Meet Johnny Taylor, Project Engineer at Peak Construction
Johnny recently joined Peak Construction as a Project Engineer and is already diving into exciting projects while learning the ropes of the industry. With a degree from Purdue University, multiple internships, and a knack for connecting with people, Johnny brings fresh energy, curiosity, and a love for seeing projects come to life.
Tell us about your role at Peak Construction.
As a Project Engineer, my role includes building contracts, connecting with subcontractors, negotiating pricing through value engineering, and preparing weekly job reports. I’m still new, but I’ve been able to take on meaningful responsibilities from the start. The big focus for me right now is being thorough—covering every detail and not skipping steps—because even the smallest oversight can have a ripple effect on a project.
What drew you to Peak Construction?
I already had great connections at Peak, and I knew from talking with them that it was a solid company with a great culture. When I started learning more about Peak, I was drawn to the size of the company—it’s big enough to take on interesting, complex projects but not so big that you feel like just another cog in the machine. At Peak, the work you do matters, and your contributions are noticed. If you weren’t here, your absence would be felt. That sense of responsibility motivates me to do my best work. I also appreciated how honest and straightforward everyone was during my early conversations—they didn’t sugarcoat anything, and I knew exactly what I was walking into. That kind of transparency is rare and refreshing.
How would you describe Peak’s company culture?
It’s professional but relaxed in the best way possible. You can be in the middle of a serious discussion about a project, but if someone makes a joke, people aren’t afraid to laugh. There’s a balance here between taking the work seriously and creating an environment where people actually enjoy coming to work.
Another huge part of the culture is how helpful people are. When I have a question, my coworkers are quick to stop what they’re doing to walk me through it. That willingness to make time for each other is a big deal, especially for someone like me who’s still learning the ropes. It makes the company feel more collaborative and team-oriented.
What inspired you to pursue a career in construction?
My counselor at Purdue suggested it after getting to know me, saying she thought my personality was a good fit for the industry. I decided to give it a try, and I quickly found that I loved it.
The people in construction are down-to-earth, fun, and easy to get along with—it feels like working with a big extended family. And the work itself is incredibly rewarding. There’s nothing quite like walking through a building and knowing you played a part in bringing it to life. A lot of jobs don’t give you something tangible you can point to and say, “I helped build that,” and I think that’s what hooked me.
What skills do you think are most critical for success in your role?
Being thorough is at the top of the list. Making sure every detail is correct, every number is checked, and every assumption is confirmed prevents problems down the line.
Communication is another big one. You have to be comfortable picking up the phone, asking questions, and admitting when you don’t know something. There’s a lot of specialized knowledge in construction, and you can’t know it all right away—it’s better to ask now than to find out later you missed something important.
Adaptability is also key. You need to know how to approach different audiences, whether you’re talking to an owner you’re trying to win work from, a subcontractor you’ve built a relationship with, or someone new to the project team. Each conversation requires a slightly different tone and approach.
What projects are you most excited about right now?
Two projects stand out for me. The first is the Peak Distribution Center. It’s located in North Vegas, and the setting is unlike anything I’ve worked in before—it’s almost like being on Mars. The soil, heat, dust, and water management challenges are all unique to the area, so I’m learning a lot just by being exposed to a completely different environment.
The second is a warehouse build-out in Joliet. This project is exciting for a different reason—I’ve been given a lot of ownership in the bidding process, which is helping me gain confidence and take more responsibility.
What are you most excited to learn in your current role?
I’m really looking forward to learning more about negotiation—how to build relationships while still working toward the best business outcome for the project. There’s a skill to balancing trust and professionalism, and I’m lucky to have mentors here, like Arthur, who are great at it.
I’m also interested in the financial side of construction—how to allocate and manage money effectively throughout a project. Those skills aren’t just valuable at work; they’re things I can carry into other areas of life.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
I try to keep a balance between being active and creative. Right now, I’m training in jiu jitsu, which I started about six weeks ago. It’s been a great challenge and a completely new skill set for me. I also play acoustic guitar—just for fun—and enjoy woodworking. I’ve built several custom cornhole boards, planter boxes, and other small projects for friends and family.
I think there’s a common thread between my hobbies and my work—I enjoy creating things, whether it’s a building, a piece of furniture, or a song. It’s satisfying to take an idea and turn it into something real.
I think creating things, whether at work or in my free time, has always been something I’m drawn to.
