.bodytext {float: left; } .floatimg-left-hort { float:left; margin-top:10px; margin-right: 10px; width:300px; clear:left;} .floatimg-left-caption-hort { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:300px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatimg-left-vert { float:left; margin-top:10px; margin-right:15px; width:200px;} .floatimg-left-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; font-size: 12px; width:200px;} .floatimg-right-hort { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px;} .floatimg-right-caption-hort { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px; font-size: 12px; } .floatimg-right-vert { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px;} .floatimg-right-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; font-size: 12px; } .floatimgright-sidebar { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; border-top-style: double; border-top-color: black; border-bottom-style: double; border-bottom-color: black;} .floatimgright-sidebar p { line-height: 115%; text-indent: 10px; } .floatimgright-sidebar h4 { font-variant:small-caps; } .pullquote { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 150px; background: url(http://www.dmbusinessdaily.com/DAILY/editorial/extras/closequote.gif) no-repeat bottom right !important ; line-height: 150%; font-size: 125%; border-top: 1px solid; border-bottom: 1px solid;} .floatvidleft { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatvidright { float:right; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} tr.d0 td { background-color: #ccccff; color: black; }
Jim McCulloh, 55, is drawing upon his landscape architecture, development and construction experience in a new position at The Weitz Co. focused on customer service. He will help expand Weitz Iowa’s special projects division (which handles projects under $2 million) and continue to service and nurture relationships with local partnerships and national accounts. Yet the senior vice president, who has been with Weitz 10 years, may be most excited about not traveling as often and getting more involved in the community.

How has your role at Weitz changed?

(I have the) same title, senior vice president with the company, but with any company, as needs to service your customers change, it’s how can we best utilize our resources and our people. Except for spending time with West Des Moines schools as an owners’ (representative) – we’ve been servicing West Des Moines schools and the Iowa Hall of Pride – I’ve been chasing things coast to coast and that was about three-fourths of my time. … Whereas I was involved more on specific projects before, I’m now involved more on the long-term plan and working with Weitz Co. business units.

So, you’ll be spending more time with clients?

(Customer service) is a key piece. I’ve been on the owner side of the table, the developer side of the table, I’ve been on the public-sector side of the table and that helps all of us even as we transition for the next generation – that transfer of knowledge and expertise that you gain through time. We’ve got to make sure that we continue to get back to the basics year after year. That is a strength of mine, being able to respond to the needs of the customers.

Will you get more involved in the community now?

I was president of the West Des Moines Chamber (of Commerce) and president of the affiliates chamber back 14 years ago. I’ve been involved with Variety Club, but when you’re gone a lot, you’re not able to participate and you don’t want to be part of a group if you’re not there making a constructive contribution. Now it’s time to get more involved.

What’s your career background?

I’m a landscape architect by profession. My first role out of college was with the city of Urbandale, so I was the director of community development there. After almost five years, I spent about 20 years with the Mid-America Group in real-estate development, both on the public-secotr side and the private side.

Did you ever imagine you would be in this current role?

Never. No, in fact, back in the ’70s, landscape architecture was environmental. It was a field that really felt good. I grew up on a farm in Eastern Iowa in DeWitt. So I’m a farm guy.

What’s one achievement that stands out from your time at Weitz?

Iowa Hall of Pride is a great project to have been part of. We were the owners’ rep for Bernie Saggau. It was his vision to create the Iowa Hall of Pride. That was an example of a project where construction was 50 percent of it; the other 50 percent was technology, graphics, software. … It’s not just about the hall of fame; it’s about activities.

Is there one good book you’ve read recently?

I do come back to a book I read several years ago, [“Shackleton’s Boat Journey: The Narrative from the Captain of the Endurance”]. An unbelievable story of survival and leadership.

Is there a philosophy you live by?

Julie and I, we’ve been married 35 years and we’ve been blessed with three great kids and they’re all married and we’ve got grandkids. I’m like “how do you do this job?” I just stay focused on the basics.

How did you make your first dollar?

Baling hay.