CAMEO
babm.com/cameos
16 | NOV/DEC 2011
there now, and Miriah is a graduate student of architecture at the University of Florida.
Will the young ladies take over the company someday? Karcher prefers not to predict the future. “They may have their own ideas,” he said. Add to this team the experienced and loyal Jill Colledge, who has been with the company 30 years. Colledge began working part-time in the office, doing the paperwork and coordinating the fieldwork required for a construction job. Today she is project manager and Karcher’s “right hand.” Karcher knows her value and describes Colledge as “a walking encyclopedia” of the trade. She is very “talented” and “respected” by the contractors and clients with whom she interfaces.
When asked to describe a typical day in the life of Dan Karcher, Karcher said, “There is no such thing. Every day is different and that’s the way I like it.” Karcher does have a routine, however varied, that includes meeting with customers, estimating, site visits and conferring with the staff at his office located at 2279 Tall Pines Dr. in Largo. There also are continuing education classes to be taken, as required for a contractor to be state certified, as he is, with projects totaling more than $100 million across the state.
To enhance the knowledge gleaned from workshops designed especially for contractors, Karcher enlisted for several years as his business coach Henry Goudreau, a civil engineer and former construction firm owner. “I truly recommend coaching as an
opportunity to learn and improve. It is important to listen to industry associates and not become stale or short-sighted,” Karcher said.
As Dan Karcher Construction Inc. transitioned from a small general construction company into a diverse company, Karcher and wife Diann juggled personal growth with growth of the business. Karcher refuses to be completely absorbed by his work, taking time out for fly fishing at the Florida Keys several times a year, and to travel abroad. He and Diann have visited the Emerald Isles and the Tuscany region in Italy.
“I love the outdoors and fly fishing is a good way to enjoy it. I find the sport peaceful and challenging,” said Karcher. “The spring and the fall are the best times to fish. Casting a rod gives me a chance to unwind and put things in perspective, so I’m ready for the next challenge.”
“Traveling has been inspirational,” said Karcher, leading him to the building of bungalows influenced by architecture in Key West. And with ideas flowing from his Tuscany visit, Karcher recently built a palatial structure on the Intracoastal Waterway, its design reflecting the southern European part of the globe. He worked with the same homeowner on several houses and renovations. “That is probably the biggest reward of the business,” said Karcher, “When we capture the dreams and visions of homeowners and they come back to us as repeat customers.”
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