What happens when things don’t go as planned? Picture a major project where materials don’t arrive on time, crews aren’t aligned, and deadlines keep slipping—costs rise, frustrations grow, and what should have been a smooth process turns into chaos. This is why planning, precision, and guidance matter so much; they keep projects on track, people safe, and goals within reach.
When these elements are missing, the impact is felt everywhere—budgets spiral, trust breaks down, and opportunities are lost. Visionary leaders step into this gap by anticipating challenges, preparing for them, and creating lasting solutions. Their ability to see the bigger picture while guiding every detail makes the difference between failure and success. By inspiring teams, setting clear systems, and keeping focus where it belongs, they turn uncertainty into steady progress, ensuring that in a world where one delay can affect an entire chain of outcomes, things get done and done right.
Denny LaVé, Managing Member and Co-Founder of Precision Precast Erectors (PPE), embodies this kind of leadership. Having built his journey from the ground up, he brings responsibility, grit, and precision into every aspect of his work. From reviewing bids and negotiating contracts to managing pre-job planning, safety preparation, and mentoring teams in the field, he ensures that projects are executed with discipline and reliability.
His role is not just about overseeing numbers—it’s about building people and fostering a culture of ownership that drives long-term success. Under his leadership, PPE has expanded across the Western U.S., earning recognition for delivering ahead of schedule with a lowest total cost approach, being honored five times on the Inc. 5000 list, and achieving steady growth through innovation, digital tracking systems, and structured training. Denny has been featured in publications such as USA Today, Forbes, Fortune Magazine, Time Magazine, Wall Street Journal, and Construction Today.
These achievements highlight how his vision and integrity transform challenges into opportunities, leaving a lasting impact that extends far beyond the structures built.
Early Beginnings
Denny’s journey into leadership began on job sites, long before he held any formal title. Starting as an ironworker to support his family, he quickly learned that true leadership is about taking responsibility, especially when the stakes are high. In 2008, during the financial crisis, he and his father co-founded PPE with a clear mission: to install precast with advanced preparation, faster build times, and fewer complications, ultimately delivering the industry’s Lowest Total Cost (LTC). For Denny, precision is not just a slogan—it’s a method grounded in disciplined execution, careful sequencing, and rigorous project planning. What began as a means to survive evolved into a deeper purpose, reflecting the values of work, faith, and responsibility that he chronicles in his memoir,Blue-Collar Blessed: A Humble Life in Idaho, and that continue to guide his pursuit of public service.
As an ironworker-turned-entrepreneur, husband, and father of six, Denny has spent more than two decades building not just structures, but people, companies, and communities. He oversees day-to-day operations, including reviewing bids and estimates, creating custom estimating spreadsheets, negotiating contracts, and managing pre-job planning and safety preparations. Denny LaVé is deeply involved in field operations, providing hands-on training and mentoring to supervisors and crew members to ensure smooth and efficient project execution. With experience from the ground up, he understands what it takes to put on a hard hat, solve problems under pressure, and deliver excellence. Over time, he has come to see that true leadership is not about titles, but about service, responsibility, and vision.
PPE at a Glance
Key statistics highlightingthe expertise, scale, and operational focus that drive PPE’ssuccess:
| Metric | Details |
| Combined team experience in precast | 160+ years |
| Annual revenue | Approximately $17 million |
| Team | 50+ field and office professionals |
| Geography | Projects across the Western U.S. |
| Recognition | 5× Inc. 5000 honoree |
| Outcome focus | LTC: Lowest Total Cost via Precision prep, data tools, PST, and consistent field leadership |
Navigating the Dual Role of Business and Public Service
One of the most significant challenges Denny LaVé faced at PPE began with an early multi‑hundred‑piece project that tested the team’s limits on cash flow, logistics, and reputation. Using the Precision Advanced Project Prep methodology, the team meticulously sequenced every lift, mapped crane plans, coordinated trades well in advance, and emphasized thorough training. Daily coordination with the general contractor and transparent progress tracking ensured the project was completed ahead of schedule, reinforcing Denny’s principle that credibility is earned incrementally through preparation, discipline, and humility.
Beyond project-specific challenges, Denny has also navigated the transition of the company from its first generation of leadership to the second. Training the next generation to manage a closely held, family-run business is very different from leading a large Fortune 500 or global company. While PPE operates nationally across the Western U.S., it still retains the character of a small, family-owned enterprise, creating unique constraints that require careful decisions about which challenges to tackle directly and which to adapt around. Another ongoing challenge has been preparing for a political shift, as it is not feasible to simultaneously own and actively manage a company while pursuing public office. Over the past several years, Denny LaVé has focused on gradually stepping back, mentoring emerging leaders, and reshaping operations to ensure the business continues to thrive independently.
Real-Time Tracking from Yard to Set
PPEfocuses on achieving the LTC by minimizing surprises and ensuring smooth project execution. This begins with their Precision Advanced Project Prep, which includes thorough site walks, connection and crane planning, patching and grouting plans, bracing, safety measures, and logistics, all carefully organized before installation. The process is supported by a robust digital ecosystem, using tools like Autodesk Build for tracking installs and grouting, Smartsheet for managing issues, digital as-builts, time and material tracking, and certified payroll from on-site digital timecards. Their Precision Sequence Tool (PST) monitors each piece from the yard to installation in real time, providing daily look-aheads and supporting progress invoicing. Combined with field leadership training and skilled Master Installers, this system ensures that plans are executed precisely where it matters most—at the hook.
Disciplined Innovation in Action
At PPE, innovation is seen as disciplined simplicity applied consistently every day. The company maintains short feedback loops through daily huddles, end-of-week debriefs, and post-project reviews, encouraging team members at all levels to suggest improvements. Cross-training allows crews to be flexible without compromising safety or schedules, while digital tools provide clear visibility into project progress. This combination of culture and technology ensures that progress is not just tracked—it is continuous.
Careful Planning, Precise Execution, And Leveraging Technology
Denny LaVé observes that the construction industry is increasingly shaped by modularization, compressed schedules, and a competitive labor market. To stay ahead, PPE emphasizes careful planning, precise execution, and leveraging technology—using digital layouts, enhancing logistics visibility, and maintaining documentation that supports efficient fieldwork rather than creating delays. Additionally, Denny advocates for industry reforms that enable smarter building practices, such as streamlined permitting, transparent procurement, and strong workforce development initiatives.
Success Stories
Denny LaVé recalls a fast-paced project involving more than 500 precast pieces where the PST and meticulous project sequencing played a crucial role. By eliminating idle time and minimizing delays, and through daily coordination to keep all trades aligned, the team completed the project ahead of schedule with zero quality issues or callbacks. A general contractor on the project noted that having Denny’s team on-site was a significant relief, highlighting the consistent reliability and high performance that have become the hallmark of PPE
Strategic Partnerships
PPE is carefully evaluating selective partnerships with design-build firms and precast manufacturers to streamline the handoff from design to installation. While there are no acquisitions planned at this time, the guiding principle is clear: only pursue collaborations that enhance schedule reliability, safety, or crew development. This disciplined approach also extends to political engagements, prioritizing service to people over personal agendas.
Active Listening in Every Project Phase
During projects and at closeout, the PPE team actively listens through superintendent check-ins, toolbox talks, and formal debriefs. On one occasion, a general contractor requested an adjustment to load staging to match an evolving sequence. In response, the team developed a staging template that now reduces crane idle time across multiple jobs. By prioritizing listening, acting quickly, and measuring results, these practices create efficiencies that apply not just on job sites but in larger-scale leadership and decision-making as well.
Integrity, Ownership, and Grit
Integrity, ownership, and grit form the foundation of Denny’s leadership philosophy. He values consistent action and reliability over empty promises, and places growth and team development above ego. Leadership on the field is hands-on: crews include certified riggers and signalmen, all trained to OSHA‑30 standards, with documented safety walks and daily hazard assessments to ensure projects run safely and efficiently. Master Installers blend traditional craftsmanship with cutting-edge technology—using lasers, theodolites, optical levels, and even adjustments as precise as 1/32 of an inch—to achieve unmatched accuracy. These principles of accountability, perseverance, and excellence guide every aspect of his work, reflecting a deep commitment to his team, the craft, and the communities his projects serve.
Prepare Like Everything Depends on You
Denny LaVé advises emerging leaders to “say yes before you feel ready, then prepare as if everything depends on you—because it does.” He emphasizes hiring for character and training for skill, focusing on what truly matters, and learning from failures without repeating the same mistake twice. Taking care of your people is paramount, as the impact of leadership and legacy extends far beyond quarterly wins. He also encourages thinking about balance differently—asking yourself, when you are 83, what will you be most proud of? Align your time and priorities to maximize your potential and achieve that vision. For those interested in a deeper exploration of these principles, they are detailed in his memoir, Blue-Collar Blessed.
Setting the Standard in High-Performance Precast Erection
Denny LaVé’s focus is on trust rather than size. The goal is to be recognized as the most trusted name in high-performance precast erection in the Western U.S., ensuring predictable schedules, disciplined safety practices, transparent billing, and teams that develop into the leaders of tomorrow. Beyond the construction industry, the same builder’s ethic is carried into public service, emphasizing clear planning, honest budgets, and respect for the people who do the work.
Future Plans
Denny LaVé is preparing to launch a U.S. Senate campaign in Idaho, taking a significant step toward public service. Alongside this political endeavor, he collaborated with a team and wrote a memoir that shares his life story, covering lessons learned in business, family, and societal challenges that often go unaddressed. The memoir is intended not just as a personal account, but as a catalyst for meaningful conversations about issues affecting everyday people that rarely receive widespread attention.
Denny LaVé’s 5 Impactful Business Mantras
- Plan with Precision: Meticulous preparation and disciplined execution ensure efficiency and minimize surprises
- Lead Through Service: Responsibility and humility build true leadership, not titles or ego.
- Trust Over Size: Credibility comes from reliability, integrity, and consistent results
- Innovate with Discipline: Continuous improvement, cross-training, and smart technology drive safe, high-quality outcomes.
- Prepare as if Everything Depends on You: Own outcomes, act decisively, learn from failures, and prioritize people and legacy.
