Always Be Constructing - Associate Profile on Project Manager Brady Kyle

From Construction to Furniture Restoration, Project Manager Brady Kyle Feeds the Need to Build

It may have started with what P1 Project Manager Brady Kyle calls an "obsession" with Legos as a kid. Maybe it came partly from watching his mom refinish furniture while he was growing up.

Wherever it came from, Brady has had a fascination with building for as long as he can remember.

"I guess you could say it started when I was kid and being obsessed with Legos," Brady said. "I've always enjoyed building and working with my hands to create things."

It's no surprise this natural talent led to a career in the construction industry. Brady got his career started at P1 as an intern two summers in a row, and has been at P1 ever since.

"For as long as I can remember, I've always been interested in the construction industry," he said. "I decided to go to Pittsburg State to study Construction Management because they have an excellent program."

"I became an active member of their MCA student chapter and made connections with P1 through that. From there, the rest was history! I interned with P1 for two summers and was hired full-time in 2015 as a project engineer upon graduation."

Brady is now a project manager, and says he enjoys navigating the challenges that come with that role.

"One of the most challenging parts of my work is being able to successfully support our field craftsmen and understand the challenges and situations they deal with," he said

"My job as a project manager is to put our craftsmen in the best possible position to carry out a successful project. Each person and project are different, which can make the project management world very challenging, but at the same time, very rewarding."

When Brady isn't at work, he still likes to exercise his love of building things, and does it through furniture restoration.

"My mom refinished furniture when I was growing up, so I definitely learned a thing or two from her," Brady explained. "My wife, Bailey, and her family are also very handy - so we decided to make a hobby out of restoring furniture."

After fully flipping their first house, Brady and Bailey decided to build their next one. But the new construction didn't leave much room for their love of "recreating".

"With the extra time we had on our hands - before we had children that is - we decided to expand on our hobby of restoring and building furniture," Brady explained.

"We started by coming up with the name "Preston Elizabeth", based on both of our first and middle names, creating social media accounts for our business, and showcasing some of the pieces we had refinished or built for our own home."

From there, Brady says they started getting customers who were inspired by their work.

"We have done customized projects for family and friends, but the majority of our customers for custom-style projects have come from our social media followers," he added. "The internet has been a very useful and powerful tool!"

There is a definitive process that goes into refurbishing a piece, including repairing, sanding, prepping, painting, staining, and sealing.

"We specialize in all types of wood-construction furniture, but we most enjoy restoring older or outdated buffet cabinets, credenzas, and dining tables," Brady said.

"These are pieces of furniture that folks use on a daily basis so we love being able to help provide customers with a centerpiece they will love and use for years in their home."

Brady notes that all projects are different in their own ways, but typically start with any necessary repairs, then on to sanding and prepping the surfaces.

"My wife takes care of the most time-consuming part, which is painting the piece and giving it its new, updated appearance," he said. "Lastly, I will take care of any staining and sealing."

Some projects have a special place in their hearts, too. Brady recalls one in particular.

"There have been so many memorable projects, but one we will never forget is building three custom desks for a family to use during the work/school-from-home time during the height of the pandemic," Brady said.

"They were built to custom dimensions that allowed them to all fit inside a spare bedroom."

Brady and Bailey continue with their furniture restoration, but have their hands a little more full these days with two young children: daughter, Birkley, four, and son, Briggs, two.

They also have two dogs, a golden retriever named Abby and a silky terrier named Lucy.

"There is never a dull moment at the Kyle house," Brady said.

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