#Duckumentary - Nate Fillebrown

What did you do before your time at EDA?

Before my time with EDA, I had many jobs. During college I landscaped, interned with the greens department on a golf course, delivered pizza, sold Christmas trees, detailed cars at a VW, Audi, Porsche dealership, and right before becoming a union carpenter I worked in shipping and receiving at a plastic injection company warehouse.  

What brought you to the construction industry?

I came to the construction industry because I was working a bunch of seasonal jobs and would need to find a new job to get through every winter. A friend’s dad told me to sign up to take the carpenters’ test. I signed up and 6 months later I took the test, a year after that I got an interview, and a couple months after that I started my apprenticeship.

Can you briefly explain what you do at EDA?

As a carpenter with EDA, I install panel systems. Lately I’ve been cutting and prepping the fiber cement panels on the Princeton Lakehouse Project.

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

Some things most people might not know about me are that I play competitive cornhole in a league on Wednesday nights, I have an encyclopedic memory of 90’s and 00’s country music lyrics, and I’m the director of a week-long Bible camp for middle school aged kids every August.

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

If I weren’t in the construction industry, I might still be pulling orders in the plastic parts warehouse or selling lawn and garden items at a nursery. I might be putting my education to use and be on the grounds crew at a ballpark or golf course. I can’t say for sure but I’m happy I found my way into carpentry.

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

I do enjoy being a carpenter so working my way up in that respect would be fine by me, but if I could try my hand in another department, I think I could do well in an operations role.           

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

I often frustrate myself by assuming I need to understand a new skillset immediately. I have always been told to focus on doing something right and after a few attempts you’ll figure it out and find the efficient moves. Using that advice has paid off.

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

The best part about my experience working with EDA is enjoying the kindness that is extended to the field employees. It hasn’t been my experience that a contractor took such good care of its construction personnel before EDA. It is appreciated.

What is your favorite EDA value, and why?

My favorite EDA value is “Smile, Laugh, Enjoy Life” because I believe that if you enjoy life, take some time to have fun and laugh, that attitude should flow into other facets of your life. Hopefully you can also carry yourself in that same way at work.