Senior estimator leaves a lasting mark through field knowledge and estimating discipline.
Senior Estimator Dan Pollesche is retiring from Roadway Electric LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Pulice – a FlatironDragados company- after nearly two decades with Roadway.
For Dan, estimating never stopped at preparing a bid. The most rewarding part came when a project moved from numbers on a page into the field and performed the way the team planned.
“The best part of it is watching the job from estimating it to actually getting the work, and then making the margin that you hoped it would,” Dan says. “When it does, it’s pretty enjoyable.”
That perspective came from experience. Before becoming an estimator, Dan worked on projects, ran his own sign business and served as an inspector. He said that background helped him understand what crews need to perform the work and why an estimator must know more than the drawings, quantities and costs.
“I’m glad that I had the experience of working in the field and coming up that way,” Dan said. “It made stepping into this role maybe a little bit easier because I had knowledge about what it actually took to do the work, as opposed to just coming into it blind.”
How did Dan Pollesche mentor the Roadway Electric team?
Dan’s impact extended beyond estimating. Roadway Superintendent Santiago Garcia said Dan brought mentorship, friendship and a strong attitude to the team.
“I’ll miss his friendship at the office and his desire to better others,” Santiago says. “He mentored a lot of us. I’m going to miss that, his friendship and his great attitude.”
That mentorship reflected how Dan approaches his projects. He values preparation, curiosity and accountability. He also believes people build stronger careers when they understand the work rather than focusing only on their assigned tasks.
Dan with Pulice President Victor Jimenez
What advice does Dan Pollesche offer to people building construction careers?
As Dan prepares to move on from his long career at Roadway, here is his advice for people starting out in construction:
- Know the work before you price the work. Dan said estimators perform better when they understand what field crews actually do. “Know what you’re doing, and know what it takes to do the work,” he says.
- Do your homework. Dan believes preparation separates strong construction professionals from people who only know the surface of a job. His direct way of putting it: “If you can’t drive, don’t sit behind the wheel.”
- Stay open to learning. Dan urges younger workers to ask questions, stay observant and absorb more than their immediate assignment. “Be willing to learn and ask questions,” he said.
- Build your reputation through reliability. Dan said showing up on time, staying when needed and working hard still matter. “Hard work always does,” he said. “It always pays off in the long run.”
- Understand the whole project. Over time, Dan says he learned to look beyond his own scope and study how electrical work interacts with bridges, structures and other parts of the job. “Be observant and soak it all in,” he says. “You never know when you’re going to have to do something that’s maybe out of the ordinary.”
How did Dan Pollesche’s construction career lead him to Roadway Electric?
Before Roadway, Dan owned a sign business that built neon signs for strip centers and tenants. He also performed tenant improvement work and held contractor licenses for sign and tenant improvement work.
He later worked as an inspector before joining Roadway after the company’s then-owner, Cricket, asked if he wanted a job.
Dan accepted. Nearly 19 years later, he leaves the company with a career defined by practical knowledge, estimating skill and the relationships he built along the way.
What will Dan Pollesche do after retiring from Roadway Electric?
In retirement, Dan plans to spend more time with family and help with KC’s Fragrances & Crystals, which was founded by members of his immediate family.
The business has grown from selling products at small fairs to operating three permanent locations in the Phoenix area. The company sells home fragrance products, crystals, bracelets, necklaces, oils, incense and related items.
“I’m just going to be a worker,” Dan says with a smile. “Whatever needs to be done. I’m just willing to, whatever it takes, to be around them.”
After all he has done to help others, he’ll certainly be a huge help to the family business.