GGInsights: Q&A With Chris Sanders

GGInsights: Q&A with Assistant Superintendent Chris Sanders

Chris Sanders joined the Gillis Gilkerson team in February 2025 as a Field Engineer, before being promoted to Assistant Superintendent in November 2025.  Chris had almost a decade of previous experience in the construction industry when he joined the team, as well as, advanced carpentry skills and a degree in Construction Management Technology from UMES.  Chris has proven himself to be a strong communicator with excellent organizational skills.  Chris has been primarily assigned to the Amazon Distribution Center project in Salisbury, which is nearing completion. 

We wanted to highlight Chris, to celebrate his stellar start with Gillis Gilkerson.  Chris was a good sport and participated in a light-hearted Q&A.

Q&A Questions:

 In a nutshell, how would you describe your role as Assistant Superintendent?  What types of tasks does that include?

As Assistant Superintendent, it’s my role to assist the jobsite’s primary Superintendent, both physically and in a managerial / supervisory capacity. That could mean anything from physically moving materials to reading plans, preparing paperwork and talking to subcontractors.

At the Amazon Distribution Center – simply being on a jobsite of that magnitude – having an extra-set of eyes and hands is critical.  Logistically, one person can’t cover the whole area at once – but additionally, the build is complex.  The more eyes we have on the plans, the more prepared we can be to resolve problems and stay ahead of issues as they arise.

What initially drew you to the construction industry?  How did you gain hands-on experience?

My father owns a drywall company, so I was able to gain drywall and carpentry experience alongside him in the residential sector. After earning a degree in Construction Management from UMES, I took on roles that were primarily hands-on– as a foreman or a lead carpenter.   My role here at Gillis Gilkerson has been my first experience on the managerial side of a construction project.  I still have hands-on work in this role, but it’s not the primary job responsibility. It’s been an interesting transition.

How do you approach managing and coordinating projects? Any strategies you find most effective?

My number one strategy is to maintain good relationships with subcontractors, with clear lines of communication.  I try to anticipate what a particular subcontractor will have to do, so I can prepare them as best I can for what to expect.  I am going to be upfront and honest.  If they are going to have a tight timeframe or any kind of logistical challenge, I am going to let them know. Communication builds trust. 

From what I can tell, Gillis Gilkerson as a company has a similar mindset, because I hear it every day from subs – that Gillis Gilkerson job sites are the place they would rather be – because of clear communication and pre-established trust.  It’s nice to know I represent a company that has similar values.  Now, I do my part to maintain that standard.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?   

This role has given me the opportunity to change my perspective.  I have learned that hands-on roles aren’t the only path to feeling a sense of satisfaction in construction builds.  Working on the big-picture, managerial side of things is just as rewarding.  Watching a complex structure come together and working with a wide variety of trades has been a great learning experience.

What are some challenges you face in your role? 

The Amazon Distribution Center was my first experience with a commercial building.  Commercial building methods can be similar to the residential industry – but in many ways they are totally different.  There were entire trades involved that I had never encountered.  As someone responsible for managing a timeline – how am I supposed to judge if an unfamiliar trade is ahead of schedule or taking too long?  Without a frame of reference, I had no idea what “on-time” would look like – so I had to ask a lot of questions.  On the Amazon job, trades like fire protection and telecom – even the electricians, at that scale –were completely new experiences for me. 

Any recent job stories / tasks that you have found particularly interesting or memorable?

The pre-cast concrete wall panels that went up at Amazon stand out as memorable.  Technology has developed to the point that these massive pieces can be manufactured off-site.  Everything is factored in precisely – from the elevations to the anchor bolts.  These massive panels arrive on-site, and it actually works out!  Everything fits perfectly. It’s pretty wild. It only took two weeks for the pre-cast concrete wall panels to go up. That amount of precision, at that scale, is impressive.

What advice would you give to someone considering a career as a construction superintendent?

My best advice to someone considering a career as a construction superintendent would be to gain hands-on experience in a single trade or even multiple trades.  This will help you develop your vocabulary and “earn your stripes” – so to speak.  It’s not always a required pathway to this role, but as someone who also has a degree in Construction Management, I would still strongly recommend it.  My degree has prepared me for other aspects of the job, like estimation experience and familiarity with production patterns to be able to forecast timelines –  but hands-on experience still prepares you in a different, highly valuable way.

How do you see the role of technology changing in the construction industry?

I touched on this before with the pre-cast concrete wall panels, but the technology associated with layouts – and the precision they are able to achieve – is so impactful on a real-world build.  The technology – elevation wise – the advancements in survey technology – even two-dimensional layouts – it all makes things go faster, and everything is more accurate.   It’s pretty astounding what the capabilities are now, and they are only getting better.

Outside of work, what are some of your hobbies or interests? How do you unwind and recharge? 

My hobby is still carpentry!  I enjoy being able to use my skills doing side projects here and there.  I do a little bit of everything, from decks to bathroom remodels – that’s definitely my hobby.  But to unwind?  That’s spending time with my family.  We love being together, getting outside and spending time at the beach and by the pool.