From Music to Rainscreens – Andrew Ashton Finds Building Industry Success

This week, Andrew Ashton from CENTRIA joins the show to discuss careers and trends in the industry. 

More About the Show

The Build Perspectives podcast shares insider knowledge to build connections and community in the building materials industry. Tim and Carolina are friends, colleagues and former coworkers who love the construction industry and their clients, and want to share their passion and insights to attract future talent to the industry.

In this episode, Tim and Carolina talk to Andrew Ashton from CENTRIA who shares his career journey and offers advice for finding success in the building materials industry.

Starting a Career in a Financial Crisis

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Andrew Ashton is a business development manager for CENTRIA, a manufacturer of metal panels. His focus is specification development. As the bridge between technical details and marketing, he ensures architects, homeowners and developers are getting the help they need while writing specs for his team. He has come a long way from the beginning of his career. 

After graduating in 2009, he struggled to find consistent employment. The financial crisis was hitting the economy hard. He waited tables and worked in IT, all while searching for an opportunity to put his management degree to use. Eventually, he found an operations role, where he supported management by coordinating engineering projects and assuring the company met all shipping requirements. This was the promising start of a career path in the building materials industry. 

Finding Success in the Building Materials Industry

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Through his professional experiences in building materials and manufacturing, Andrew has gained a solid understanding of what it takes to be successful in the industry. 

One of the most pivotal moments in his career was the first time he was yelled at in a job site trailer. While this seems like an overall negative experience on the surface, it actually opened his eyes to the effects of stress and the importance of empathy and teamwork. He learned how to communicate effectively and avoid building tension that leads to unhealthy conflict. 

Andrew graduated with a degree in business, but he does not believe attending college at a traditional university is a necessity for success. For people looking to start a career in building materials manufacturing, there are many avenues for growth, including trade schools and apprenticeships. Mentors are a great resource for professional development. Andrew credits Steven Gaynor, President of Pivoth, as a positive influence in his career. 

The advice he would give to someone looking to start a career in building materials is to develop a thick skin, a sense of humor and a strong work ethic. The ability to understand problems from different perspectives is also important. Putting yourself in others shoes makes a huge difference when working in teams of manufacturers, contractors, installers and other professionals with specific backgrounds and goals. 

Staying Engaged in a Rapidly Changing Era

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Engaging with other industry professionals is a helpful way to learn more about the market and advancements in technology. Andrew networks through professional groups such as the Construction Specifications Institute and the Building Enclosure Council.  

He explains how important it is to “talk to people that are doing things that aren’t necessarily aligned with what you’re doing specifically so you can learn and you know, just engage, engage, engage.”

To get in touch with Andrew Ashton go to www.centria.com or send him an email at amashton@centria.com. 

Join the Conversation

We’d love to hear your thoughts on this week’s episode! Shoot us an email at buildperspectives@gmail.com.