PCI PATHWAYS
The journeys building our culture
Meru Kapadia | Sr. Estimator | PCI Nashville
Even as a young man, Meru Kapadia knew he wanted to work in construction. What he didn’t know at the time was that it would be an uphill battle for him to find the right fit.
His construction dreams all started because his father owned a construction company in India. But by the time Meru finished his bachelor’s degree, his father had closed his business due to the dwindling market and expensive land prices.
Luckily for Meru, his sister had already moved to the United States, and she encouraged him to come take advantage of the opportunities available here. He made the leap, and before long he was enrolled in the Master of Civil Engineering program at Cal State Long Beach.
Learning the Industry Somewhere New
“Starting over in a new country wasn’t easy, everything felt unfamiliar—the culture, the workplace, and even day-to-day interactions—and I wondered if I truly belonged,” explained Meru. “I just knew I had to keep moving forward.”
“I finished my degree and then moved across the country to live with my sister in the New York/New Jersey area, unsure whether I’d be able to find a job,” he added.
“When estimating drywall work, you’re involved with the job more, you’re actually pricing something—you’re pricing this wall, that ceiling.”
His courage paid off when he landed a position with a GC in the area. He began working on bids for the contractor for a variety of jobs, including estimating for their self-performing drywall division.
“When I was working on the drywall side, I was thinking, ‘hey, this is something that I’d like to do,’” commented Meru. “When estimating drywall work, you’re involved with the job more, you’re actually pricing something—you’re pricing this wall, that ceiling—you’re not just compiling proposals and estimates from subs and sending them to the owner.”
So, after several years with that firm, and another opportunity at a similar company, Meru looked around for a job focused more on self-performed work. But before he could find the right position, he hit another snag: his mother became ill and he had to travel back to India to help care for her.
“It was the most difficult period of my life, but it gave me a different perspective on sacrifice, gratitude, and resilience,” stated Meru.
An Opportunity to Grow
By the time he got back to the States months later, he wasn’t sure if he should just continue doing what he was doing or continue looking for something else. Before long, a company responded to one of his applications: Performance Contracting.
“I didn’t know a lot about PCI, but the more I learned about the company, the more everything seemed to align with what I was looking for. The size of the company surprised me, but what really stood out was the culture,” explained Meru. “Then I saw that there was an opening in Nashville, so I flew out there a week later for an interview and it felt like the right choice.”
So, Meru took another chance, this time as an estimator with PCI Nashville. Since accepting the position, Meru has learned a lot about what PCI does and has gotten the opportunity to not just build bids but also build relationships.
“I didn’t have much client-facing experience before PCI,” added Meru. “That was challenging for me, but I got more and more used to it and now it’s one of the most rewarding parts of my job.”
“We can’t do what we do alone, you need a good group of people to be successful.”
Finding Common Values
Meru believes his successes are because of his team’s dedication to Integrity and Entrepreneurial Spirit—two of PCI’s core values.
“Integrity is huge for me. Whether it’s someone on your own team or a partner outside the organization, you must lead with honesty and respect,” Meru explained.
He also noted the perks of having ‘Fun Company’ listed as a core value of the company.
“The first day I started, the team was going out to play pickleball in the afternoon!” he laughed. “Not a lot of companies have a core value centered on having fun, but they should.”
He credits his team for more than just fun, too. Meru thinks a big part of being successful at PCI, and in the construction industry, comes from more than just your own ambition and passion.
“We can’t do what we do alone, you need a good group of people to be successful.”
Meru has found a team at PCI with common drive and passion, and he intends to stay where he is for the foreseeable future.
“Joining PCI became one of the best decisions of my life so far, I found much more than a job—I found a culture that truly encourages continuous learning, ownership, and leadership.”
Looking to advance your career? Find your path at PCI
