At the young age of 27, Clayton Kramer has his future planned.
As a Building Construction management major at the University of North Florida and president of the Northeast Florida Builders Association’s student chapter, Kramer hopes to one day manage a major home building company or maybe even start his own.
Kramer got interested in the building industry while attending Orange Park High School.
“John Wright from Armco Builders offered me a job when I was in high school,” Kramer remembers, “I helped him on the weekends and followed him around. After that, I was fascinated with the construction of a home,” he said.
Kramer hopes to do more than just build homes, though — he wants to build quality homes.
“I would like my reputation to be that I am an honest man who builds an excellent home,” he noted.
Construction was not what brought Kramer to Jacksonville — it was the Navy. Kramer’s father was in the Navy and Jacksonville was his last duty station when he retired.
So, for the last 15 years or so, Kramer has lived on and off in Jacksonville. After high school, he joined the Navy, but returned to Jacksonville in 2000.
The NEFBA student chapter at UNF has only been around about two years but it is still growing and now has about 40 members. The students involved spend their time working with Builders Care as well as gathering for socials and other events throughout the year.
Each year the chapter participates in construction management competition at the National Association of Home Builders International Builders Show.
Don Jensen, one of Kramer’s professors, wasn’t surprised to see Kramer chosen as president of the NEFBA student chapter.
“Clayton is one of our better students academically and shows great leadership skills,” Jensen explained. “He always encourages others to get involved and takes a good approach to leadership.”
Jensen believes that Kramer’s hard work has gotten him where he is today. Jensen credits Kramer’s success to his good demeanor and leadership skills.
“He [Kramer] does not take a lot of credit for himself. Instead he always complements others even when he is the primary reason that things are getting done. That shows a lot about a leader,” said Jensen.