Purposeful Pivot: D.J. Buchholz Discovers His Knack for Construction Estimating

About five years ago, D.J. Buchholz stepped out of the familiar confines of a research lab and ventured into the unfamiliar world of construction.

It was a major career shift for Buchholz, who had earned a biomedical engineering degree from the University of Missouri and secured an enviable position at a contract research organization.

But the monotony of that job led him to seek a new vocation that better suited his personality. “I liked the laboratory setting, but decided I didn't want to be stuck in one for the next 35 or 40 years,” he admits.

As a result, Buchholz started applying for miscellaneous jobs on indeed.com. “I wanted a full reset and was very open-minded to anything,” he recalls, quickly acknowledging that construction was not a primary target.  

He ended up getting hired at Bi-State Utilities, a family-owned site utilities contractor. “I’m sure they were scratching their heads a bit when they saw my resume, but they gave me a chance and took me under their wing while I learned how to estimate and be a project manager.”

That experience also gave Buchholz a renewed sense of purpose. “I went from my previous role of just a pair of hands in the lab to actually having legitimate responsibility for people's livelihoods, which helped me find a new drive and a new passion,” he says.

Since joining Castle’s estimating team in December 2023, Buchholz has continued to expand his construction knowledge and broaden his estimating expertise. He notes, “It’s been nice to work with a new team, be exposed to new industries and learn a lot of new strategies that make Castle successful.”

Construction Connections

While his current role is limited to estimating, Buchholz enjoys staying connected with Castle project managers and superintendents as jobs proceed through construction. “A lot of things can change from bid time through project completion, so it's nice to get feedback from the crews running the jobs,” he says. “Our goal is always to improve, collaborate better and learn from our mistakes.”

Buchholz also appreciates Castle’s collaborative ownership culture, observing, “We're a tight-knit group, and everybody has a vested interest in every project going well, so they chip in where they can.”

And, as Buchholz has discovered, he’s not the only one who has followed an atypical path to Castle. “One of the beauties of construction is that most of us have had a very unique journey to get to wherever we are today,” he says. “You never know where you're going to go, so it’s important to keep an open mind.”

A self-described mountain man, Buchholz enjoys snow skiing, scuba diving, hiking and traveling with his girlfriend, Megan. “The list of places that I need to go this summer is pretty long,” he admits, with an upcoming itinerary that includes traveling to Mexico for a friend’s wedding in September and a trip to the French Alps in June 2026 to officiate another friend’s wedding.

Just prior to joining Castle, Buchholz accompanied his 16-year-old cousin for a month-long internship to conduct shark research in South Africa. “The scuba diving was mind blowing,” he says, “and we also did some hiking and exploring while we were there.”