Associate Spotlight: Jim Caesar – Where the Wind & Curiosity Lead

For as long as he can remember, Jim Caesar has been in motion – curious, hands-on and ready to tackle the next challenge. His grandfather, an architect and engineer, sparked his fascination with how things were built and how they operated. His mother, a creative doer, nurtured that curiosity, even when it meant letting Jim disassemble things around the house.

Recognizing his natural hands-on curiosity, Jim’s grandfather encouraged him to pursue a career in the design or building industry that would get him out of the office. “’Avoid a full time desk job and get yourself around the people and the projects,’ he told me. And his advice was right. “I’ve always enjoyed problem solving, networking and collaborating with people to see what we can create together,” shared Jim.

Chasing Greatness

After earning a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management from Bradley University, Jim joined a general contracting firm. But his curiosity about the entire building process fueled a search for opportunities offering a broader view of the business vertical. He wanted to understand the why behind early decisions and to help shape the direction of projects earlier in the process. That drive led him to our doors in 1996, where our design-build approach and focus on entrepreneurship, integrity and collaboration immediately stood out.

“It felt like the perfect fit. The people here talked about the things I cared about most – relationships, quality work, treating people well and finding creative ways to solve complex problems.”

A perfect fit indeed as evidenced by Jim’s tenure and volume of accomplishments – completing more than 20 million square feet of industrial projects, three million square feet of office and tenant improvement projects, and 2,300 multifamily units – and lauded attributes – active listening, strategic thinking and earnest leadership. Yet he is quick to point to a great company culture, team members and mentors supporting those accomplishments.

“I’ve learned from some talented and caring mentors, and I’m surrounded by incredible colleagues and clients. My greatest joy is in uniting with like-minded people in pursuit of an ambitious goal and, hopefully, eventually accomplishing something great.”

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

Bringing passionate people together around a common goal comes naturally to Jim and is an instinct that has carried him through some of his most complex projects, including the ArborBlu student housing development. The project involved building a high rise vertical expansion above an operating pizza restaurant on an urban site. As Jim stated, “There were a thousand reasons why the deal might not have worked out, but teamwork made it possible and ultimately successful.”

Teamwork is also prevalent in Jim’s personal pursuits. As the skipper of Liquid Lounge or when crewing on other sailboats, he races competitively around the world, often leading his crew through unpredictable conditions that he likens to “playing chess on a moving chess board.” Sailing, he said, demands many of the same essential skills he relies on in his work life: people development, team management, ensuring accountability, reacting in real time to the need for tactical adjustments and keeping calm and focused when the conditions shift.

“Whether in my career or personal life, the efforts that require the most teamwork are always the most rewarding to me,” Jim said.

Chasing Horizons

Although he competes in around 60 races a year, Jim’s list of hobbies doesn’t end where the sea meets the sky. “I could fill 20 lifetimes with all of my hobbies,” he mused. “I like to keep busy.”

One of his current interests is winemaking. For the past three years, Jim, his wife and his brother-in-law have been making wine under the label Poppa Dida, named after his and his wife’s grandfathers, both of whom also made wine. The trio is now preparing to grow their own grapes. “It’s another form of craftsmanship,” he said. “Like construction or sailing, there’s science, art and teamwork in it.”

Whether steering a boat through a storm, leading a complex project or blending varieties of grapes, Jim approaches every challenge with the same energy and curiosity that’s defined him since childhood. “I’ve been lucky,” he said. “I found what I love to do early on and the passion for it keeps me going. There’s always another challenge, another opportunity to bring people together, another horizon to chase.”

For Jim, that horizon isn’t just a destination – it’s a mindset. It’s what’s kept him curious, creative, collaborative and constantly moving forward, no matter where the wind takes him.