Andrew Weeks | 37
General manager, N.E. Finch Company
Andrew Weeks leads all aspects of project pricing/estimating, project management, field operations and customer service for N.E. Finch, a contracting firm specializing in site excavation and development, pile driving, bridge construction, demolition, trucking, aggregate and material sales and crane and equipment rental.
Since returning to the company seven years ago, Andy has driven revenue growth almost every year, including during COVID. He managed through attrition and manpower changes and had to almost entirely rebuild his supervisory staff. He continues to integrate technology into Finch’s operations, where value can be added for employees and customers. He has made significant contributions to environmental sustainability, where possible, minimizing the material taken to landfills.
Andy currently is managing the execution and site work at the new OSF Cancer Center (Pointcore) and the Greater Peoria Mass Transit District/CityLink facility transformation (River City Construction). He is involved, as well, with the continued renovations/expansions at Rivian and Heartland College in the Bloomington-Normal area.
Andy is an active member of the Greater Peoria Contractors & Suppliers Association (GPCSA), and frequently speaks to construction management students at Bradley University about the profession.
Regarding his community service, he was the main driver behind the company’s participation in the 2020 St. Jude Dream Home site, which included demolition and site preparation work. He served on the board of directors of the Independent Sports Club of Central Illinois for the past 14 years – including two terms as president — supporting local youth sports programs of all types, financially and otherwise. He’s also been a volunteer girls’ softball coach.
Andy is married to wife Emily, with whom he has a daughter, Alyssa, and son, Eli.
Childhood ambition: “Some part of a NASCAR crew. I enjoy wrenching on cars and fabricating things and thought that being a race car builder, crew member or driver would be really cool.”
Advice to 20-year-old self: “I’m not sure that I would change the hand life has dealt me. But if I had to say anything, I would tell my 20-year-old self to work out more … I would probably tell my 18-year-old self to skip mechanical engineering and go right into construction management at Bradley. I would also tell my 18-year-old self to buckle down a little more on studying and a little less partying.”
Bucket list number one: “Vacationing in a beach hut … on a private island, or snowmobiling as a career.”
Best advice ever: “Treat others the way you want to be treated.”
Leadership definition: “Not being afraid to get your hands dirty. A good leader should be able put in more work than those following.”
