#Duckumentary - Dave Barberry

What did you do before your time at EDA?

Before I came to EDA, I worked for my father’s general contracting company for a decade. We specialized in fire restoration and structural repair. I was also a screen printer/embroiderer for a merchandise company for a few years after college.

What brought you to the construction industry?

Truthfully, I was just born into it.

What are some things that most people don't know about you?

Incriminating information aside, I love Doja Cat.

If you weren’t in the construction industry, where would you be today?

I would be drinking Bahama Mamas on an island 50 miles off the coast of Florida.

“Easy on the Bahama, heavy on the Mama.”

If you could work in any other trade or department here at EDA, where would you be?

If I could work in a different department at EDA, I would choose the Safety Department. Our duties are different, but we both start a job by approaching it safely. I also think roofers and safety personnel are usually perceived the same way, something along the lines of “here comes trouble”. Safety is a great resource at EDA and I’m glad I can lean on them when I need to.

What is the biggest challenge you've faced in work? How did you overcome it?

Three years ago, I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease which caused me to lose almost everything. I wound up losing 60lbs in the first month before spending weeks in the hospital and finding a medicine that worked. I am still trying to overcome this every day, but the assurance of having a place at EDA to return to gave me some hope that things could get back to how they were before the sky fell.

What has been the best part about your experience working with EDA?

The best part about my experience working with EDA is the people. I’ve met a lot of people here I will never forget no matter how hard I try. The time I’ve shared with my coworkers is invaluable and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. We spend a lot of our lives at work, and I’ve seen my coworkers more often than my family some months.

What is your favorite EDA value, and why?

Work Proud resonates with me the most. When all the mistakes and hardships that come with learning over the years start turning into good calls and successes, I admire how much really goes into a day’s work; through perseverance we can develop pride and with pride we can preserver greater challenges.