After dedicating seven years to the U.S. Navy, Ken Slota was drawn to the construction industry after finding a similar sense of camaraderie that he appreciated in his military days. Slota’s exceptional management skills and problem-solving expertise, honed through his engineering background, have been pivotal in steering major water infrastructure projects for PCL for more than two decades. Slota’s transition from the Navy to the construction industry was aided by a veteran’s grant, which funded his pursuit of a Master of Science in Civil Engineering degree from the University of Illinois. Ken then spent five years working as an engineering consultant before joining PCL.
Ethics are at the heart of Slota’s leadership philosophy. Reflecting on his early career as an engineer designing water and wastewater treatment systems, Ken recalls that some clients held a stereotype of unethical behavior among general contractors. However, his experience at PCL has been different.
“When I decided to join PCL, it was important to me that I would never be asked to compromise my ethics. An issue arose on my second project, and despite potential setbacks to our schedule, I chose to address the issue in the right way. The PCL leadership and the project team supported my decision, affirming that we are an ethical organization that upholds integrity.”
Today, Slota leads PCL’s industrial water group, which includes manufacturing process water projects, where he has become one of the company’s leading experts on design-build project delivery. During this project delivery method, the project’s engineer and contractor collaborate closely at every step in the process. Slota says this collaboration is often instrumental in a project’s success, and that he values working closely with both the construction teams he manages and the clients he serves.
“During design-build delivery, everyone brings their expertise to the table for the best results. As experts in wastewater treatment plants, PCL can advise the client on how to incorporate the latest in sustainable practices and cutting-edge technology to their water treatment facility.”
Slota is an active member of Design-Build Institute of America, Water Collaborative Delivery Association, WaterReuse Association and the AZ Water Association. He has completed internal leadership courses at PCL and the prestigious program at Global Institute for Leadership Development, reinforcing his commitment to effective and ethical leadership. In addition to an M.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois, Slota completed a B.S. in Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from Purdue University.
Slota's journey from the Navy to leading PCL’s design-build and non-municipal water division exemplifies his dedication to leadership, ethics and camaraderie. He is not just an industry expert but also a role model, inspiring his team and clients alike with his unwavering commitment to doing the right thing.