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Dustin Mize, Senior Pre-Construction Manager on Notable Men

FOUNDER TO THE PROFILE

Dustin Mize

Senior Pre-Construction Manager, Baldwin & Shell Construction

“Hard work and determination, along with picking the right mentors. I was able to build my brand at Baldwin & Shell through carrying a heavier load and digging down to figure out hard jobs, creating trusted relationships with design teams and customers.”

BASED IN
Little Rock, Arkansas 72203
INDUSTRY
Construction

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About

Dustin Mize is a construction professional and preconstruction leader serving as Senior Preconstruction Manager at Baldwin & Shell Construction Company in Little Rock, Arkansas. With a career spanning nearly two decades, he has developed extensive expertise in construction estimating, cost engineering, conceptual design, value engineering, competitive bidding, building information modeling, and client services. At Baldwin & Shell, where he has spent nearly seven years, Mize oversees two preconstruction divisions focused on commercial projects and leads a team of six direct reports. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Construction Management from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 2011.
Before joining Baldwin & Shell, Mize spent eight years with Salter Construction, where he worked on cost engineering for new construction projects and developed experience in conceptual estimating, historical cost analysis, subcontracting, and maintaining strong relationships with subcontractors and vendors. His career also includes early internships with Kinco Constructors and Koontz Electric, giving him valuable exposure to both project closeout and field operations. Beyond his day-to-day responsibilities, Mize has become an active voice in the preconstruction and estimating community. He has participated in Advancing Pre-Construction conferences in San Diego and contributed to *Estimating Lunar Construction*, a major collaborative research effort involving professionals from construction, engineering, academia, and NASA.
Mize attributes his professional success to hard work, determination, strong mentorship, and the ability to build trusted relationships with design teams, customers, subcontractors, and other project partners. He believes that taking on challenging projects creates opportunities to learn, grow, and demonstrate what he can accomplish. His commitment to the construction industry extends beyond his professional responsibilities through his involvement in community initiatives, including supporting the Children's Protection Center in Central Arkansas by helping secure subcontractor donations for an expansion that will significantly increase the organization's office space. Through leadership, technical expertise, and relationship-building, Mize continues to contribute to the growth and advancement of modern construction preconstruction practices.

Key Areas Of Focus

  • 01. 3D Modeling
  • 02. Estimating
  • 03. Project Coordination
  • 04. Subcontractor Supervision
  • 05. CPM Scheduling
  • 06. Change Orders
  • 07. Revit Design
  • 08. Value Engineering
  • 09. On-Screen Takeoff
  • 10. Preconstruction

IN HIS OWN WORDS

The Q and A

  1. 01

    What do you attribute your success to?

    Hard work and determination, along with picking the right mentors. I was able to build my brand at Baldwin & Shell through carrying a heavier load and digging down to figure out hard jobs, creating trusted relationships with design teams and customers.

  2. 02

    What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?

    Transitioning into managing people was not easy for me. I held everyone to the same expectations I had for myself. One of my mentors told me that people are different, and to be a good manager you have to figure out what works with each individual. Not everyone learns and develop at the same rate. People have different levels of ambition and as a manager it is my job to figure out the best way to support each individual. It is not a one size fits all approach.

  3. 03

    What advice would you give to young men entering your industry?

    It's a good field. As long as you're competent and do what you're supposed to, you'll have job security. But have patience; even with a degree, it's experience-driven. Commit to someone, show loyalty, don't job hop for raises or promotions.

  4. 04

    What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?

    Workforce and manpower shortages across the industry, with more people retiring than entering. Lead times and prices on materials constantly changing due to world events. Need to stay up on events and build contingencies, but it's a balancing act with client budgets.

  5. 05

    What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?

    Integrity and dependability. I need people that I can believe what they say and they'll do what they say they're gonna do. Trustworthy people are essential when working with architects, engineers, and trade partners do deliver successfully projects for the clients.

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