Susan Gordon, Staff ReporterWHEN HARDWORKING professionals step out of their offices, they leave behind footprints, but when master builder extraordinaire Donald (Don) Mullings does it, he leaves behind blue prints.
Now the immediate past president of the Incorporated Masterbuilders Association of Jamaica, (IMAJ) Mr. Mullings is also the managing director of M&M Jamaica Limited, an engineering and project management company which he started in 1993.
Under his two year leadership at IMAJ, which started in 2004, this University of the West Indies-trained civil engineer secured optimal training and education for the industry. Seventy five scholarships were issued to students in the building discipline at various educational institutions and an Information & Resource Centre was established.
He said for an industry that contributes 10 per cent of the work force in Jamaica and approximately 9.5 per cent of GDP, the construction sector must be allowed a chance to develop by the government. "International companies are here because they know there is money to be made in the construction industry," he noted.
And like every good builder, Mr. Mullings consults with the chief corner stone, Jesus Christ, almost every weekend for advice on maintaining that softer human face to construction. In fact his weekends are a build up of events.
"On Sundays I go to church," shared Mr. Mullings. "It does not matter how religious you are, you need guidance from the divine master, church helps you to be human," added the Anglican who worships at the Church of the Ascension in Mona.
But the charming Mr. Mullings takes his building techniques to another scale beginning on Friday evenings. Aiming also to build a balanced lifestyle, he thaws out from a tough environment with some friends and drinks at Friends on the Deck in New Kingston. "I have a heavy social programme," he explained, mentioning the many dinners organised by various government departments that he attends.
On Saturday mornings from 6:30 a.m. until 12:00 noon, Mr. Mullings covers quite a bit of square footage at the Constant Spring Golf Club, in St. Andrew playing golf. An expert on the law of gravity cultivated by his engineering background, Mr. Mullings makes a good golfer.
Saturday afternoons is another routine. "I try to catch up on work at the office or do charity work," shared the director of the Kiwanis Foundation of Jamaica and member of the Portmore club. In the evenings he has another measure of fun as he engages in a mixture of social programmes and television viewing.
"If a job is worth doing, do it well." This being his lifelong philosophy, Mr. Mullings ends his weekends enjoying the company of his family and friends on Sunday evenings.
