Robert (“Bobby”) Gladu is more than a little bit country – he competes on horseback, is learning to ride bulls and can tame the mechanical bull-beast.

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How did you start in the business?

When I was 12, my mother married my stepfather, who was in masonry. When I was 13, I started helping out on weekends and in the summer. At 17, I moved out on my own. I went to school in the morning and worked in the afternoons. My dad’s partner said if I didn’t go to school, I couldn’t work, and I needed the money for my bills and rent.

A lot of 13-year-olds might not enjoy construction work. Did you?

No, I really hated it. I’m a hard worker. In fact, I have probably always pushed myself too hard. However, being a kid, I felt like they used me like a slave.

When did your feelings about the work change?

I started liking it when I began laying brick, basically when I started my own thing in my mid-20s. I bought a wheelbarrow and a shovel and knocked on doors to get business in residential brickwork. I started doing houses. When I wanted more challenge, I switched to commercial work. Today, masonry is my passion. I really enjoy what I do.

What specifically do you enjoy?

In business, when you’re doing paperwork, you don’t really see the outcome of what you’re doing. But when we’re laying brick, you walk away with a good feeling. Sometimes people make fun of me for the way I will go around pointing to buildings in Dallas and saying, ‘Yeah, I did that. I did that one, too, and that one over there.”

We’ve built some beautiful buildings. I enjoy doing intricate, artistic buildings. They’re there forever and you can see them whenever you want.

How did those tough early days contribute to your success?

My stepfather was artistic, so I got the artistic side from him. His partner was a production guy and a hard worker. From him, I got my work ethic. I got qualities from both of them that helped me when I started my own company. I still work hard every day, just as when I started. Currently, we are doing large commercial projects: two high schools back-to-back, some large hospitals, and university projects all at the same time.

What’s it like gearing up for a big job?

When we do a big building, we’ve got to coordinate the movement of a lot of people, materials, and equipment. We’ve got a project now where there are more than 60 men on one job. We’ve got hundreds of thousands of bricks, along with block and stone. It’s like moving a city of equipment and materials. We put all the pieces together.

How do you use technology?

We do virtual modeling, or BIM. That’s where we build the models on the screen with all the materials and colors. We meet with the architects and show them the models of what they drew. We ask them if this was their intent, what they had in mind. That gives them the chance to say “No, here’s what we want.” We can change the design of the building right there in real time.

Is collaboration an industry trend you see continuing?

It’s getting more common. In years past, we had to go through the general contractor to ask the architect questions. Now, especially with design-build, we are more of a team and GC are more willing to allow us to meet with architects.

Over time, I think this will yield fewer problems in the field, deliver a better product more quickly, and result in less cost because there will be fewer change orders at the back end.

You have said you enjoy the artistry of masonry. Do you do anything artistic in your private life?

I do underwater photography. I take pictures of shipwrecks, underwater plant and animal life. I took classes with a professional photographer in south Florida. I began scuba diving when I was 13. I enjoy the peacefulness and the beauty under water.

What does it look like under the ocean?

I tell everybody that it’s the other half of God’s creation. On the surface of the ocean, you see all that blue. But when you’re under water, you see the vibrant reds and yellows – the colors you don’t see on the surface.

Are you interested in any sports?

I play racquetball. I’m not a bad loser, but I’m competitive. Of course, I love football. I ride my motorcycle. I still play a little bit of golf. I do a little hunting. Right now, my newest thing is that I have a trainer who is teaching me how to ride bulls. And I’m real big into horses.

What form does that interest take for you?

I do team penning. We use cutting horses and you have a team with you. You’ve got to get three cows out of herd with the numbers on them that match and bring them to another arena from this small pen. You’re racing and punching cattle really fast.

Do you have family?

I got married in November. My bride is finishing her second master’s degree. She’s a very good girl, very sweet. She shares many of my interests, too. Since she met me, she’s gotten a motorcycle license and scuba diving certificate. She’s taking horseback riding lessons with a trainer.

What about extended family?

I’ve got two brothers and a sister that I’m very close with. My mom and dad are divorced, but I am close with them. I’ve got a lot of nieces and nephews and a lot of friends. All of my family is here in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, except my dad. One of my brothers is a supplier of cast stone to Artisan Masonry, but the rest of the family is not in the business at all.

What is your relationship like with your employees?

I’m very close with my employees. To me, it’s like a family. I do things outside of work with some of the employees, things like hunting and golf. I go out to dinner with some of them and their families.

How would you describe yourself as a boss?

I never get mad. I never cuss. I am quietly stubborn. I treat everyone well, but I expect results. And I feel like we do good work. I hire really good, hard-working, honest people who enjoy what they do. We make a good team. I always say please and thank you. I really appreciate everyone.

Do you hold any company events?

At the end of the year, I catered a barbecue lunch for everyone at the office. I gave everyone a t-shirt and a coffee mug with Artisan Masonry on it. I had a mechanical bull come out for everyone to ride. The top two riders got cash prizes. Everyone enjoyed that and we had a good time.

For the foremen, project managers, and estimators, I do an end-of-the-year party, something I’ve done for the last four years. I always give jewelry to the wives of the foreman and the project managers. In case the wives at home think their husband is being worked too hard or not getting paid enough, I want to get the women on my side, too.

How do you look at life?

I love life. To me, life is like a competitive sport and I love playing games. I’m a very positive person. If you’re positive, things are going to work out. I also work out constantly, which helps me to not get stressed out so I can handle things better.

What are you especially proud of in your career?

When I was vice president of the Texas Masonry Council, I suggested a certification program for masons to national officers and they picked up on the idea. Artisan Masonry is one of only three masonry companies in Texas that has achieved this certification and one of only 13 companies nationwide.

What are you proud of personally?

My faith. I am one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. That’s one decision I made that I completely, wholeheartedly believe is correct. I’m very proud of that. I used to be a different faith. I think being one of Jehovah’s Witnesses has a lot to do with who I am today.

Is there any goal you have for your business in the next year?

We’ve switched gears to adapt to the economy. We are getting a lot of public work right now, as well as a lot of medical projects. One thing that I’m focusing on now, and will be for the next couple years, is doing more work in granite. I just purchased a granite company yesterday. We’re also going to start doing some steel erecting. So it’s a package deal. We’re growing, but slowly. I am more interested in making Artisan Masonry the best, not the biggest, it can be.  –mh

©2010 Construction News, Ltd.