3-minute read
Todd Graci is the Director of Stadium Construction for the Buffalo Bills and is a contributing member of the group of men and women responsible for the construction of New Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York. He earned a Bachelor of Science and Master of Architecture degree at the University at Buffalo.
What do you do in your role as Director of Stadium Construction for the Buffalo Bills?
My role changes daily. The easiest way to describe it is being the eyes and ears of Bills Ownership & the Pegula Family, the individual departments within the Organization, and of course our dedicated fanbase. Since the conception of the New Highmark Stadium, we established five guiding principles to follow: Football, Functional, Comfort, Thoughtful, and Experience. It is my responsibility to maintain that the project continues to follow these principles through design and ultimate construction. I do this by constantly reviewing the Construction Documents and what is physically being built, meeting and communicating with the Architects, Project Manager, Construction Manager, and our partners to keep the project moving in the right direction.
What was your educational background and how did it influence your career path?
Since I was young, I knew I wanted to be a designer and a builder. I loved to draw, and I built anything I could from Lincoln Logs to Legos to K’Nex. My grandfather and uncle were in construction, so it was always something I was around. It was an easy decision for me after high school to pursue a degree in Architecture with the intent to become a designer and builder. UB was right in my backyard and has a world renowned Architecture Program, so it made sense to stay at home for college.
While completing my undergraduate studies I pursued Construction Management Internships. I was able to keep one foot in design with school and the other in construction with internships. I didn’t want to give up on being a designer after undergraduate studies, so I decided to pursue a Master of Architecture Degree at UB. At that same time, I was also selected for a Construction Management Internship working on the new science building at Buffalo State College. That project and experience was the deciding factor that led me to pursue a career with a Construction Management Firm vs. an Architecture Studio.
Both my education and construction experiences go hand in hand with each other. My architectural background has been vital in allowing me to seamlessly collaborate with the design team. My construction background allows me to work in tandem with the contractors in all phases of construction.
What organizations, clubs or internships were you involved in during college?
As an undergrad I was granted internships with the New York State Dormitory Authority at UB on both North and South Campus. My first summer I assisted in overseeing bathroom renovations, elevator replacements, and fire alarm upgrades at the Ellicott Complex. My second summer was spent on South Campus on the Clement Hall Renovation.
As a graduate student, I worked for BOVIS Lend Lease on the Buffalo State Science Building Project. My internships throughout school were invaluable to my career path and where I am today. I was also a member of the American Institute of Architecture Students.
Looking back, what, if anything, do you wish you would have known when you were just starting out?
Looking back, I would’ve kept a digital copy of all the documents and spreadsheets I worked on. As I moved through my career from project to project, company to company, and utilizing various software, I found myself saying, “I wish I had a copy of that report from x project.” Having now moved to the Bills, I have very little from my previous construction management roles. A lot of documents would have come in handy nowadays instead of having to recreate useful tools that I know worked for me in the past.
Also, while I would not wish to change much on my career journey from Architecture Student to Director of Stadium Construction for the Bills, I would have loved to have known better the opportunities my education and experiences were working towards. I don’t think students know how many opportunities are in front of them career wise and how what they are doing in school or at an internship can translate to more than just what they are studying. As an adult I have joined the Board of Directors of Be Your Own Hero, an organization with the mission to connect education to careers. We strive to show students what career opportunities are in front of them and how their education and experience are tools to get them into a career.
What are the biggest challenges that you typically face in your career?
The biggest challenge by far is communication. You can never overcommunicate. While people may be listening to you, they may not be hearing you. And while they may be listening and hearing you, they may not be understanding you. Throughout my career, I have come to realize that you should never assume that someone else knows what you know. You must double and triple check that your message was received and understood. No one will ever tell you that you gave them too much information.
What advice do you have for anyone that would want to pursue a career in construction management, architecture or working with a professional sports organization?
My advice would be to start as soon as possible pursuing an internship or entry level position at a real company. As I said previously, my internships throughout school were invaluable to my career path and where I am today. I still communicate with contacts that I made during my first internship. If you can get your foot in the door, somewhere seek out a mentor as soon as possible. I have had and continue to have very influential mentors throughout my career. There is nothing like real world experience.
If a UB student wanted to talk with you, what is the best way to reach you?
I will most certainly join the Connect-a-Bull platform and check my LinkedIn messages frequently. Drop me a message and I will answer any questions that I can.
NOTE: if you are a UB student or alumnus who would like to connect with others to give or get career insights you can join Connect-a-Bull. Interested in sharing your career story with UB students by answering questions like Todd Gracie? Email Ed Brodka, UB Career Design Consultant, at brodka@buffalo.edu.
