SPACiO Design Build Spends a Day at Sea with the US Navy

As SPACiO Design Build continues to evolve and adapt to Miami’s ever-changing real estate market, Brian Nisula discovered new ideas for growing the business in an unlikely place…an aircraft carrier. When he was nominated through the Young Presidents’ Organization to attend the Leaders to Sea Program, he didn’t expect a day at sea with the US Navy to open his eyes to new ways of thinking about SPACiO Design Build’s future. We sat down with Brian to learn more about his adventure at sea and find out what inspired him the most about the program.

Q: How did the Leaders to Sea Program shape your perception of our military including our Navy?

Most Americans, including myself, don’t really know what our military does on a daily basis or how hard our troops work. The Leaders to Sea Program aims to change that by inviting community leaders to learn about the Navy and help foster citizen awareness and understanding of the Navy’s role and need in general. My involvement with the Young Presidents’ Organization, a global network of young chief executives with 24,000 members in more than 130 countries, led to the opportunity.

We started the day with a C2 Greyhound transport plane flight off the coast of Southern California to the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier in the Pacific Ocean that was in training to be deployed. You don’t realize how big these carriers are until you’re on one. There are about 5,000 people living on the ship, taking a tour of one is like visiting a small town.

I now have a better understanding of what it means to run a tight ship. There is no room for error when you’re in the middle of the ocean. The level of effort it takes to run an aircraft carrier is immeasurable. It was an enlightening experience to see the US Navy in action and their dedication first-hand.

 Q: What takeaway from the tour will you apply to your endeavors to continue SPACiO’s positive growth trajectory?

As a general contractor, the US Navy’s efficiency and resourcefulness are two takeaways that I can relate to. In our business, our goal is to provide a superior level of quality, professionalism and responsiveness while meeting budgets and deadlines. I was amazed by the Navy’s innovative and efficient approach to running the ship smoothly. There are so many moving parts on a ship this large. They all have to work together in order to sail forward. As SPACiO grows, taking on more projects and hiring more teams, it will be important for us to focus on increasing our efficiency and becoming more resourceful. It will be more beneficial to our clients and our employees.

Let me give you an example. On the carrier, there’s an officer called the Handler. He’s responsible for positioning all the ships and planes on the deck of the aircraft carrier. He developed a system for managing the flight deck by building a model for himself using materials from a craft store. His innovative approach to managing the flight deck is a great example of how to be efficient and resourceful by thinking outside the box. After watching him and other crew members operate in terms of their efficiency, anything can be achieved with the proper organization and training.

Q: What do you want to share with readers about the US Navy?

I want people to know how hard our military works to protect our freedom. Everyone on the ship is working more than 14-hour days; yet, every crewmember is dedicated and does their job with pride. After seeing the rigors of their training, I would be more inclined to reach out to former military personnel to join the SPACiO team.