Careers in Construction Month highlights the stories of people who keep our industry moving forward—literally. Meet Benjamin Russell, an equipment engineer who blends hands-on work, software know-how, and a passion for mentorship into a rewarding career.
Phoenix-based Equipment Engineer Benjamin Russell didn’t expect to land in the middle of one of the most complex, fast-moving parts of the construction industry—but now that he’s here, he wouldn’t have it any other way.
Russell helps track and manage over 1,700 active pieces of equipment across Arizona and Texas. That means challenging days filled with equipment utilization reports, preventive maintenance planning, mechanic support, and technical problem-solving.
He thrives on all of it.
Balancing Listening with Teaching
He says listening to those who regularly use the equipment is key.
“I think the big thing is the willingness to learn,” he says. “We’re not in the field using the equipment every day, so listening to the people who are—that’s what makes us better.”
Benjamin’s role has recently grown to include training teammates on Clue, an equipment management platform that’s transforming how we track repairs, orders, moves and performance. He’s played a major role in its rollout—ensuring the data is accurate, clean, and connected across every project.
“It feels really good when someone says, ‘I was a little daunted by Clue at first, but you really broke it down for me,’” Russell shares. “That’s when you know the work you’re doing is helping people.”
Clue makes equipment data more centralized and user-friendly, saving time and providing clearer insights into usage, cost, and availability. And Russell sees it only getting better.
“We used to spend days building reports. Now it’s a click,” he says. “And as we get more data over the years, we’ll be able to bid more accurately and work more efficiently.”
Organization is at the core of what makes him successful. When you’re managing a fleet that includes hundreds of pickup trucks and pieces of heavy iron, even the smallest error can throw off a project. Fortunately, Benjamin had strong mentors from the very beginning.
Thankful for Mentorship
“My managers have really taught me the importance of details—even the fonts and bolding in a report matter,” he says. “It’s about making it easier for the next person to do their job right.”
Looking ahead, Russell sees multiple career paths. Wherever he ends up, he knows mentorship will remain central to his work.
“There’s so much knowledge around us if you’re open to learning,” he says. “From day one, people have taken the time to show me how to be successful—and now I get to do the same.”
This Careers in Construction Month, we are proud to salute the great work our equipment team does every day.
