What does it really take to carry on a family legacy — and make it your own? In this episode of Inspire West Michigan, host Amy sits down with Pete Oleszczuk, President of Westwind Construction, to talk about growing up in a construction family, earning his way into the business, and leading three companies through one of the most complex economic environments in recent history.

From sweeping job sites at age seven to building 375+ Dollar General stores across multiple states, developing over 1,000 multifamily units, and now breaking ground on East End Flats in Grand Haven — Pete's story is one of grit, humility, and relentless commitment to doing things the right way.

Whether you're a business owner, aspiring entrepreneur, or just someone who appreciates an honest conversation about leadership and legacy — this one is for you.

Chapters:

0:00 – Introduction & Welcome to Inspire West Michigan 0:56 – Meet Pete Zuck & The Three Companies 2:26 – How West Wind Construction Got Its Start in 1977 3:11 – Growing Up in a Construction Family 4:26 – The Lessons That Shaped Pete's Work Ethic 6:25 – Shoveling the Whole Sidewalk: A Life Philosophy 8:25 – Going to College vs. Joining the Family Business 10:42 – How Pete First Made His Mark at West Wind 11:09 – Building Dollar General Stores Across Multiple States 13:21 – How Long Does It Take to Build a Dollar General? 15:07 – Pivoting to Multifamily Development 15:44 – Becoming President in 2023 & Passing the Torch 18:15 – Navigating the Father-Son Dynamic at Work 20:51 – Work-Life Balance Across Generations 22:13 – The Biggest Challenges of Leading Three Companies 24:10 – Building a Team You Can Trust 26:03 – Leadership at 25 vs. Leadership Today 28:21 – West Wind's Current Focus & Growth Strategy 31:07 – Finding the Right Mix of Projects 33:32 – Who West Wind Wants to Work With 36:53 – The Value of Coaches & Outside Perspective 37:25 – The "Pete Zuck Way" of Leading 38:50 – Favorite Projects & Most Memorable Moments 45:34 – Housing in West Michigan & East End Flats Update 47:45 – Community Response to the Grand Haven Project 49:22 – Future-Proofing Multifamily Developments 52:09 – How AI Is (and Isn't) Impacting Construction 54:40 – How Fatherhood Has Changed Pete as a Leader 59:40 – Final Thoughts: Just Be Good Humans