From Sky to Site: How Flying Shapes Derek Hoeschen’s Approach to Building
The propeller hums to life, the ground falls away, and a wide stretch of North Dakota sky opens in front of Vice President of National Operations Derek Hoeschen. For Derek, flying isn’t just a weekend hobby; it’s a way of gaining perspective. It’s where focus returns, discipline and patience are tested, and where he’s reminded of what it means to go the distance, in work, in leadership, and in life.
Taking Off
“It wasn’t long after I started my professional career in Colorado that I got into aviation,” Derek recalls. “One weekend I was driving around the front range, and I saw a little sign by the airport that said ‘Learn to fly here,’ I thought “what the heck?”
That spontaneous decision changed everything. After earning his pilot’s license and instrument rating, Derek set his sights on an even bigger challenge; building his own airplane. Over two and a half years’ worth of weekends – a good clip for such a project – he built a Vans RV-9A from a kit.
“Having a background in construction, in scheduling, planning, and procurement, probably helped me accomplish it so fast,” Derek says. “Whether it’s building a plane or in construction, there’s no recipe book that tells you what to do next. You need people that show up for work and challenge themselves to think about ‘What do I need next? How do I get to that next step?’”
Flights Paths and Job Sites
Derek joined McGough’s Fargo, ND office in 2015, not long after it opened. His combination of technical expertise and calm confidence made him an anchor as the region took on increasingly complex work. When McGough was awarded a massive, multi-year, multi-phase data center build near Ellendale, ND, Derek was a natural fit to lead the project.
“I feel so fortunate to have relocated my family back to the Midwest and to work for an employer like McGough, who takes on challenging and complex projects,” Derek says.
Sometimes, those challenges quite literally take flight. “It’s not every day that I get to fly to work, but when the weather and schedules align, I’ve been known to hop in my plane and run out to the job site and make it home the same day,” he says.
Craftsmanship and Care – In the Air and On the Ground
Aviation has taught Derek lessons that go far beyond the runway. One of the biggest: craftsmanship matters.
“You don’t see airplanes being built like this anymore,” he says about his Bellanca Super Viking, a plane he acquired after selling the Vans RV-9A he built. “It was hand-built in 1978 by craftsmen who cared about every joint, every grain of wood. You can feel that pride when you fly it. ”
He sees the same pride in McGough’s people. “The life span of these airplanes, much like the projects we build, is a direct correlation to the care, precision, and craftsmanship that go into it. When something is built properly and maintained with pride, it lasts a lifetime.”
Flying has also deepened Derek’s appreciation for focus and frame of mind. “Flying is not unsafe,” he says, “but it’s very unforgiving of human error. You have to be fully present. When I’m up there, everything else quiets down. That focus helps me come back to work with a new perspective.”
Building Beyond the Blueprint
For Derek, both flying and building are about more than the end product – they are about the process, the people, and the passion it takes to do things the right way.
“At McGough, I work alongside people who care deeply about their craft, their teams, and their families,” he says. “That’s what makes this place special. We build complex projects, but at the end of the day, it’s the people who make it all work.”
From the cockpit to the construction site, Derek shows what’s possible when passion and purpose come together; when you bring your full self to the work, go the extra mile, and take pride in people who lift us all higher.
