At Stansell Construction, we don’t just talk about safety – we live it every day. This year, Stansell committed to pull back the curtain on the experts making safety happen on our jobsites each and every day.
The Stansell Safety Spotlight allows people to meet the experts behind our Quick Service Restaurant construction projects and discover their passion for keeping every project safe and every client satisfied. Through this monthly feature, you’ll get a front-row seat to their strategies, stories, and commitment to protecting our teams.
This month’s Stansell Safety Spotlight shines on Superintendent Dave Murray.
For Superintendent Dave Murray, commercial construction wasn’t necessarily the career he expected, but it’s certainly the one that shaped him. Originally from the Twin Cities area of Minnesota, Dave’s path into the industry began the way many great stories do: by accident.
What started as “a summer job” during college quickly turned into something more. He began framing houses as a carpenter helper, moving lumber and learning tools he already loved using.
“I’ve always liked doing woodworking stuff since I was a kid,” he shared. But Minnesota winters -- and long days in the elements -- pushed him to keep moving forward. “I hated it… I was like, all right, I have to finish college so I can get out of Minnesota.”
Dave eventually made his way to Florida, unsure at first whether he’d stay. But one winter in the Sunshine State convinced him. In 2016, he joined Stansell Construction -- back when the company had about 25 employees. He didn’t even realize he was interviewing with the owner, John Stege, at the time. Their shared upper‑Midwest roots made the moment stick.
“I pretended I liked the Green Bay Packers,” said the Minnesota native. “He probably caught on to that.”
While Dave has left and returned to Stansell a few times -- particularly around COVID -- he keeps coming back to one thing: the people. “I felt like people were kind of intertwined together. We’re all kind of here for the bigger picture.”
The mentorship he’s received from leaders has left a lasting impact:
“[Owners] John Stege and Jim Kurtz… they’ve been mentors to me, not just bosses. I’ve become a better person under their leadership and mentorship.”
If there’s one thing that defines Dave’s leadership style, it’s his constant, unwavering attention to safety. For him, it isn’t a task or a checklist -- it’s a daily discipline.
“Safety is just as important as electrical, plumbing, everything,” said Dave. “But the unique thing about safety is it is ongoing, constant maintenance from start to finish.”He believes it begins the moment you step out of your truck and doesn’t end until you leave the site. And it’s not just about PPE compliance -- it's about preventing life‑changing accidents.
Growing up working on farms, Dave witnessed or heard of real tragedies that still stay with him today—from equipment accidents to fatal falls. One story involved a father losing his toddler son in a horrific equipment accident on a farm. Another story involved another one of the father’s sons losing his life in a construction site accident. These memories fuel his vigilance.
“I don’t want to ever have to deal with something like that happening,” said Dave. “On Stansell Construction jobsites, I’m constantly always looking out for people doing unsafe things to try to prevent any accidents.”
He leads by example from the moment he steps foot on the job.
“As soon as I get out of my truck, I got my vest on, my hard hat… I even keep hearing protection in my pouch because I hate loud noises.”
When heavy equipment is moving, Dave becomes even more alert. He’ll drop everything to serve as an extra spotter, saying: “I ultimately don’t want to see anyone get hurt. There’s always risks out there.”
His colleagues have seen firsthand how Dave leads by example on the safety front at Stansell Construction.
“Dave always has safety as a priority,” said Stansell Project Manager Will Brickey. “He’s very conscious of it and runs a tight ship with the Trade Partners, which is very important, especially on Circle K projects where the ground is excavated.”
Added Project Manager James Tigue, who also works with Dave on Circle K projects and more. “Dave is a very good Superintendent and communicator. He stays on top of his stuff. All I hear from clients is compliments. That includes the safety part of the project. He always leads by example by wearing safety gear.”
To Dave, the window for ensuring safety starts the second Trade Partners arrive onsite. He doesn’t assume anyone knows Stansell’s expectations -- he repeats them early and often. And humor helps:
“I tell them we have a really nasty safety guy who’ll come ripping people apart,” Dave said sarcastically. “So, let’s just all put on our hard hats and work safely today.”
But the people who work closest with Dave on his projects believe the consistent compliance he has on safety on his jobsites is to his credit, no one else’s.
“Dave leads by example on safety,” said Area Supervisor Joel Stengel. “He always has on his PPE, and if he notices someone not in compliance on our jobsites, he takes care of it immediately.”
Dave considers accident‑free days the true measure of success.
“To me, that’s like, ‘Mission accomplished!’”
Speaking of success, Dave’s colleagues believe his approach to communication and projects is why he succeeds in both safety and delivering high-quality projects to satisfied clients.
“Dave holds Trade Partners accountable for safety and the quality of work,” said Will. “And all of that shows in the finished products he delivers to clients for Stansell.”
When asked who he works safe for, Dave shared a personal answer with a smile. He keeps his 5-year-old French Bulldog, Georgie, on his badge. But his real answer goes deeper.
“I really work safe for everybody,” said Dave. “Their safety means a lot to me and I feel responsible for it.”
Dave brings the same sense of responsibility to client relationships. Over the years, he’s learned that clean and organized jobsites create trust, reduce stress, and show professionalism.
“I can take a broom out and make the jobsite look pretty good in about 20 minutes,” said Dave. “The Trade Partners will follow your lead.”
And when he sees a potential issue on drawings or during planning, he brings it up early.
“I won’t create an emergency,” he says, but proactive communication shows clients that Stansell is thinking ahead.
“They realize we have the same common goal … to deliver the highest quality and get the job turned over as quickly as we can,” Dave said.
Added Will: “One of the reasons why the clients like Dave is because of his proactive and consistent communication. He is organized and keeps clients in the loop and alerts them to potential issues and what is coming up. He knows what the clients’ expectations are, and takes care of them accordingly.”
Beyond construction, Dave has a surprising passion: studying law. It started with his sister teaching him about mortgage fraud, and it grew from there. He’s used that knowledge to protect himself financially -- and he enjoys helping others understand their rights.
Another unexpected discovery? He’s actually great at calculus, a skill he uncovered when returning to college at 30. But he doesn’t take himself too seriously about it.
“I don’t want to be an astrophysicist,” Dave said jokingly. “If we can go to Mars, great. But I’m never going to go!”
When reflecting on Stansell’s 4 Pillars (core values) -- Character, Integrity, Work Ethic, and How We Treat People -- Dave couldn’t choose one.
“There isn’t a top Pillar,” said Dave. “They’re all intertwined.”
And in many ways, that’s exactly how he approaches the job: all‑in, every day, for safety, for clients, and for people.
