Where Leadership Meets Execution: When Action Proves Leadership
Walk onto any RNGD jobsite where Tramel Smith is working, and you’ll quickly understand what “owning your work like the outcome depends on you” looks like in practice. It’s not just a philosophy for Tramel, it’s how he’s approached every role from field carpenter to steel operations leader.
“The most important lesson I try to pass on is: own your work like the outcome depends on you, because it does,” Tramel explains. “You don’t need a title to lead. If you understand how your work affects the person next to you, you’ll make better decisions, build stronger teams, and earn the respect that leadership requires.”
That mindset was on full display during the 223 Washington project, where Tramel’s team erected 450 tons of structural steel in just 8.5 weeks. But the real innovation came next. “Instead of waiting for traditional exterior trades to follow behind us, we partnered with our prefab team to clad the entire building with wall panels they built off-site in Metairie and shipped directly to the job.”
It wasn’t the original plan, but Tramel saw an opportunity. “We knew if we controlled both the steel and the envelope, we could compress the schedule and reduce rework. It took early modeling, tight logistics, and clear handoffs between divisions, but it worked. We went from steel frame to dried-in building in record time, without compromising safety or quality.”
For Tramel, being a renegade means “refusing to do things just because ‘that’s the way it’s always been done.’ It’s about staying curious, owning your space, and not waiting for permission to improve something that’s broken, or build something better.” But he’s quick to add: “It’s not about being reckless. It’s about being intentional, driven, and committed to execution.”
That balance between innovation and accountability is exactly what Tramel means when he says they “challenge how things have always been done, but back it up with execution.”
Originally featured in Biz New Orleans, this story dives deeper into the people and mindset shaping how we build. To read the full article visit Biz New Orleans.
