Brian Starnes

W.B. Hopke Congratulates Superintendent Brian Starnes for Thirteen Years of Loyalty and Service

W.B. Hopke would like to recognize superintendent, Brain Starnes and thank him for 13 years of supervisory excellence. Brian has been in the construction industry for more than 30 years and has had a stellar career. For those that don’t know Brian, we’d like to share his story and pay tribute to a man who has always put forth extra effort for Hopke.

When Brian was 17, he enlisted in the US Army to serve his country and fulfill his military obligation. When he exited the Army he wasn’t sure what to do. So, like his father who worked for William Hazel, he got into the construction business and has been succeeding ever since.

Brian worked for 10 years and became the General Superintendent for Rice Contracting Corporation in Manassas, VA. Then when Rice Contracting went out of business, Brian was approached by Chuck Johnson to work for Hopke as a Superintendent. He interviewed with Jimbo Cloniger and opted for the foreman position and was hired for the job the next day – that was in July of 2009. The superintendent position was always there for him and Chuck kept pushing him to take the position which he did and holds to this day.

As a Hopke superintendent, Brian has a lot of responsibilities. His primary responsibility is to visit and oversee multiple sites and crews. Brian said, “I visit and check up on the sites and make sure the foremen have what they need at the site. I make sure that the crews are keeping safe and getting the materials and equipment they need to keep their project moving.”

When asked what he likes most about his job, Brian said, “I like the interaction with the guys in the field. I enjoy that. And I like any new challenges that each job brings. One that stands out in my mind is the Old Saint Elizabeths project that is now the New Coast Guard and Homeland Security Headquarters. The Coast Guard project was hot in the middle of summer and our crews had to wear Tyvek suits because Saint Elizabeths burned a lot of coal back in the day and the ash was thick and covered everything. That was a challenge I won’t forget. Our trenches were 40 feet deep and we still hit ash. Another project that stands out is the one we did for Cardinal Elementary. That was a huge project with an underground detention system installed under the ball fields.”

When asked what he likes most about working for Hopke, like many others that have answered before him, Brian likes the way Hopke takes care of their employees. They provide turkeys and hams at the holidays, cards and notes, and annual company picnics. “Hopke does not treat their employees like another number. Some of the huge companies have no clue who their employees are. At Hopke we are treated with respect and they know who we are. It’s always been that way since I’ve been here,” Brian said.

Hopke is also concerned about the safety of their employees. As a superintendent, Brian says “I am a firm believer in keeping our guys safe at all times. No one wants to see a guy get hurt on their watch. So, we do everything we can to make sure our guys go home with their fingers and toes.”

Brian offered a little advice for the younger guys looking for a career and success with Hopke and remarked “the young guys need to understand that this business is a marathon, not a sprint. Meaning employees will go further with Hopke and with their careers if they invest the time it takes to learn the company. Some employees will leave their position to take a job for a dollar or so more, whereas had they remained at Hopke and learned what they needed to learn, they could rise in the company and increase their pay scale. Hopke provides plenty of opportunities for employees to excel and succeed.”

Chuck Johnson was the biggest influence in Brian’s career with Hopke. He persuaded Brian to step up to the next level at Hopke and take the superintendent position. Brian finally accepted that position and has been doing a great job ever since.

Brian has been married for 30 years. He and his wife Lisa live in front Royal VA. They have two children – a son who works for Hopke as a foreman and a daughter. They also have two wonderful grandchildren. Brian enjoys spending time with his grand kids and hunting and fishing.

Contact W.B. Hopke about a career in utility installation and site work at 703-971-0404 or info@wbhopke.com.