06/13/2026
🎉 Herd-a-versary Spotlight: Nathan Rariden – 10 Years! 🎉
Today, we’re proud to celebrate Nathan Rariden’s 10-year Herd-a-versary with Buffalo Construction! Over the past decade, Nathan has grown from the field into a trusted leader who has helped shape teams, strengthen relationships, and leave a lasting mark on the Herd. From Superintendent to Division Leader for National Brands, Nathan has built a reputation for pushing people to grow, leading from the heart, and bringing unmatched energy, humor, and care to the people around him. His impact can be seen in the culture he’s helped create, the teammates he’s poured into, and the loyalty he inspires across Buffalo Construction. Nathan’s leadership is bold, people-first, and unforgettable — and we’re proud to celebrate this milestone with him. 🦬🧡
Here’s what some of his teammates had to say:
“Tick – our 10-year journey has been nothing short of interesting – from you starting out as a field stud and having your 8-mo. pregnant wife installing rosin paper on the floor at Blaze Pizza, to you overseeing our hospitality operations, I could not be more proud of your personal and professional development. You get IT my friend – always remember:�Love our people�Give more than you take – especially when it hurts�Our business is a service business and starts/stops with the field�Lead from the heart�Love and respect you bunches”�– Scott A. Gregor
“Nathan, you have traversed the spectrum from the field to leadership. You are the trailblazer, the model, the symbol, the manifestation of what it takes to ascend the mountains and valleys necessary to reach the summit. I admire your connection to your team, ‘stem to stern.’ Your compassion for our team is unparalleled and what we should all aspire to emulate. You lead the core of our business and shoulder the weight of that burden. With late-night calls and early-morning coaching sessions, you get it done, quietly greasing the gears to keep the machine humming. I know it is a heavy load that you carry and somehow manage to never let us see you break a sweat. Thank you for your ownership and taking care of your side of the street!�Congratulations on 10 years with the Herd. In today’s world that kind of loyalty is rare. You continue to grow as a leader every day, and we are blessed that you roam with us. I am proud to work alongside you and look forward to seeing you continue to grow. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”�– John Hunter
“Congratulations, Nathan, on an incredible 10 years with Buffalo Construction!�Nathan is a true example of what homegrown talent looks like. He began his journey with Buffalo as a Superintendent, quickly proving that he was more than just a builder of projects—he was a builder of teams, relationships, and trust. Over the years, he continued to grow through roles as Project Manager, Senior Project Manager, and ultimately into leading our National Brands division.�What has always stood out about Nathan is his genuine care for people. He invests deeply in his teammates, not only in their professional growth but also in their personal lives. Whether it's showing up for a birthday party, making a jobsite visit, celebrating a win, or simply taking the time to ask about someone's family, Nathan makes people feel valued. He wants to know what matters most to his teammates, what goals they have for their careers, and how he can help them achieve them.�Outside of work, Nate is a devoted husband and proud father to three amazing daughters. The pride he has for his family is evident to anyone who knows him, and the same care, commitment, and dedication he demonstrates at home are reflected in the way he leads his team.�Nathan, thank you for your leadership, your friendship, and your unwavering commitment to Buffalo and The Herd. I am grateful to serve alongside you and have tremendous respect for the leader and person you have become over the last decade.�Congratulations on 10 years—we can't wait to see what the next chapter holds.�Your Herd loves you, Nathan!”�– Andrea Pachner
“Congrats Nathan on your 10 years. You've done so much to lead your team and have their respect. Always enjoy your perspective and care for our people.”�– Matt Dudley
"Congratulations on 10 years, Nathan! Behind the jokes and wisecracks is a leader who leads with genuine compassion, thoughtfulness, and heart. You care deeply about your team and consistently invest in the people around you, always encouraging others to grow and succeed both professionally and personally. Your impact on this team—and on Buffalo as an organization—has been lasting and meaningful. The culture you've helped create, the relationships you've built, and the countless people you've supported over the years are a testament to the kind of leader and person you are. Cheers to 10 incredible years and many more to come. We’re better because of you. Love ya!"�– Sierra Baumle
“Dear Nathan, your special day is my special day because it’s my birthday, June 12. Congratulations. What a great present for me on my birthday. 😃 👍 🌴”�– Charlie Evans
“Nathan, Congratulations on your 10-year anniversary with Buffalo Construction. I honestly can’t think of anyone more deserving of being celebrated. Over the years, you’ve been much more than a Team Leader to me — you’ve been a mentor, a leader, and a true friend. You’ve pushed me to raise my standards for myself and challenged me to see potential in myself that I didn’t always see on my own.�From the very beginning, you believed in me. You saw my talent, my work ethic, and the value I could bring to Buffalo Construction before I fully realized it myself. Your honest words, guidance, and mentorship have played a huge role in the success I’ve had and the man I continue working to become. What I respect most about you is your ability to be real with people. You can see through the surface and recognize what someone is truly capable of, and that’s rare. Your leadership has impacted not only projects and teams, but people’s lives and careers — mine included.�Thank you for always pushing me to be better, for believing in me from day one, and for setting an example of what strong leadership looks like.�Congratulations again on 10 years. Buffalo Construction is lucky to have you, and I’m lucky to call you a friend and mentor.”�– Ed Cazares
“Nathan, You had me at hello!!!’ You make a great face for Buffalo when it comes to hiring people. The funny crap you say keeps us on our toes because we have no earthly idea what may come outta your mouth at any given moment. Congrats on 10 years. You’re my role model and I hope to grow up and be just like you!!! Love you big!!!”�– Garry Graves
“Congratulations on your anniversary. Think I’ll fire up one of those Seneca Ci******es you used to love so much.”�– Dan Fellows
“Congratulations.”�– Michael McClarty
“Congratulations Nathan!”�– David Kilgore
“Congratulations Nathan! Thanks for always being a positive person and a hugging machine.”�– Richard Garcia
“No one at BCI has impacted me professionally or personally like you Nathan. You have placed a ton of time and energy into my development. You have endured countless angry text messages and phone calls from me (I know I need therapy 😃). You have also become an amazing friend along the way. Thank you for pushing me to be better every single day. I know you believe in me and that means the world to me. I love you brother!”�– Brad Rigney
“Where to start with ole Nate dog.. Nate and I have known each other for years now, and he has come a long way in his career. When I first knew Nate, he drove up to the office his first day in an old beat-up Cadillac.. Now look at the guy, he drives a Kia. Lol�All jokes aside, from him being my PM, to my mentor and an even better friend, I am excited for what the future holds for the big fella. Love you like a brother. Congrats on 10 years!”�– Chad Bruner
“Congratulations on 10 Years with Our Family. Nathan has been like a second father to me, and I don’t say that lightly. He showed me unbiased, unfaltering love from the very beginning of our relationship. He was the only person in the entire world who saw something in me that I couldn’t even see in myself. He took me in with just the shirt on my back and an air mattress in my truck and gave me a life beyond my wildest dreams. He helped me get sober. He took care of me every single day. He loves me day in and day out. We fight plenty and that’s what love and real relationships look like. That’s what family is. The good, the bad, the ugly. All of it.�It gets me choked up writing this, because of how much Nathan means to me and what he has done. The way he loves people and pushes them is so unique and sometimes it can come off as too much for people who don’t understand it. But for me, that’s his love. And he knows exactly what it takes to drive someone. He has been one of the most massive forces in helping me become the best version of myself.
I am now four and a half years sober, and he is still the number one person in my corner by my side through everything. He has given me every opportunity to earn the life I have today.
When I think back to that helpless, drunk kid living in his truck in Florida with nowhere to go and no one to talk to… Nathan reached out and gave me a chance. I still remember our very first phone call. He talked me through everything. And at the end of it, he said, “I want you to know I love you.” It might sound simple. But that was the first time in a very long time that someone had said those words to me. And it drove me to push through everything from that moment to this one. That is what gets me through the hard times. The tough moments at work, with family, in my marriage, in life. He has been there every single step of the way.�Nathan is the most important person in my professional life, and I also consider him one of my closest friends and a true father figure. What he does for our family at Buffalo cannot be compared to anything else in this world and no one can fully understand it until they experience it firsthand. Until they see how much he loves, how much he cares, and how relentlessly he pushes everyone around him to be their absolute best.�I wanted this letter to show all of that. Because he truly is one of the best human beings on this earth. I would not have this incredible life without him. And I am so unbelievably grateful for everything he continues to do for me and our family every single day.�Here’s to 10 years, Nathan. And to everything still to come.�With all my love and respect,”�– Mitchell Tulk
“Happy Herd-a-Versary to my very cough unique but surprisingly good boss. I’ve worked with you for the better part of a decade and so it has always been clear to me that you truly care about your team and are proud of the work that you do. I have never once heard you raise your voice at anyone or shown any kind of negativity in the office. I admire you for your kindness while still getting s**t done!�We appreciate you and the fun you bring!”�– Maddie Sturgeon
“Happy 10th anniversary at Buffalo! Over the last 9 years of knowing you, I’ve seen firsthand that no matter how much things change, you’re still the exact same Nathan—just messing around with a new rotation of people. You’re the kind of leader who loves big; you might ride us right to the cliff of the mountain, but you never let us fall off. Even though you officially smell the worst out of everyone in the office and make way too many jokes, Buffalo truly wouldn’t be the same without you. You are a phenomenal boss, but above all, you are my incredibly loving (and equally annoying) father-in-law. Beyond all the laughs and the everyday chaos, I want you to know how much I truly appreciate your guidance, your constant support, and the massive heart you put into this family and this company. I’m incredibly proud to work alongside you and to have you in my corner. Thank you for a decade of dedication, Nathan.”�– Stevye Gonzales
“Honestly, I do not know where I would be without Nathan. There has been a lot going on the last couple of months and Nathan has been by my side the entire time. He is the true definition of a leader and a friend. He has treated me like family since day 1. I owe this man my life.”�– Carter Price
“I appreciate Nathan’s approach to relentless ‘Continuous Improvement.’ While in the moment it is stressful, it does allow me the ability to grow professionally, and when the task is completed it gives you a sense of accomplishment.
Additionally, I believe him to be the most knowledgeable person within Buffalo when it comes to ‘Civil’ construction, which is the area of our job I find the most interesting. When I’m able to pick his brain, I appreciate how he can teach by asking pointed questions to direct me to the answers, which can only be done because he is so knowledgeable on the subject matter. (You can leave these last couple sentences out so he doesn’t get too big of a head 😉).”�– Max Kushner
“Nathan – Congratulations on your 10-year anniversary. You are getting old. Thanks for everything you have done for me, the account, and the company as a whole. It is nice to have a resource like you in pocket whenever we need it and always available. You have been paramount in my development and always push your team to be better – at work and in our personal lives. You are a fun individual to have around and definitely keep the office morale up. We will keep you around! Enjoy your day.”�– Collin Spink
“Nathan has always been a rock and a mentor for many people at Buffalo. The relationships he builds are special. Personally, I can't even imagine where I would be right now without his guidance and willingness to step in and help whenever needed. He is truly one of a kind. Love you Nate.”�– TJ Cole
“Nate Doggy!!! Happy 10 years!! I can’t thank you enough for taking a chance on an old dog. More so than that, I appreciate you pouring into me and teaching me all that you have. While I most definitely question your teaching methods, I’ll admit they seem to work!!! Love you tons buddy.”�– Clay Wallace
“Nathan, you are a true inspiration to me and my development as Risk Manager at Buffalo Construction. I look forward to our deep talks in your office with TJ and Tony Baker about some of life’s and business’s biggest challenges.�Here’s to ten more years as a great team! XOXO”�– Thom Stowe
“Nathan is the jester of the office—the guy who's easy to poke fun at because he's such a big teddy bear. He has a way of making every day more fun, even if he occasionally plays the role of the older, slightly annoying brother to the rest of us. What makes Nate special, though, is the culture he's built within the Restaurants Business Group. It's not every day you hear grown men telling each other ‘I love you,’ especially in the construction industry. But that's the kind of leader Nathan is. He loves wholeheartedly, leads with authenticity, and is fully devoted to everything he does. His passion for people is contagious, and it shows in the relationships he's built and the team he's created. We are incredibly lucky to have Nathan as a leader at Buffalo, and I'm excited to work alongside him for the next 10 years.”�– Adi Giorcelli
“Congratulations on your 10th Herd-a-Versary! It has been a pleasure watching your growth and leadership journey—from Superintendent to now Division Leader for National Brands. Your dedication, hard work, and genuine care for your teammates have made a lasting impact on both the team and Buffalo as a whole. Thank you for everything you do and wishing you continued success in the years ahead.”�– Sarah Sheilley�
“Nathan definitely keeps everyone giggling at the Herd; you really never quite know what HR violation will come out of his mouth. He never lets the stress of construction get to him and he brings the energy to every meeting and interview we have together. Although he may have a tough exterior, deep down Nathan is a big ol’ softie and genuinely cares about the Herd family.”�– Lee Fowler
“Nathan is the biggest goofball ever. He always finds a way to make you laugh, even if you're having a bad day. He also cares so deeply about the Herd and would do anything to support his team. Happy Herd-a-versary, Nathan! Here's to many more years!”�– Kayla Puffer
“Congrats on reaching this huge milestone, Nathan! You bring such a special flair to the Herd that helps make work fun every day. Love you!�🦬 🧡”�– Jessica Wafzig
“Nathan, You are as silly as they come. Your humor, quick wit, and ability to keep everyone entertained are matched only by your wisdom and talent for building. It never ceases to amaze us all—both in what you say and in how you show up every day. Whether you're cracking a joke at just the right moment or finding a solution when challenges arise, you have a way of making a lasting impact on those around you.�Thank you for always making work more interesting, bringing energy to every project, and setting our teams up for success. Your positive attitude, leadership, and commitment to excellence don't go unnoticed. We're grateful for all you do and for the unique personality you bring to Buffalo Construction.”
– Laura Niehaus
Nathan, from all of us: thank you for 10 years of leadership, heart, humor, and dedication to the Herd. The culture you’ve helped build, the people you’ve invested in, and the energy you bring to Buffalo Construction have made a lasting impact. We’re grateful to celebrate this milestone with you and excited for everything still ahead. 🙌
