Daily Inspiration: Meet David Gladem

Today we’d like to introduce you to David Gladem.

Hi David, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I graduated from the University of Colorado in the fall of 1980, with a B.S. in Business Administration, emphasis in Accounting and Minerals land Management. I always lived in the country from my sophomore year on, living on Sugarloaf and later on the hill between Marshall and Superior, eventually ending in downtown Marshall. Spending perhaps too much of my free time climbing in Eldorado and Boulder Canyons, skiing at Mary Jane, Vail Arapaho and Steamboat Springs, Aspen and Aspen Highlands if I had a few days. Perhaps a little too much recreation.
My parents paid tuition and a small stipend to live on, but I always had to work. I managed the janitorial and security (my dog NaNa’s job) at the Hill Top Mall with a few of my friends. But my main work was as a carpenter, helping my landlord remodel his house or framing houses in Louisville, Lafayette and in Boulder Heights. It was working with a subcontractor Steve, for a custom builder, that Steve sat me down and showed me my way around a framing square, opening up the world of possibilities with roof framing and stairs.
I had met my future wife at C.U. my junior year. After graduating, we found a home with a GI bill qualification in Deer Creek Canyon outside of Littleton. This was 1980 and we assumed the loan and lived in Littleton ever since with lions, bears, bobcats, deer, and elk as our neighbors on 5 acres of paradise. I did have a short career as a landman, until the recession of the 1980’s; at that point, Snow Bear Construction was conceived and began business as a carpentry service framing and exterior trimming houses, both Log and Stick.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No. We both had to work; I ran the business my wife worked as a P.E. After four or five years we began a family, and bills escalated. Construction work is always feast or famine. In the mid 80’s, the bottom fell out of residential construction and jobs were hard to find. But I had a buddy Kevin who worked for a commercial concrete contractor and they had high rises and shopping malls in progress and needed reliable help on one or two days a week (pour days), so I worked for myself in my business and worked for Scott, Kevin’s boss, whenever needed. I also drove school buses for Jefferson County as a part time driver. I had received a C.D.L. when I had worked at Halliburton fracking wells one summer.
To keep up business bills during slow times, I always had some part time work, finally getting a job with C.D.O.T. as a PPT, which I did until 2014; afterward, I only worked for myself at Snow Bear until now.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I always excavated and graded my own projects, from additions, houses, settlement tanks and septic systems. Several years ago I did some studying and took the Onsite Wastewater Treatment System test and became licensed in Jefferson county, Colorado as a licensed contractor for advanced water treatment systems that produce water so clean it could be sprinkled out on the surface as agricultural water, if it wasn’t for water right laws in Colorado. I truly enjoy working with the county and engineers to clean up the water coming out of many damaged and neglected septic systems across the front range, which are polluting our streams and lakes.
I have always taken great pride in all work I’ve done, from seeing the high-rises and malls I helped build, houses and additions I built, foundations and flatwork others built on after we poured them, patios and decks we remodeled for someone’s dream. I’ve been a remodeler for the Littleton school district, installing climbing walls, playground equipment, and scoreboards. I’ve placed concrete for foundations at C.D.O.T. and built vaults for The Colorado Division of Wildlife. I completed the sidewalks at Apel-Bacher park for the City of Wheat Ridge. Always taking great pride in my work.

Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
I used to subscribe to Fine Homebuilding, hence our logo, “Fine Carpentry and Concrete Since 1980.” I also have subscribed to trade magazines, Concrete Construction, and Journal of light Construction. Politically I subscribe to the Meidas Network, and enjoy learning the viewpoints of Ben Meiselas and the economic commentators on this podcast.
Now that I am semi-retired, I have been trying to slim most subscriptions down so as not to overload my daughters when my times comes. Though I still consistently read all points of view and pray we take a new course in this country as soon as possible.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.snowbearconstruction.com/
• Email: SnowBearConstruction@gmail.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/david.gladem
• Yelp: Snow Bear Construction

Image Credits
Dave Gladem