05/14/2026
At Skiles Group, our people are the foundation of everything we do. Through our Meet the Team series, we’re highlighting the individuals behind the work — sharing a little about their backgrounds, interests, and personalities beyond the jobsite and office. Next up is Jonathan Collins, Vice President, Preconstruction.
▪️ What do you like most about working at Skiles Group?
The People. The Talent Level is off the charts, and it runs from our CEO to new hires. You feel their passion for their projects and their clients when you talk to them. It challenges me to match their passion do right for them and our clients.
▪️ What did you want to be when you grew up?
A fighter pilot. I was obsessed with aircraft growing up — and honestly still am. I used to research and build models of military aircraft, go to air shows, and spend a lot of time learning about World War II planes. That was the peak of coolness in my mind. I didn’t end up following that path professionally, but I still think about taking flying lessons.
▪️ If you won the lottery, what would you do with the money?
Buy land. First, I’d buy a ranch — probably 1,000 acres or more — and build a large house for my parents where my girls and future grandkids could all visit. Fishing ponds and plenty of space outdoors. After that, I’d want a beach house and the ability to travel the world to see old architecture and real wildlife.
▪️ Any hobbies or bucket list goals?
My wife would probably tell you I have too many hobbies. Hunting, fishing, bicycling, and reloading and tinkering with fi****ms are probably the big ones. As for the bucket list, that list keeps growing daily, but some big ones are flying in a P-51 Mustang, elk hunting, hunting in Africa, marlin fishing, helicopter hog hunting, and scuba diving.
▪️ What’s on your playlist right now?
My music choices are pretty eclectic and depend on my mood or what I’m doing. For running: TOOL, The Cult, Ice Cube, Cypress Hill, The Rolling Stones, and Rage Against the Machine. For workouts: Metallica, Iron Maiden, Danzig, TOOL, Rage, and Eazy-E. Long drives usually mean ‘70s rock — Eagles, Pink Floyd, Steve Miller, Fleetwood Mac, Heart, and Lynyrd Skynyrd. On the boat or outdoors, it’s more yacht rock, country, Tejano, and classic rock.
▪️ What was the last thing you read or binge-watched?
The last physical book I read was Empire of the Summer Moon — the story of Quanah Parker. As for TV, I’m a huge Game of Thrones nerd. I’ve read and reread all the books and watched the series multiple times. Right now, I’m rewatching House of the Dragon ahead of the new season this summer.
And my favorite quote is by Winston Churchill: “Tact is the ability to tell someone to go to hell in such a way that they actually look forward to the trip.”
