Born in Tacoma, WA, and raised in Puyallup, Kevin Robertson brings a wealth of experience and passion to his role as Sheet Metal General Foreman at Hermanson Company. Kevin completed his whole apprenticeship and worked as a Journeyman for Hermanson early in his career before rejoining the team in 2021.
As an avid outdoorsman, Kevin enjoys various hobbies, including fishing, golfing, camping, kayaking, and cheering for the Seahawks as a season ticket holder. During summers, he and his family have a tradition of renting a houseboat with friends on Lake Shasta in California every year.
Kevin and his wife Krista have two children, Karlie (22) and Kolby (16). Kevin is proud to share that his daughter is starting the first year of her teaching career in the Bethel School District, and his son Kolby is kicking off his junior year of high school. The family has two energetic labs, Gus and Grace, to keep them busy around the house.
“I was always interested in working with my hands for a living,” said Kevin. “I started my sheet metal career at Bates Technical College in 2002 doing the Production Support Program.”
Kevin later joined Hermanson as an apprentice and recalls one of his favorite projects was Harborview Medical Center, where he learned and saw a big mechanical project from an apprentice’s perspective from start to finish. He has since honed his expertise, particularly in biotech buildings, where he has extensive experience that includes shutdowns, fume exhausts, biosafety cabinets, clean rooms, autoclaves, and more.
When asked what he enjoys about his career, Kevin says, “The mechanical industry is very exciting and is always evolving. I like the challenge it presents every day to work safely and more efficiently. From planning crane picks, scheduling deliveries, planning shaft work, shutdowns, to setting goals for the crew and meeting or beating them.”
The most important part of Kevin’s job is planning work, with the safety of his crew being the top priority.
“I will never have anyone on my crew do anything that I personally wouldn’t do,” he shared. “I always tell my team, ‘Never forget where you are’ and to always be aware of your surroundings on the job site. Watch out for everyone, and not just our team or yourself.”
Kevin is working on the Shell and Core project at The Artise in Bellevue, and he’s looking forward to his upcoming role as Sheet Metal Field Superintendent for a large project in Kansas. Kevin's journey exemplifies dedication, learning, and collaboration, from his early days at Harbor View expansion to his present leadership.
Kevin’s advice to the next generation is “to come to work with an open mind every day. Communication is key. Stay positive and watch out for each other.”