Teddy Montee Q&A: A Bold Perspective that is Perfect for Complicated Construction Projects

Teddy Montee is a project manager for Kiesland Development Services. Ask anyone at Kiesland what Teddy’s like and they’ll tell you he’s bold and full of energy. That dynamic style weaves its way into Teddy’s management style and personal interests. In this Q&A, Teddy shares how a background in law enforcement translates into managing large-scale construction projects and maintaining client relationships.

Q. Tell me about your professional background – did you have your heart set on being in construction when you were a kid?

A. No, I wanted to be a cop. And my background has some interesting stops that give me a unique perspective in the construction industry. I have a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice and business administration and first became a state trooper in Arizona after college. I moved to Los Angeles to pursue law enforcement there, but a relationship took me east and I began chasing real estate and construction opportunities in New York. That led me to roles in commercial real estate and renovating corporate assets. I came to Cincinnati in 2019 and worked for a company with historical assets and was instrumental in transforming those from top to bottom. I then had a position that allowed me to oversee construction for a Fortune 500 company with corporate assets in Downtown Cincinnati and Blue Ash. That role involved a significant number of office renovations. And then I joined Kiesland in 2023.

Q. So, from law enforcement to construction and real estate. What kind of parallels do you see in those different professions? Are there any skills that translate from being a state trooper to a project manager in construction?

A. They’re vastly different professions – totally different. It’s all management, though. I’m very good with budgeting a project and tracking the money on a project. I like putting the project together from the design stage through the build, so the design-build aspect. And I’d like to think I’m good at helping clients design a space – figuring out what a plan needs to make the space most functional to achieve the client’s goals. I’m very detail-oriented and this role takes advantage of that skill. Another element of management is collaborating with and guiding clients who don’t have extensive knowledge about how something’s built. They may not know how long it takes, how much it costs. Part of my role is managing expectations, managing emotions, and building a relationship with a client that’s rooted in trust.

Q. If you didn’t have to work, how would you spend your time?

A. Well, I really enjoy real estate, so I’d still be doing something in that vein. I’d probably be managing investment portfolios or something. I like mixed-use projects – developments with retail or commercial on the first floor and residential above. There’s never going to be a shortage of demand for multifamily in urban areas. You always have somebody who wants to rent an apartment and enjoy the low-maintenance aspect of multifamily or the walkability of an area with density. And from a construction perspective, you can maintain that asset, renovate it, and offer it for multiple generations.

Q. Okay, so you really enjoy real estate. What do you like to do when you’re off the clock? Any hobbies or passions of note?

A. I’m very into wine. I know wine very, very well. I lean toward big, bold Cabs, but also like choosing different wines to pair with dinner and will consider what region would best suit a meal. I also have quite a collection of bourbon at home and am just getting to know gins and what makes a gin unique – the different infusions and flavors that can make it floral or botanical. I also enjoy traveling. I am a spontaneous traveler and have been to 16 countries. Rome, Tuscany, South Korea, the Philippines, Thailand, Greece. In another life, I’d love to have homes around the world.

Q. It sounds like you’re a bold guy who likes adventure! How does that translate into your role as a project manager for Kiesland?

A. Well, I like big, complicated projects. I’ll think about a project all the time, because I’m just so immersed in it all day and even in the evenings or weekends. Big, detailed, complicated projects – you have to keep solving problems on the weekends, talking with your partners and team members literally every weekend. We have field staff who work every weekend. So even if I’m on vacation, I still take a laptop with me so I can keep an eye on things.

Q. What would you say is your favorite element or part of delivering a construction project?

A. I get excited about the work toward the end, when we’re focused on the finishes. It takes all of that vision, all of that work to make it to the final stretch of a space. The project I’m working on right now – we have amazing renderings so the client has an idea of what the project is going to look like when it’s complete. But when those final finishes come together, it’s magic. It’s the best part of working on a project.