In 2010, T.W. Frierson formed TWF University, a program designed to give our employee owners the tools needed to grow into leadership positions. The 12-week program covered a multitude of subjects ranging from safety, to estimating, to personal development. We celebrated our first graduating class with 15 participants, but over time found the programming did not encompass all that we needed it to.
After a several year hiatus from this program, our team regrouped in 2021, assembled a committee of top Superintendents, and with the leadership of our new Talent & Training Manager began the process of revamping the program. Of utmost importance was finding a way to conduct on the job training for our employee owners who exhibited the desire to grow in their careers at TWF.
Our task force of tenured superintendents collectively outlined a new program that covers various training opportunities and skills they know to be necessary for a TWF field leader to possess and be proficient in, and they each committed to becoming mentors for this new program.
The newly outlined Field Mentorship Program is intended to develop over an approximate period of 32 months from day one through completion. Each “student” will be onsite with a designated mentor that has agreed to work alongside and train them with the purpose of producing an Assistant Superintendent. Various milestones were identified and broken into Field Engineer Level 1 Training and Field Engineer Level 2 Training and include technical training and certifications, as well as overall job understanding and responsibilities for an onsite superintendent. Additionally, our partners at Merryman-Farr, ABEC, and MTSU Concrete Industry Management helped us provide training as part of this program.
On February 28, 2023, TWF Vice President of Field Operations, Michael Massey, sent a note to the company announcing that Kaden Frasier is the first graduate from our revamped program, and that he has officially been promoted to Assistant Superintendent! “Take time to congratulate and encourage Kaden as he continues to grow into what promises to be a great asset for TWF and our industry,” said Massey.
Kaden joined our team in the Spring of 2021 after graduating from Kansas State University’s Construction Science and Management program and was paired with 25-year TWF Superintendent, Shannon Patterson who was recently promoted to General Superintendent.
“Kaden’s desire to perform at a high level and willingness to learn made him the perfect candidate for our Field Mentor Program,” said Shannon Patterson. “He’ll most definitely be successful as a leader for TWF.”
Kaden worked alongside Shannon at the Prologis Eastgate Building 1 & 2 projects and most recently on the new FedEx Ground facility in Cookeville, TN where he was able to lead portions of the 15,000 square foot office build out and complete punch list items after Shannon had moved from the project. “The #1 advantage to this program is the on the job training,” said Kaden. “Being able to watch how a Senior Superintendent handles situations and communicates to subcontractors [was invaluable.]”
Kaden is now the Assistant Superintendent at the Nashville Rescue Mission Women’s Campus working alongside our longest tenured employee in company history, Senior Superintendent, Tommy Manley.