In the early 1990s, Craig Songer traveled to California from New York state to build a 25,000-square-foot mansion in the Rutherford Hills for a wealthy client. Coming from tony East Hampton, Songer didn’t yet understand the lure of the Napa Valley.

“But then we woke up the next day, and we said, ‘This A-OK. This is pretty nice,’” recalled Songer.

Finishing his 18-month project, Songer decided he was staying in California. More than 15 years later, Songer Construction Management, Inc. has been involved with numerous Napa Valley projects including Black Stallion Winery, restoring the Rubicon Winery for Niebaum Coppola and the outdoor demonstration kitchen and greenhouse for Copia.

What three people would you most like to have dinner with?

Meriwether Lewis, William Clark and my father Warren F. Songer. My father loved history and loved the West even though living in the Midwest he did not get to travel it very much.

What job would you like to try/not try?

Try: There is no other job that I would like to try. I enjoy the services that we provide and the people that we work with and for.  

Not try: I would not like to try being a high-wire performer for a circus act.

What was your first job?

Picking weeds from yards for a penny a weed, in my hometown of Hoopeston, Ill.

What’s the worst job you ever had?

Scraping cockroach excrement, etc. off of the inside walls and cabinetry of apartments buildings in Waukegan, Ill.

How did you get into this business?

My father was an electrical contractor and I worked for him during high school and college summer breaks to earn money. Putting together the pieces of the building puzzle just kind of stuck with me.

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?

Explaining to potential clients the benefits of construction management, even though we are a general contracting firm.

I can’t live without:

Jane Songer, my wife of 35 years and best friend for more years than I care to mention. We grew up as neighbors in the same small farming town in the Midwest — Hoopeston, home of the Cornjerkers. Don’t ask what our mascot looked like.

What’s on your to-do list?

Travel and hike the Oregon Trail.

What’s your favorite gift to give?

Enstrom’s Toffee.

What other business person(s) would you like to see featured in “10 Questions?”

Ruben Perez of Napa Electric Shop, Inc.

The group of people who taught the NxLevel Training Course offered by the Napa Small Business Development Center.

Stephen Cuddy of MCA Architecture Planning.  

More from Craig Songer, Songer Construction Management, Inc.

What’s something people might be surprised to know about you?

We started working with green building products and sustainable energy at least 25 years ago.

What is your favorite charity?

American Cancer Society.

What was your childhood ambition?

To be a lawyer.

What’s one thing Napa could do to help local business?

Offer and promote more affordable products and services for the local community.

What’s the most significant project you’ve been involved with in your career?

Restoring the Rubicon Winery for Niebaum Coppola.

If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?

Improve our marketing plan for auditing winery maintenance procedures.

What is one thing you hope to accomplish in your lifetime that you haven’t yet?

Giving back more to the local community in both time and charitable contributions — it will happen with time.

To suggest a candidate for “10 Questions” e-mail: jhuffman@napanews.com