CJ Chen

Senior Project Manager

21 years at Turner

Hometown: Tainan, Taiwan

Current location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Education and degrees: Master of Science, Construction Engineering and Management, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Tell us about your interests, hobbies, family, and how these influence your life and work?

I grew up building scale models and I still collect model cars. I still have that building part in me as I build 1 to 1 scale for a living. I am married with two young kids.

Why did you join Turner?

I joined Turner to work on Taipei 101, the tallest building in the world until 2010. It’s hard to say no to working on the world’s tallest building.

What were your previous roles/positions?

My previous roles were as Engineering Manager on Musheireb Downtown Doha, in Qatar; Construction Superintendent/Construction Manager on Burj Khalifa in Dubai, UAE; and Concrete Superintendent on Taipei 101 in Taipei, Taiwan.

What has been your favorite project or role at Turner, and why?

My favorite project is Merdeka 118. It’s a beautiful project and I was able to see the project from the very beginning – from design and procurement through construction – a complete process of one of the world’s tallest buildings in the world. There are a lot of good times and many lessons learned.

What mentoring or training have you received that has made a difference in your career?

One of the important sessions I participated in was leadership training. Construction is more than drawings and specifications. It is more about people on the project, and there are no formulas in dealing with people. It helped me rethink how to manage a project, work with the client, and even think differently about my own career.

What are your major responsibilities in this position, and what is a typical workday like for you?

Turner is the project management consultant for Merdeka 118. We manage nearly the entire process of this project from design coordination, procurements of contractors and subcontractors to safety, quality control and construction management on site. My role is to manage all these tasks to meet client’s expectations.

I start my week with a team huddle identifying all critical issues to be resolved in a 30-day look ahead. The rest of the week is all about following up with the Turner team, consultants, contractors, and our client. I walk the entire site once a week. It normally takes me an entire day to see all of the major work underway on the project.

What is the best advice you received at Turner?

If there is no struggle, there is no progress.