Our Blog

Confidence - A Self-Starter Attitude

Chuck was on his own at this new school. He had to make new friends, acclimate to a new culture, and take the public bus to and from school. Being uncomfortable is what Chuck needed to start learning about himself, his skills, and his weaknesses. After high school, he went to Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston. Again, Chuck pushed himself out of his comfort zone, except this time, it was on a larger scale. He was new to Boston and living away from his family for the first time. Chuck used this opportunity to build upon the self-confidence he acquired from switching high schools.

Chuck’s confidence manifests itself as a self-starter attitude. He's not afraid to be uncomfortable to reap new rewards. His decision to spearhead the development of C.E. Floyd’s Connecticut office exemplifies this. In 2006, Chuck uprooted his wife and two sons from the home they had built in Massachusetts to move to Connecticut for this new business venture. Chuck accredits this choice to being “young and dumb,” yet it turned out to be a significant and successful development in his career and the company’s story. He dealt with all the hard work, the bumps along the road, and the discomfort because he believed in his ability to create something great.

Work Ethic - Learn What You Don't Know

At the end of the project, a big push was necessary to get everything done in time. Chuck didn’t have the financial tools or skills to know what he was spending while pushing to get the project done. The build ended on a high note, with everything coming together right on time. The Head of School was thrilled with the results and organized a clam and lobster bake to celebrate. The bills rolled in about a month later and revealed that he had spent upwards of $100,000 over the budget. Everyone had considered the project a huge success up to that point, and Chuck felt like he created a "black cloud" that would loom over it forever. That feeling of letting everyone down was hard to face, but facing it is what he had to do. So, he worked through it, took accountability, and dealt with the problems he created. The client, who was initially shocked and upset, agreed with Chuck to work out a deal where they paid the difference over two years. Twenty-five years later, Concord Academy is still a valued client we continue to work with.

This experience was ultimately insightful for Chuck. He learned the importance of keeping his eye on the ball and that not having the right tools isn’t an excuse. "You need to learn what you don’t know and build the tools that work for you," Chuck advises. One of our core values at C.E. Floyd is Never Shirk, and Chuck had to go into founder and then-President Chuck Floyd’s office and tell him that he shirked. But he also brought his ideas of preventative measures to ensure something like that would never happen again. From that point forward, Chuck became dedicated to being a consistent team member and making a positive difference in the company. He had to work hard and smart to make up for his shortcomings and become a key player in developing the company. The work ethic ingrained in Chuck’s being was helpful, but having the kindness of Chairman Floyd in that tough spot is what changed things for Chuck. He gained a new perspective that it's okay to make a mistake, but "you better learn, and you better fix it yourself—with support and guidance." Floyd gave him the ability and opportunity to turn it into something more.

Patience & The Activating Ingredient

Jeff Palmer (left) and Chuck Tobin (right) work together on a community service project (2003)

Chuck Tobin cites patience as the virtue central to construction work. It can come in the form of Chairman Floyd’s patience with Chuck about the Concord Academy mishap or in the form of waiting to see the results of a project. At this point in his career, Chuck is exercising patience with himself as he adapts to the company’s growth. He points to the company’s Marketing department, as he has no experience with marketing yet still wants to help guide the marketing campaign. Learning when and where to push his insight on these matters requires patience. Chuck is learning to be patient with himself and others as he helps build careers and have a positive impact on others.

Jeff Palmer joined C.E. Floyd out of college as a COOP and then started working under Chuck as a Project Engineer. The two have been a duo for the past 27 years. Chuck has helped Jeff grow into the Director of Operations for our Connecticut office and a shareholder in the company. Around three years ago, Jeff asked for Chuck’s support in being a partial owner, and Chuck told him no. Chuck provided specific reasons, and the two had a healthy conversation. Over that next year, though, Jeff took steps to grow into a shareholder, and Chuck could not be happier. Chuck was patient with Jeff’s growth, as Jeff was patient with Chuck’s vision for the company. Both parties exercised patience for one another throughout their business partnership, which helped lead to the growth our company is experiencing.

Chuck’s formula consists of confidence, a strong work ethic, and patience, but empathy is the activating ingredient that gets Chuck up in the morning (and keeps him up at night). Chuck recognizes his parents as very kind people who moved through the world with compassion for others. His parents raised him to be kind, which can complicate business decisions but provides energy to fuel his work. “The most rewarding part,” Chuck says, “is being able to build careers and help lift up others.” Humanity and authentic relationships are at the center of who C.E. Floyd is, and Chuck wants to continue to put that out into the world.