Builders at Heart: Winston van Keulen

This article is part of our series Builders at Heart, where we highlight the passions and backgrounds of the Clark team – the things that shape us – that allow us to tackle challenges head-on, solve complex problems, and build what matters.

Meet Winston van Keulen, a superintendent with Clark Construction, currently working in San Diego. Discover how he is progressing in his role and the keys to success he shares with new team members.

Tell us about your background.

I found my way to Clark through a career fair that led to an internship at Atkinson Construction the summer before I graduated college. Originally, I wanted to go into structural engineering, which was my major, and work on the design side. After that internship, I realized how much more fun, involved, and active the construction management side is.

Do you have any background in construction or did anything particular spark your interest in the industry?

In school, I was involved in ASCE building competitions, specifically the steel bridge. I've always found construction fascinating, especially the unique problem-solving aspects of the job, such as design, logistics, planning, and teamwork that goes into it. That interest developed slowly over time—a little in childhood, a little in school, and then a lot during my internship and early career.

My other advice—aside from saying yes to opportunities—is that hard work can make up for inexperience. When you don't know the answer or feel like you're behind, hard work can make the difference and still allow you to have a positive impact on a project.

What brought you to Clark? And what has kept you interested?

No two days have ever been the same, which is why I still love it and want to work here. On top of that, I've had a lot of good mentors throughout the years. I’ve worked in five different regions now – Los Angeles, Central California, Seattle, San Diego, and Phoenix – and I've had different mentors in every single one and kept relationships with them all. It has been a great accumulation of people I trust who can give me good advice.

What project are you currently working on?

I’m currently at the County of San Diego Psychiatric Health Unit Renovation project, which is taking part of an existing facility owned by the County of San Diego and renovating it for expanded behavioral health care. It has a big impact because this expands the county's ability to take care of more people who wouldn't be able to get the care, but also be in a safe space in a typical hospital. These are specialized facilities designed and constructed to prevent harm and keep patients safe. These patients can’t be sent to an emergency room or a typical ICU as they wouldn't be able to provide the specific care needed.

What are you most proud of, either personally or professionally?

On every job I've been on, I've gotten very close with the team. When the team is close, and everyone is rowing in the same direction, no challenge seems insurmountable. I've been on about 14 projects in my short career, and I feel like I walk away with mentors or friendships that last outside of work after every single project. Long story short, I enjoy coming to work every day because of that teamwork.

What would be a piece of advice that you would give someone looking to start a career in construction?

If I were at a career fair, I would say that it's not going to be easy, but every single day is going to be different, and you are going to feel like you accomplished something. What you do has a direct, physical impact on the community or for a business. The first job I was on-site for was a bus maintenance facility for the County of San Diego. It sounds boring, but I can still drive by and say, "That’s the building where I first learned," because I didn't know anything when I started that project. That is something a lot of other professions can't say.

My other advice—aside from saying yes to opportunities—is that hard work can make up for inexperience. When you don't know the answer or feel like you're behind, hard work can make the difference and still allow you to have a positive impact on a project.

 I remind myself that sometimes you have to put in the extra effort to inspect what you expect. That goes a long way into ensuring the overall quality and safety of a project.

What is a memorable piece of advice you received from a Clark mentor?

I had a mentor who brought over a saying from the Navy: "Inspect what you expect." Usually, looking at my successes and failures, I find that I either did or did not do that. Even now, I remind myself that sometimes you have to put in the extra effort to inspect what you expect. That goes a long way into ensuring the overall quality and safety of a project.