For Mike Duvall, construction has never simply been a career. It has been a way of life.
From building houses alongside his father to repairing windows across six states, Mike has spent decades learning how buildings come together, how products perform, and why attention to detail matters. Today, as Assistant Project Manager of Envelope Consulting at Epsten Group, A Salas O’Brien Company, he brings that lifetime of hands-on experience to the field.
Building a Career from the Ground Up
Mike’s construction education began long before he considered building enclosure consulting as a career.
He spent approximately 25 years building houses with his father and continued taking on residential projects throughout his career. He also operated several small family businesses, ranging from light commercial painting to residential handyman services.
His experience expanded during 17 and a half years with Moss Supply Company in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he worked in the service department. At one point, Mike traveled across six states repairing vinyl windows and broken glass.
Window repair became such an important part of his professional life that his expertise still follows him.
“Even today, after my transition into consulting, I still get calls from people asking for advice on how to fix different window products,” Mike says.
Eventually, a friend and colleague suggested Mike consider consulting. He applied, got the job, and brought his years of practical construction knowledge into a new field.
Bringing Field Experience to Consulting
Mike began his consulting career on a project in Atlanta, where he spent approximately 18 months before moving to a data center project in Huntsville to perform roof observations. Today, he is onsite at another data center in Montgomery, Alabama, where he has moved into the role of Assistant Project Manager.
For someone accustomed to leading jobs and working in family businesses, taking on increased responsibility was a natural progression.
“I am self-motivated and press to keep my jobsite performing and prospering,” Mike says.
He enjoys seeing construction progress each day while helping his team work efficiently and successfully.
“The opportunity to lead, shape, and mold a project into a positive product is a really good feeling.”
Telling the Story of a Building
Building enclosure consulting can be difficult to explain to someone outside the industry, but Mike has found a straightforward way to describe his work.
“I simply say I am a photographer,” he says. “I take photos of assemblies and write reports based on what I observe.”
In a sense, Mike and his team are documenting the story of a building as it comes together. They review assemblies within their scope, document installation conditions, compare the work they observe with manufacturer installation instructions, and look for potential compatibility concerns among products.
Their observations also create opportunities for productive discussions with installers and other project partners.
Mike’s years of hands-on construction and window repair give him a practical understanding of why those details matter, but it is the finished project that makes the work especially rewarding.
Data centers have become his favorite projects because of the opportunity to collaborate with many different teams through multiple phases of construction.
“To step back at the end and see the product that you helped build, it is very rewarding,” he says.
Taking Pride in the Work
That sense of accomplishment connects closely with Mike’s perspective on sustainability.
“Sustainability is to make and design a better future that will last and maintain for many years to come,” he says. “Leaving a positive impact on the world we live in, simply taking pride in the things we accomplish.”
Pride is also central to Mike’s approach as a teammate.
“I enjoy working with a team that takes full pride in their job and performance,” he says. “If you’re going to do a job, then do the best you can, even if some days you don’t feel like you can.”
At Epsten Group, Mike has found colleagues who share that commitment.
“I could not ask for a better group of mentors and colleagues,” he says. “Everyone is eager to help in every way, and the leadership team has been a world of knowledge.”
Asked to describe his experience at Epsten Group in one word, Mike’s answer is simple: “Invaluable.”
Mike plans to build on that experience in the coming year through continued education. He hopes to pursue infrared training and begin studying for the Registered Roof Observer (RRO) credential, continuing to build his technical expertise in building enclosure consulting.
Finding Joy On and Off the Jobsite
Outside of work, two longtime passions keep Mike busy: music and cooking.
He plays piano at his church, and his love of cooking began as a little boy in his mother’s kitchen. Today, that passion includes competition barbecue, which has taken him as far as Europe and Poland for competitions.
These experiences, along with his family and career, have given Mike plenty to be grateful for.
“My job is a great job, and it is a joy to come to work,” he says.
It is a fitting perspective for someone whose career has evolved considerably while remaining rooted in the same principles: keep learning, take pride in your work, support the people around you, and build something that lasts.
