Team Dedication: A Look at Crain’s Collaborative & Empowering Approach to Commercial Construction

Smiling construction workers standing over beams.

A culture of team dedication and collaboration is crucial in the commercial construction industry. From creating a successful partnership between stakeholders to working together to complete a deadline, fostering collaboration, and empowering individuals to flourish are all essential for project success. At Crain, we refer to this as “team dedication.” 

Team Dedication is one of our core values that shape the way we approach every project. It involves putting the goals of the team before your own interest and maintaining our commitment to doing the right thing. Team dedication also means investing in our employees and looking for opportunities to help them thrive while contributing to our collective success. 

In this blog post, we will take a closer look at Crain’s approach to team dedication — where everyone feels valued, empowered, and respected. We will also share some of the benefits of this approach and how it has helped us to achieve success.

4 Ways Crain Incorporates Team Dedication & Collaboration in Commercial Construction

Here are four specific ways we work to create a spirit of team dedication across every area of our company:

 

1. We foster a relationship-first mindset and work strategically to create alignment among stakeholders.

After more than 90 years in the construction industry, we’ve learned that a successful project requires everyone involved pulling in the same direction while also bringing their individual talents and welcoming the strengths of others. 

As a result, we are incredibly intentional about cultivating solid relationships with project owners. We believe in partnering with architects and collaborating with design teams during the pre-construction process. Our trade partners offer so much value and expertise in their particular scopes of work, and we recognize it’s crucial to listen and learn from them. 

 2. Our entire team is committed to pitching in and doing whatever it takes to get the job done. 

Most construction firms consider everyone doing their job and working together to be successful. While we do that at Crain, we take it a step further by doing whatever it takes to help our teammates. Practically speaking, it’s looking at the shared goal of the project and pitching in wherever needed to help get that done. 

You rarely hear anyone at Crain say, “I’m not doing that. It’s not my job.” Where we can, we help our teammates for the ultimate success. If a project manager needs to take a break and vacation with his family, you will often see one of our VPs step into their role until they return.

3. We want every team member to thrive and lead in a way that cultivates their strengths. 

As a family-owned company, we treat our employees like an extension of our family. This mentality impacts the way we lead in a variety of ways. First, our leaders and managers take the time to build genuine relationships with each person on their team. We want to know everyone’s strengths, professional goals, and life aspirations. Our executive team deliberately creates opportunities for employees to exercise their strengths and grow professionally. As our forepersons or project managers lead a project, they constantly look at how they can develop their team.

4. We embrace a collaborative approach to decision-making.  

Decision-making is where we are the most conscious about fostering a spirit of collaboration. We don’t want to make big decisions in a vacuum. One proverb says, “The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.” Over the years, we’ve found that multiple perspectives often lead to a more holistic understanding and result in better decisions. We intentionally create a culture of respect and collaboration for the decisions we make at every level of the company. 

A Construction Firm Built on Collaboration & Relationships

We’ll be the first to admit that we aren’t perfect. But our culture of collaboration, support, and general care for people makes Crain unique, which is why so many employees believe it is a great place to work. Many of our employees from other commercial construction areas often say our culture is the best thing about working for Crain

If you’re a developer interested in learning more about our approach or how we can help with your next project, we’d love to talk.

If you’re looking for a job in construction, you can get an inside look at what it’s like to work at Crain and explore our current job openings

Related Projects

Fairlane hotel conversion construction
Converting Nashville Office Buildings into High-Demand Hotels

As remote work reshapes how we use commercial real estate, a growing trend is emerging in major U.S. cities: converting underused office buildings into hotels. In cities like Nashville, where tourism is booming and older office stock remains underutilized, this creative reuse strategy is gaining real traction. Crain Construction has spent decades building hospitality spaces...

The Crestmoor senior living building recently built by Crain
How Amenities are Redefining Senior Living Construction in Nashville

Senior living is evolving. Gone are the days of institutional settings with one-size-fits-all designs. Today’s residents expect environments that meet their physical needs while supporting their independence, engagement, and overall well-being. From luxury finishes to purpose-built wellness centers, the bar for senior living construction has never been higher. According to a 2024 report by NIC...

Tom Gregory employee headshot
Employee Spotlight: Tom Gregory

At Crain Construction, relationships have always been at the heart of how we do business. That’s why we’re grateful for the opportunity to spotlight Tom Gregory, our Director of Business Development. Since joining Crain in September 2024, Tom has already made a big impact with his energy, perspective, and industry experience. With a background in...

ac hotel building newly constructed
When Plans Change: An Inside Look at Crain’s Proactive Approach to Construction Challenges

In construction, no project ever goes exactly according to plan. Circumstances change, challenges arise, and details get missed. That’s why project owners and developers don’t just need a contractor who can build—they need one who can solve problems before they escalate. A proactive partner can mean the difference between a project that stalls out and...

Community

We partner with organizations to invest, give back and make a positive impact on the communities where we live and work.

Blog

Get the latest Crain Construction Blogs and interesting insights about our projects and community endeavors here.

When you’re ready to build, we’re here for you

Reach out to start a conversation with our team.