Cover Story
The Suder File
Smart Business Orange County | July 2009
Born: San Francisco
Education: Fullerton College and California State University, Fullerton
First job: Placing nuts on anchor bolts at age 10. I was paid 5 cents a bolt. I learned that I had to put on a lot of nuts to make 5 bucks.
Whom do you admire most and why?
My dad, Paul Suder. He was a successful restaurant builder and is the hardest-working person I have ever known.
What’s the best business advice you’ve ever received?
‘Always do what you say you are going to do; your word is the most important thing you have in business.’ — Paul Suder
What’s your favorite part about your job?
I love the people I get to work with and being part of a special team.
What’s your definition of success?
When we finish a project and I walk around the building and it exceeds my expectations. Oh, and the client says the same thing — that’s success.
Your workday is off to a bad start; how do you turn it around?
Shut the door and refocus. As they say, ‘It’s never that bad, and also, it’s never that good.’ As my son says, ‘Chill, dad.’
If your company had a theme song, what would it be?
‘Dreams’ by Van Halen
If you weren’t in your current position, what might you be doing instead?
Well, I was supposed to be a professional baseball player. However, since my arm is average and my bat is about the same, contracting was much more realistic.
KHS&S West Coast projects: Paris Las Vegas Casino Resort, Caesar’s Palace Las Vegas, Hollywood & Highland (the development where the Kodak Theater is) and numerous Walt Disney Co. projects at Disneyland
