer and learning the trade from seasoned professionals.
Over the years, Shawn worked his way up from entry-level roles to leading crews, and eventually into the superintendent position. His career has been built on consistency, a strong work ethic, and a belief in doing the job right the first time. He’s known for leading by example—boots on the ground, sleeves rolled up—while managing complex projects to high standards.
Beyond the job site, Shawn is passionate about animal rescue, fostering dogs and cats in need. His dedication to both his work and his volunteer efforts comes from a shared principle: responsibility. “You don’t walk away from something—or someone—that needs help,” he says.
Shawn’s approach to success is straightforward. He believes in humility, continuous learning, and accountability. “Every day’s a chance to improve,” is his personal motto—one he applies to his craft, his relationships, and his community work. For Shawn, the measure of a career isn’t just in completed projects, but in the trust and respect earned along the way.
Q&A with Shawn Mayers: On the Meaning of Success
Q: Shawn, you’ve been in construction for over three decades. How do you define success?
For me, success isn’t about titles or money. It’s about leaving things better than you found them. In my work, that means a home built to last. In life, it’s about how you treat people—and animals. If someone can look back and say you made their life better, that’s success.
Q: Was there a turning point in your career when you felt you were on the right track?
I’d say the shift from being on the tools to leading a crew. It happened in the mid-90s when a superintendent asked me to run a small team while he handled another site. It was sink or swim, and I swam. That moment showed me I could take on more responsibility and still keep the quality high.
Q: You started straight out of high school. Do you think formal education is essential for success?
It depends on the field. In construction, skills and experience are often more valuable than a degree. I learned by doing—watching experienced tradespeople, asking questions, making mistakes, and fixing them. But whatever path you take, you have to keep learning.
Q: You’ve mentioned “every day’s a chance to improve.” How do you apply that?
It might mean learning a better way to plan a site, improving how you talk to your team, or even taking better care of yourself physically. Small improvements stack up over time. If you don’t work on yourself, the job will pass you by.
Q: What’s a habit that’s helped you stay consistent?
I start each day with a mental checklist—three things I need to get right before I leave the site. They’re not always big tasks, but they’re priorities. Hitting those keeps me on track and builds momentum for the rest of the day.
Q: You also spend time on animal rescue. Does that tie into your definition of success?
Absolutely. Responsibility doesn’t stop when you clock out. Fostering an animal or helping at a shelter—it’s not glamorous, but it makes a difference. If you’ve got the ability to help, why wouldn’t you?
Q: Have you faced failure, and how did you handle it?
Plenty of times. In construction, delays happen, mistakes happen. The key is to own it. One project early in my career went way over schedule because of a miscalculation I made. I stayed late, worked weekends, and made sure the client was happy in the end. You learn to face problems, not dodge them.
Q: What advice would you give someone starting out?
Show up, be teachable, and don’t rush. Learn the right way before you try to be fast. The trades need people who care about the work, not just the paycheque. And whatever you do, remember—your reputation is your biggest asset.
Q: If you had to sum up your approach to success in one sentence?
Work hard, help others, and leave things better than you found them.