Meet Jeremy Cook, project manager at New Generation Construction (NGC).
Tell us a little about your business. – NGC (www.ngcgroupinc.com) is a commercial contracting firm headquartered in Lincoln. We are a younger, innovative company that’s focused on relationship building as a core value. I’ve benefited from our company’s approach and have had the opportunity to partner with repeat clients and subcontractors around the city on many of our projects.
How did you get started in the business? – I grew up on a family farm and was conditioned to work hard. I enjoyed working with my hands and watching things come together. I graduated from the UNL as a construction management student. After graduation, I went to work for Kiewit, which was an incredible learning experience. When I decided it was important for me to establish my own roots in Nebraska, I got hooked up with NGC and the rest is history.
What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally? – Navigating construction during the pandemic. We’ve been confronted as an industry to find better, more efficient ways to collaborate and get things done.
What has been your most important achievement professionally? – I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to continue taking on more challenging, complex projects at NGC. This has allowed me to develop my technical skills as a project manager, while improving my interpersonal skills required for successful relationships. I’m also proud to be trusted with training and developing project engineers.
Tell us a little about your family. – I grew up on a farm with my parents and sister. I watched my mom and dad work hard to provide for our family, which shaped me into the man I am today. I live with my girlfriend and our dog near the same farm I grew up on.
What do you see as one of the biggest turning points in your life? – My dad passed away from cancer six years ago. That experience was a real reminder that life is short, and moments are important.
What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? – I recently fully remodeled a house east of Lincoln, so I spend a lot of my time on projects at home. I enjoy working on my project car in my shop, renovating my barn, and the endless tasks that get added to my list. My family and friends all live close, so I enjoy spending time with them.
What is your favorite quote or the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? – As I’ve transitioned into project management, I’ve been challenged to “teach a man to fish”. It is my personality to just get things done myself, but I’ve benefited from having other team members around me that rely on my direction. It’s been a rewarding task to train and develop others, which in turn, has allowed me to be more productive in my own role.
If you could choose only one descriptive word to be remembered as, what would it be? – Driven. I enjoy putting in persistent effort to achieve goals and I take a lot of pride in working hard until the job is done.
If you could have a super power, what would it be? – Probably telepathy. I’d like to always know what people are thinking.
What is your greatest talent that you don’t utilize in your daily work life? – Putting away 12 pieces of pizza in one sitting. I don’t recommend trying it.
What is your favorite local restaurant? – El Potrero. It is very hard for me to pass up the opportunity to enjoy chips and salsa with a margarita.
If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? – (402) 261-5489; jcook@ngcgroupinc.com; www.ngcgroupinc.com.