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
