Bryce Clutts, President & CEO,  Metcalf Builders, Inc.

Type of Business: General Contractor
Based In: Carson City
Hails From: Gardnerville

Years Org. has been in Nevada: 28
Years with Organization in Nevada: 5
Employees in Nevada: 48

How did you get into your profession?

It’s in my blood. My grandfather and father were in the heating and air conditioning business. I decided to go to college to learn business and apply that to what I had been taught growing up and working in the field.

What has been instrumental to your success?

My faith, my wife, my children, the mentors who took me under their wing throughout the years and time [have been instrumental]. I never quite understood the difference between wisdom and experience until now; it is simply a function of time.

What career advice would you give to someone just starting in your industry?

Listen to learn. Be driven but patient. Ask questions and set goals.

What is your favorite business book?

“NUTS – The Story of Southwest Airlines” I believe that culture eats strategy for lunch and Southwest was the best at building a great company around its culture.

How do you motivate your team?

Lead by example. I was once told, “preach often and use words when necessary”, and I never forgot. Don’t talk about it, do it.

What was the most difficult experience you encountered as a leader?

Gaining the trust of my team while rebuilding a 24-year-old company [was a challenge].

What is an issue currently facing your industry that an outside observer might not be aware of?

We have lost at least one, but probably two, generations of skilled tradesmen and women. For too many years, society pushed for our children to go to college versus a trade school. Now, we no longer have metals, wood shop or auto shop in our schools. Science, technology, engineering and math are critical to areas of medicine, manufacturing, engineering and technology, but without skilled trades, who is going to build [those industries]?

What do you hope future generations can learn from your journey?

No matter where you are at in your career, what got you here, won’t get you there. You must be willing to not just accept change, but create it, and never stop growing as a person.