A Foundation of Faith
When you’ve got hard work at a great job, a strong family and God in your
corner, life is good, according to Scott Nigels with Palmetto Pile Driving
By Jess Campbell
Faith is not an easy thing to have. Yet, some would argue
faith is integral to ensure a life filled with connection, joy
and love. To have a foundation of faith upon which to
build your life is what makes the difference between a mediocre life
and an extraordinary one. That foundation is all you need, really.
Just ask Scott Nigels.
Faith in work
Nigels is the field production manager for Palmetto Pile Driving
in Charleston, S.C. He’s been with the company since 1993, having
been a production superintendent at Prestress Concrete for nine
years previous. Although he had transitioned to construction from
landscaping, Nigels always had a hand in deep foundations thanks
to his father, McLeod C. Nigels – or Mac, as everyone called him.
“My father was a structural engineer with Prestress Concrete,
making bridge beams, piling, wall panels, prestress products, that
sort of thing,” said Nigels. “When they closed in 1993, there was a
need for some pile producers in Charleston. Palmetto Pile Driving
decided they wanted to fill that void. So, I came to work for them
in August 1993 and have been with them ever since.”
For 26 years, Nigels has started his day at 5 a.m., doing things
like testing concrete poured the day before so it’s ready ahead of
the 6 a.m. crew and 7 a.m. pile driving crew. He visits job sites,
spends a lot of time in the piling yard and brings engineers in to
show them the product – to show them what he believes in.
“Our motto is ‘a driven pile is a tested pile.’ It’s the best possible,
most common-sense approach to deep foundations,” he said. “I am
convinced of that. With young engineers, this is part of my pitch –
for them to come see what we put in the piling because I’m willing
to bet they have no idea. We’re pouring more cement; we’re pouring
with granite instead of limestone. The materials in these piles are
much stronger and the design is much more complicated than it
used to be. What we’re driving into the ground is a greater product
than what else is being offered. This is why I’m convinced it’s the
best product for what we do.”
Faith in family
To have faith in your work means to have faith not only in what
you’re doing but also in yourself to do the work. Who teaches you
to have faith in yourself? Your family.
Growing up and watching his father do his best every day –
both for his company and his family – helped Nigels learn how to
do the same.
“My dad was a superhero when I was a child and a young man,”
said Nigels. “He was a great guy – a ‘guy’s guy.’ Even as an engineer,
he struggled with math. But he overcame it because he worked so
Scott Nigels, Field Production Manager, Palmetto Pile Driving
Photos courtesy of Palmetto Pile Driving
CONSTRUCTION CAREER
hard. That was his approach in every aspect of his life. To this day,
there are very few things I’ve ever done where I don’t think about
him daily.”
Having faith in your work also means trusting the people working
around you to do their jobs to the best of their ability, to support
and encourage one another to get the job done right. While
working with Palmetto for 26 years has certainly boosted his faith,
Nigels is also very involved in his local PDCA chapter, helping to
build a strong extended work family.
www.piledrivers.org PILEDRIVER | 63
/www.piledrivers.org
