This edition of Counterpart pits two long-time Rafn Superintendents against each other. Todd Miller has recently been doing pre-development work on AMLI Residential’s upcoming Redmond Apartments project, and Todd Morran is currently the Superintendent on our Bush School Gracemont renovation project. Who better to compare Todd to than Todd? And as you will read, these two have more similarities than most!
Number of years at Rafn?
Miller: 22 years.
Morran: 15 years.
What is the best thing about construction?
Miller: The continued sense of accomplishment realized by completing all the little projects along that amass to a major project.
Morran: The satisfaction of building or restoring a building that will last.
Who would win in an arm wrestling match?
Miller: Todd.
Morran: Todd.
Who would play you in a movie?
Miller: Ben Affleck from Pearl Harbor.
Morran: Michael J. Fox from Back to the Future.
What does the construction industry need more of?
Miller: Skilled tradespeople.
Morran: Skilled workers.
Weirdest job you’ve ever had?
Miller: Not really weird, but a full-service gas station attendant, only because of all the unique interactions and situations encountered. After a while you knew what everyone was up to.
Morran: Apartment building manager.
One sport you would never try?
Miller: Figure skating.
Morran: Sky diving.
Funniest construction story?
Miller: I have so many, this could go on for a while. Maybe the time the guy was looking for the lost and found to turn in someone’s cell phone that was dripping with a not-so-mysterious blue chemical. I told him it was his lucky day; he could keep it.
Morran: Five people standing around looking at a stain on a new wall trying to figure out what caused it. Five minutes into the conversation a cleaner walks up with a duster and wipes the dust off the wall. Someone had a chop saw set up nearby and it lightly dusted the wall.
Your favorite food?
Miller: Tacos since every culture seems to have their version of a taco so you’d always have something new to try.
Morran: Tacos.
Favorite musician?
Miller: Bruce Dickenson since who wouldn’t want to be a rock star, airline pilot, and fencing champion?
Morran: Carlos Santana.
Last movie you liked so much you watched it twice?
Miller: The Aviator.
Morran: Rogue One.
Talent you wish you had?
Miller: Guitar, and not classical.
Morran: Musician.
Most under-appreciated job on a construction site?
Miller: A good Project Engineer.
Morran: Sani-Can cleaner.
Who was your childhood hero?
Miller: Bob “Hurricane” Hannah, Ivan “Iron Man” Stewart, Rambo, and Charles Lindbergh.
Morran: Father.
Best piece of advice for someone starting out / considering the construction industry?
Miller: Spend as much time in the field as you can.
Morran: Watch and learn.