The perfect mixture of brains, humor and charm make up Envirocon Senior Project Manager Gene Lovett. With more than 32 years of experience in construction and environmental project management Lovett brings a sense of pride to every project he manages.

How long have you worked at Envirocon?

Lovett: I started with Envirocon in August 2001. I worked in the Portland office until 2003 when Envirocon opened its Sacramento office and I’ve been there ever since.

What made you decide to go into this line of work?

Lovett: I started in this line of work in 1975 for IT Corporation. I found it rewarding to run your own project and be responsible for what happens good or bad.

What do you love most about your job?

Lovett: I love the freedom that you have on a project. Envirocon management is on your side and gives you the room and help to make your project successful.

What is the best thing about working for Envirocon?

Lovett: By far it is the people that I call my Envirocon family.

What project/projects are you working on now?

Lovett: I started working at the Sacramento Rail Yard for Union Pacific Railroad in 2001 and worked for the Rail Road until 2007. In 2007, the Rail Road sold the yard to Thomas Enterprises Inc. (Developer) and Envirocon is a subcontractor to ERM who is contracted to the developer for the remainder of the rail yard clean up. In short, I have worked at the Rail Yard since 2001. I have also managed the Curtis Park Project since 2003 and the AeroJet project in 2006.

What was your favorite project you managed and why?

Lovett: I have managed the Sacramento Rail Yard for the past 8 years and loved every minute of it. I am on this project all by myself and I love the idea that I have total control of my project. I don’t think there is any better feeling then a project that is running good and making money.

What was the most difficult project you have managed and why?

Lovett: Funny enough, the most difficult project for me has been the Sacramento Rail Yard job. The crew is under very strict contract guidelines while working very closely with the client, developer and the Insurance Company. We ran into some technical problems as well on the Sacramento Rail Yard job. The clean soil that Envirocon excavation could not be mixed with the contaminated soil, so the digging was very slow and in some excavations the soil was contaminated with Asbestos which changed the way we had to excavate.

Have you ever come across anything unusual on a job site? If yes, what?

Lovett: At the Sacramento Rail Yard in 2003 while excavating, Envirocon uncovered an old “Manufacturing Gas Plant” that had been covered up around 1877. This was the first Manufacturing Gas Plant in city of Sacramento.

How do you keep calm when things aren’t going right on a project?

Lovett: I don’t keep calm, that’s why I had a heart attack in 2004. I’m calm now!

What is the one type of project or job function you have always wanted to do?

Lovett: I have done every type of job that I have wanted from a truck driver to a district manager, and I love being a project manager the best. So you could say I am living a dream, doing what I like best.

What qualities do you look for in your employees and project staff?

Lovett: I look for people with a good attitude toward the work, a “can do” attitude. And of course, I prefer new hires have experience doing the work.

What do you do in your free time?

Lovett: Well, I’m married and I have 5 kids and 4 grandkids, most of which live close to me. I don’t have just one hobby, I enjoy doing just about everything, bike riding, boating, skiing both water and snow, camping and fishing. I love to dance, eat popcorn, and Bar B-Q with my family.