As the first steel securing bolt slid cleanly into a pre-set pedestal at a petrochemical client’s Baytown, Texas ethylene plant, Danny Evans stood tall and proud nearby, looking up at the mammoth 12-story cracking furnace his team had – at long last – just tucked into its “forever home.” All told, 448 bolts needed to align perfectly to secure the furnace in place across 28 pedestals and align perfectly they did.

As gratified as Evans felt, the last thing on the veteran project director’s mind was any kind of recognition for the impressive accomplishment. But in the three years since its completion, the project’s tremendous scale and the impressive precision with which it was executed have earned the Baytown Supermodule Furnace project numerous awards and accolades. And now, Evans himself was recognized earlier this year as one of Engineering News-Record’s Top 25 Newsmakers of 2024.

As Evans adds this feather in his hard hat, he’s quick to give credit to the team members who contributed to the project.

“While this is an incredible honor, I don’t see it as a personal achievement,” Evans says. “I see it as a reflection of the project team’s hard work and dedication. Without them, this wouldn’t have been possible. They delivered an outstanding project, and honestly, it’s their accomplishments that deserve the recognition.” 

After 40 years in the industry, one might assume the supermodule project would be considered Evans’ crowning achievement. But if you ask him, he says the more important accomplishment has been his long and winding road towards becoming a truly successful leader – a road that, like any construction project, he’s had to build from the ground up. 

After graduating from high school in 1983, Evans found work in construction as a laborer on a bridge project in North Carolina. He quickly moved into a crane apprentice role, which he describes as a difficult but valuable learning experience. Eventually, he decided to follow in the footsteps of his father, who was a piping superintendent, and step into the world of industrial construction. It was his father, Evans says, who first instilled in him the qualities needed to be successful in the industry. 

“In all my years in the business, I still believe he was the best pipefitter I ever worked alongside,” Evans says. “His skill, his dedication and his craftsmanship left a lasting impression on me and has definitely shaped my own career and approach to the industry.” 

Evans watched with great interest as his father grew as both a craftsperson and a leader as he rose into management positions on construction sites. At one point, his father decided project management wasn’t for him, so he returned to what he loved most – being a pipefitter. Evans, then an ambitious and career-driven young man, began eyeing the types of leadership opportunities that his father had steered away from.  

Looking back, Evans describes his early leadership style as decidedly impatient, demanding, and results-oriented. But he soon discovered that relentlessly pushing his teams was, in fact, delivering only middling results. It became clear to him that in the construction industry, high achievement depends mostly on collaboration, communication, and commitment to his team. Success was driven not by the tasks at hand, he found, but by the people and his relationships with them. 

“I started making subtle adjustments,” Evans says. “Like choosing optimism over pessimism, taking the time to listen rather than react, and focusing on the growth and development of my team rather than just the outcomes. Almost immediately, I saw a shift. Productivity improved, collaboration increased, and morale strengthened.” 

One of his biggest hurdles was learning to let go and allow his teams to approach tasks their own way, even if he initially thought his way was best. He learned that true leadership is not about control, but rather the opposite – by creating an open environment where people are empowered to learn, experiment, and take ownership of their skills and growth.  

“The moment I made that shift,” Evans says, “not only did my job become easier and I became a better leader, but I also found many new areas for my own personal growth.” 

Of all the awards and accolades earned by the Baytown Supermodule Furnace project, Evans says the most satisfying one was handed out by the project client. Their “Safety in Excellence” award recognized the impressive feat of completing such a unique and challenging project without a single injury or recordable incident during nearly 650,000 work hours.

He says the clean safety record is testament not only to the precision with which everybody completed their work, but also to the strong culture of collaboration, clear communication, and caring that permeated the project – from the moment torch first touched steel until the final bolts slid into place.

The fact that every contributor to the project went home healthy at the end of each day and can feel proud of their contributions to this spectacular project is what fuels Evans’ leadership as he looks ahead – whatever the next big opportunity might be, or which future leaders he will mentor. 

“Looking back,” he says, “I wouldn’t change the challenges I faced because they shaped the leader I am today.”

“And if I were to give advice to a young manager, I’d tell them this: lead with patience, listen more than you speak, and never underestimate the power of investing in your people. Success will follow.”