Podevels follows in her father’s footsteps while creating her own path

Jennifer Podevels –
Best Erectors Inc.

Like father, like daughter.

Jennifer Podevels began her career working for a company her father, Howard Wurgler, started in 2006. She was “his everything” in the front office at Midwest Stairs and Iron.

Then an opportunity came along for Wurgler to purchase a curtain-wall-installation company, Best Erectors Inc. With Wurgler intent on expanding Midwest operations, he agreed to sell Best Erectors to his daughter in March 2010.

“I wanted to follow in his footsteps and build this company for myself and my children so one day they would have something to take over and carry on,” Podevels said.

The company now employs 25 people and has been part of several large projects, including The Ascent, the Potawatomi Hotel and Casino in Milwaukee and Saint John’s On The Lake.

Podevels said that one of the hardest parts of her job is managing the workflow, which can be inconsistent.

“Sometimes you will go and have 10 jobs going and not have time to take a breath and then there are times where jobs are supposed to start and get delayed, which makes it hard for scheduling and keeping guys busy,” she said.

Wurgler said that his daughter, who is president of Best Erectors, is “very active in hiring and training new employees.”

Perhaps that’s because Podevels loves everything about her job, including the team that she’s put together.

“Without having an amazing team behind you, it’s really hard to make a company something and what we do is very unique,” she said. “Not every ironworker can do curtain wall.”

Podevels said her success wouldn’t have been possible without the guidance she received from her father.

“He is just one of those people who knows everyone and has a reputation that keeps getting us work,” she said. “He is an inspiration to everyone and would give his shirt off his back to anyone that needs it.”