Taylor Adams, 11400 LLC
Taylor Adams serves as vice president of project development for 11400 LLC, based in Lancaster, Penn. Created in May 2009 as an affiliate of Clark Associates, 11400 LLC bids on projects across the country. Adams started his career with Clark Food Service Equipment in 2006 in a drafting role. He works mainly on projects for K-12 public schools, higher education operations and prisons.
Q: How does your experience in drafting influence what you do today?
A: Having the drafting experience is crucial because you can pick things up right away. There are extra tech calls that can be a problem down the road. In this business, there’s such a small window of time to execute on-site. Anything like options and accessories, door hinging or anything else we can pick up ahead of time is going to be a money saver and that adds up down the road.
Q: What role does technology play in project management?
A: The role technology plays is huge. Clark has always had the upper hand and invested in the appropriate resources for developing technology internally. You’re able to hit the refresh button and with two or three clicks, you can look at a project in South Carolina and see what portion of a project is done and what has been received. From a capacity standpoint, this is one of the best things we can offer. We use it a lot to impress upon people — like clients and construction managers — that we are organized, and we have our stuff in line.
Q: You’re known as a problem-solver. How do you resolve issues when something does not go as planned?
A: I don’t feel like an old guy in the industry, but a common theme to solving problems since day one has been to pick up the phone and talk to the person with whom you’re trying to solve the problem. There is so much left to interpretation when you’re reading an email. You can get on a quick video call and make sure you’re both looking at the same thing and you can put a face to a name. That’s a winning combo when you talk to the person and 9 times out of 10, you’re going to solve the problem.
Q: What’s one lesson you have learned that helps you in your career?
A: I’m lucky to have had the same direct boss — Jim Stephens, president of 11400 — since the day I started here. He’s always been very honest and humble. I feel like humility and work ethic are the top two lessons on the list. You have to be humble and think about the other person’s perspective and be a good listener. But definitely, humility is huge.
Q: What do you like best about your job?
A: One of the best things about this job is that there is something different with the position and company every day. Solve this today, solve this tomorrow … and there are plenty of opportunities to learn new things, like learning how new products operate and or how systems get installed. There are plenty of opportunities for training and you’re not stuck in the day-to-day grind of doing the same thing every day.
DSR 3-2-1
Taylor Adams, 11400 LLC, sits down with Jason Wange, Foodservice Powerplant Network, to talk about being named an FE&S DSR of the Month.
Find more episodes of DSR 3-2-1 here.
Foodservice Equipment & Supplies Presents DSR 3-2-1 is sponsored by Salvajor.
