Since joining Milestone Contractors in 2020 as a summer intern, Lafayette Project Manager Nathan Fairchild’s journey has been shaped by the shared value of building long-term relationships and mutual trust. What began as an internship in the Plant 22 QA/QC lab quickly evolved into a career path, thanks to his work ethic and Milestone’s welcoming culture. “I grew to love the people that work here and the culture we have,” said Nathan. “I was never shamed for asking what some probably considered ‘dumb questions,’ and I was able to soak in so much about the heavy civil industry.” Nathan changed his major that semester at Purdue University from agriculture education to studying construction management.

Now managing projects across Boone County, his days vary from coordinating crews and subcontractors to meeting with residents and city officials. “Collaboration is a big part of what I do,” he said. “I have to make sure my team gets what they need from me in the present but also have my eyes on tomorrow so that we can be ready for whatever happens in the future.”

Nathan’s commitment to building long-term relationships and mutual trust began early on. He shared that his mom has always been one of his greatest inspirations, and she always told him that when a man is down to nothing, all he has left is his word. She emphasized the importance of staying good on your word, never telling lies and making sure you follow through on what you say you are going to do, which is exactly what Milestone is about. Nathan’s team is always thinking outside the box for ways to build a job safer, more efficiently and of better quality to prove we have what it takes to be the company our customer wants to use on the next project.

One of Nathan’s standout projects was helping to build the Stone Eater Bike Park in Lebanon last year. What used to be a landfill is now a free, family-friendly space for the community to enjoy physical activity and time outside. Nathan’s team saw how important the project was to the City of Lebanon and wanted to make sure it was built to the best quality. They sourced materials in the most cost-effective way possible and volunteered time for clean-up and finishing touches to show they cared about this project as much as the city did. City Engineer Kevin Krulik said, “Milestone has been more than just a contractor on this project, but a real partner.” Nathan added, “Stone Eater was one of those projects that really fills your heart with joy to see finished because you know the end user will appreciate the hard work we put in.”

Looking ahead, Nathan is excited for whatever comes next in Lebanon and Boone County. “There are some very thoughtful and driven people overseeing the projects in Boone County. We can help each other and really drive progress in the area,” said Nathan. “I am excited to maintain relationships and be the best choice for whatever work they have in store. It is rewarding to know one day I can drive around the area and see all the amazing infrastructure we were able to build for the city, county and other development partners.”