The Oklahoma chapter of the Association of General Contractors recently recognized several of their members during an annual awards banquet, including OSU Institute of Technology alum Brandon Cheney.

Cheney, who graduated from OSUIT in 2001, was recognized as the 2018 Project Manager of the Year from AGC of Oklahoma.

The Oklahoma chapter formed in 1939 and represents all types of contractors from the construction field including general contractors, subcontractors, specialty contractors, suppliers, service providers and education affiliates.

Cheney is senior project manager at Timberlake Construction in Oklahoma City.

“I’m third generation in the construction industry. I like the diversity of getting to do something different every day,” he said.

Cheney said his father was an advisory board member for the School of Construction Technologies and helped push him to OSUIT.

“I’m very hands on,” he said, which helped him in the Construction Management program. “It put me ahead of a lot of kids that went to four-year schools, and it didn’t cost near as much.”

Cheney has been employed by Timberlake for more than a decade and has worked on a variety of projects.

“I love the management aspect of it. It’s given me experience on a variety of projects,” he said. “I’ve done a lot of school projects while I’ve been here. I’ve built a prison, built some Bass Pro Shops. Lots of diversity of projects over the years.”

That experience is what helped him earn the Project Manager of the Year award this year.

“My company nominated me— I was unaware. It’s very humbling. I try to work very hard and do the best I can every day,” he said. “It’s a pretty awesome achievement to be nominated and then to win it.”

Steve Olmstead, dean of the School of Construction Technologies, said he’s proud of Cheney as well as OSUIT and the construction management program.

“I’m very thankful that we, as in our great faculty and staff, had a little part in the path that lead to this recognition,” Olmstead said. “I have always said OSUIT School of Construction Technologies is a door of opportunity, and if you’re willing to step through that door, what awaits you is great adventure and a great career.”

Cheney said being recognized by AGC of Oklahoma now feels like his career has come full circle.

“I can remember being at OSUIT and applying for the AGC scholarship, and I was awarded two AGC scholarships while I was there,” he said. “OSUIT gives you some really good building blocks. It helps accelerate your career, and it really helps you excel. It gives you a good step up.”