As promised, our Employee Spotlight series puts the focus on the people behind the work at ATMI Precast. This month, we’re excited to introduce Justin Foote.
Getting to Know Justin
What’s your current role at ATMI Precast?
I am the Director of Estimating.
How long have you been with ATMI Precast?
I started my career with ATMI Dynacore, where I worked from 1998 to 2005. I then worked with Walsh Construction from 2005 to 2008 before returning to ATMI Precast in 2008.
How did you get started in the precast industry?
After receiving my associate’s degree in construction management from Purdue, I responded to classified ads in the Chicago Tribune. At the time, Jim Armbruster had recently acquired ATMI Dynacore from J.W. Peters & Sons in 1998. They were hiring both an Engineering Manager and an Estimator. Ray Groth was hired as the Engineering Manager, and I was hired as the Estimator. We both started on the same day—June 1, 1998.
ATMI’s office was still located on the second floor of Old Second National Bank on Downer Place, and I still remember picking up our Gateway desktop computers in the cow-print boxes they used to come in.
What’s your favorite part about working with precast?
I particularly enjoy working with precast because it’s a unique material in a unique and continually evolving market. Many people are familiar with more conventional construction materials like cast-in-place concrete, steel, and masonry. Precast shares similarities with each of them, but it also stands in a class of its own.
What’s one project you’re especially proud to have worked on? Why?
There have been many projects I’ve enjoyed working on. On the hollow-core plank side, I particularly enjoyed The Glen project at the former Glenview Naval Base. Now known as The Vi at The Glen, it included some unique precast balcony slabs in addition to hollow-core plank. It was a large project at the time for us and it was a beautiful campus.
More broadly, the variety of projects we work on at ATMI Precast is what keeps the job exciting. From parking garages to data centers, from multi-family residential systems to industrial warehouses, and from athletic complexes to auto malls—the work is never boring.
What do you enjoy most about being part of the ATMI team?
I enjoy the fast-paced nature of the business and the opportunity to collaborate with other departments. Working together to develop comprehensive solutions for complex projects is one of the most rewarding parts of the job.
What advice would you give to someone considering a career in precast?
First, be eager to learn. Listen, observe, and absorb as much as possible. There are many aspects to precast—engineering, fabrication, transportation, and logistics. Over time, developing a strong understanding of each area is key.
What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned from working at ATMI?
Many of the lessons I’ve learned at work are similar to life lessons in general. Mistakes will happen, but it’s important to keep them small and avoid major blunders. Do what you say you will do and always try to maintain integrity.
Who has influenced or mentored you in your career?
Two of my earliest mentors were Mike Zeier and George Guenther at ATMI Dynacore. I also learned from Ray Groth on the engineering side, who studied under Ming King at PEC.
What makes the people here different from other teams you’ve worked with?
From my perspective, each department brings a unique viewpoint to the business. Everyone works toward the greater good of the company rather than focusing solely on individual departmental success. I think that speaks volumes about the culture at ATMI.
What do you like to do outside of work?
My hobbies include boating, taking walks, working out, and traveling when I can.
What’s your idea of a perfect Saturday?
It would definitely involve the boat. After a cruise, I’d anchor off the Indiana Dunes near Mount Baldy—75 degrees, sunny, waves at one foot or less—with a mocktail in hand, good music playing, and the sound of family talking and laughing.
Do you have any secret talents?
I can juggle!
Tell us about a time where ATMI delivered on “As Promised”.
For me, this wouldn’t be that interesting. Delivering on deadlines and doing what we say we will do is part of our day to day operation.
As promised, our Employee Spotlight series puts the focus on the people behind the work at ATMI Precast. This month, we’re excited to introduce Steve Granato.
Getting to Know Steve
What’s your current role at ATMI Precast?
I am a “Senior Project Coordinator” which involves coordinating with the internal team. Modeler (who is responsible for creating the shop drawings), Design Engineer (who is responsible for connection and panel design) and the Piece Part Drafter (who is responsible for creating the drawings used for panel production). I guide the team through the approval and production process; all the while working with the external team (GC, AOR, EOR). I am also responsible for coordinating with the production and erection teams (as well as performing QC along the way).
I have been a good resource for Production to call with issues early in the morning or when a job’s Project Coordinator is unavailable.
Periodically, I have been tasked with training Modelers, Piece Part Drafters, and future Project Coordinators.
How long have you been with ATMI Precast?
I’ve been here with ATMI Precast for 10 years.
What is one project you’re especially proud to have worked on? Why?
There are two projects I am proud to have worked on: V-Tec and Orchestra Hall.
V-Tech was a project that was never built, but several precast panels were produced. Vertical and horizontal panels were shaped like canoes. The process of figuring out how to present this information to the Mold Maker was very challenging and rewarding.
During extensive renovations of the Orchestra Hall, existing terra-cotta cornices at parapet needed to be removed and reinstalled by embedding into precast and hung from reconstructed facade. The collaboration required between GC, AOR, EOR, Precaster, and Erector was quite the learning experience.
What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned from working at ATMI?
Listen to, learn from, collaborate with, and trust ALL the “teams” at ATMI (Engineering, Production, Erection, Project Management, etc…)
Who has influenced or mentored you in your career?
I have been doing this for nearly 50 years and have many mentors. The top three are as follows:
Fred Hakimian- Architect
I worked for Fred for 25 years, learning how to detail precast and communicate to architects, engineers, production and erection crews through well-prepared shop drawings.
Erhard Garni- owner of Advanced Cast Stone.
I was fortunate to have prepared erection and production drawings for this experienced Precaster. He was always willing to share his knowledge.
Tom Blazek- VP of Engineering, Gate Precast-Monvoeville
Extremely good Precast Engineer, well versed in production and erection concerns. He placed a good deal of trust in me and I gained much confidence as a result.
How would you describe the culture of ATMI Precast to someone new?
The culture at ATMI Precast is definitely one of teamwork. Most every person in every department is willing to extend their knowledge and experience in the advancement of a successful project/coworker!
What do you like to do outside of work?
Exercise, cooking, and reading. My first grandchild will be born in April, and I plan for her to replace one of the above!
What’s one word your teammates would use to describe you?
Resource.
What’s your favorite saying, quote, or piece of advice you live by?
“Speed kills.”
Tell us about a time where ATMI delivered on “As Promised”.
Quite honestly, every project that I have worked on in my 10 years at ATMI, “As Promised” was ATMI’s mantra long before it became their slogan.
As promised, our Employee Spotlight series puts the focus on the people behind the work at ATMI Precast. This month, we’re excited to introduce Abbie Armbruster.
Getting to Know Abbie
What’s your current role at ATMI Precast?
My current role is Business and Employee Development.
How long have you been with ATMI Precast?
I’ve been here for a little over five years, officially.
How did you get started in the precast industry?
I was born into the industry. My dad started ATMI Precast so I have been around precast since I can remember.
What advice would you give to someone considering a career in precast?
I would say that 99% of people who join our team do not come into the industry with precast experience. So do not let that intimidate you from getting into the industry or joining the ATMI Precast team because there is no precast school out there. Everything is just hands-on. So as long as you’re someone who is open to learning and open to new ideas, you will be successful.
What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned from working at ATMI?
Precast moves so quickly. So, I think the main thing that I have learned is you cannot over-communicate between the different departments, especially because there’s so much going on. We’re all kind of in our own worlds in each of our departments, but if you learn something and another department isn’t aware, that could affect so many other things down the road. So over-communicating is one of the key things I have learned in my time here.
What’s one word your teammates would use to describe you?
Positive. Because it’s such a fast-paced environment that we’re working in and your stress levels can be high with a never ending to do list, I try to always have a smile on my face when I’m greeting my colleagues and just stay positive to help keep others positive around me.
What’s your idea of a perfect Saturday?
A perfect Saturday is waking up at my house, having a leisurely start to my day, maybe a trip to Costco with my daughter, and probably watching some sporting event on TV and hanging out and relaxing with my family.
Do you have any secret talents or hobbies?
I really enjoy reading outside of work. I enjoy reading historical fiction with a little bit of real history but has that story element incorporated into it. I’m currently reading The Briar Club by Kate Quinn. It’s a standalone book that features a murder mystery. I’m very curious to find out what the historical piece of the story is that’s true. I’m really enjoying it and don’t want to put it down.