Celebrating Matt Sportel’s 20-Year Legacy at Cunningham-Limp
I think what I value most about C-L, is that it has been and always will be a people-first organization.
How many people can say they’ve been at one company long enough to witness its evolution from Blackberries to smartphones, and all the industry changes in between? Matt Sportel, Cunningham-Limp’s Vice President of Construction, certainly can.
To celebrate his 20th year at Cunningham-Limp, we asked Matt to share insights from his impressive career journey, which saw him rise from directing jobsite traffic to VP of Construction.
Q: What led you to the construction industry?
A: Growing up, I used any free time I had to work with my uncle building high-end custom homes. Eventually, this experience led me to pursue Construction Management at Ferris State University.
Q: What was your first day like at Cunningham-Limp?
A: After graduation, my good friend Sam Ashley (C-L President) introduced me to Cunningham-Limp, and I took the job thinking I could make a major impact on the construction world. It started with me holding a stop sign in the rain, directing traffic.
Q: What has changed about this industry in the last 20 years?
A: Technology, without question, has changed the most in our industry over my 20 years. I will date myself here, but I did have the company’s first Blackberry, which was the size of a brick.
Q: What do you enjoy most about your job today?
A: I have been fortunate to be part of incredible projects at C-L, but the most rewarding part of my job is working directly with our talented staff and helping to make people’s visions a reality. What I value most about C-L is that it has been and always will be a people-first organization.
Q: What’s an unforgettable project you’ve worked on?
A: My most memorable project is Hanon, a 217,787 square foot commercial R&D office in Novi. The extremely tight timeframe made for a great lifelong client and the opportunity to pull off a nearly impossible project alongside one of the best superintendents to ever lace up work boots, as well as an incredible group of subcontractors. Most contractors wouldn’t have been capable of succeeding in the way we did, and that’s something I won’t forget.
Q: What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned in the last 20 years?
A: With the right team and talent in place, anything is possible.
Q: What advice do you have for people just starting their careers in this industry?
A: Seek out the guys or gals that have been in the industry longer than you. Their knowledge is invaluable in your development. I was lucky enough to work with and learn from people like Larry Wisniewski, Steve Guidos, and Randy DeRuiter, who thankfully took an interest in me and my career and invested their time into making me a more well-rounded construction professional.
Q: What aspirations do you have for the future?
A: I’ve been here for 20 years now, and I can say confidently that this is the best version of C-L. We have so many talented people, and I can’t wait to see what we accomplish in the next 20 years.
Matt Sportel is the Vice President of Construction at Cunningham-Limp. In his current role, Matt is responsible for overall project performance, including maintaining budgets, schedules, and a high level of quality control. Having joined the C-L team in 2004 as a superintendent, he moved on to become a Project Manager, Director of Construction, and then to his current position after demonstrating leadership and accountability.
Matt’s journey reflects not just his personal growth but also the evolution of Cunningham-Limp as a company. His dedication and leadership have been instrumental in driving the company’s success. Here’s to many more years of innovation and excellence!
Seek the guys or gals that have been in the industry longer than you. Their knowledge is invaluable in your development.
