Leadership has come David Atkisson’s way whether he pursued it or not. In fact, he doesn’t see that skill in his repertoire. But the roles vouch for him: The Network Leadership Council, Missouri State University’s Construction Management Department Advisory Board and the Springfield Contractors Association Board of Directors, to name a few. You’ll also find him assisting construction management students at MSU, where he earned his degree, speaking in classes and connecting them to internships and employment. For clients who’ve worked with him, they note Atkisson’s command of data and information pertinent to major projects. At home, Atkisson leads his wife, their three daughters and a recently adopted son from Haiti.
What was your first job? Working on our family farm raising beef cattle and at a restaurant that my parents owned when I was 14.
What do you miss most about the 1990s? Being in college and thinking I was busy and stressed.
What was your professional “aha” moment? In recent years, it has become apparent it’s time for my generation to step up and become leaders in our community because some great people who have been carrying our community on their backs for years, if not decades, have retired. Several prominent area leaders are now my age or even younger.
What did you learn the hard way? What did I not learn the hard way?
What is your best productivity hack? Tackle the difficult and critical items head on. If not, I will spend more time worrying about them than it takes to actually resolve them.
