Get to know a Buildertrend employee: Nick Knihnisky

Ever wonder what it’s like to be a Buildertrend employee? Well, we’re taking you straight to the source.

We checked in with Buildertrend’s go-to guy for all things legal, Nick Knihnisky. You’ve probably heard Nick’s name mentioned before in our legal content, but today, he’s giving us a glimpse at life before Buildertrend and an inside look at what it takes to be the in-house counsel for Buildertrend.

Hey, Nick! Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you ended up at Buildertrend?

I was originally born in Omaha, but my family moved to Scottsdale, Arizona, at a young age. People think this is weird, but I always dreamed of returning to Nebraska. I grew up a big Husker fan (Go Big Red!) so my life goal was to graduate from the University of Nebraska. Following high school, I made my way to Nebraska, attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (life goal accomplished!), and have been here ever since.

I worked on political campaigns and in-state politics for a few years before deciding that law school seemed like a natural next step. After my second year of law school, I had the opportunity to come to Buildertrend to aid in the continued growth of their Legal function. It was the best decision I ever made. I have been with Buildertrend since May 2018 and continually marvel at our growth.

In my free time, I love to watch sports, do yard work, run with my dogs, play golf, cook, and travel.

What’s it like being a legal expert?

While I am trained in law, I would not say I am an “expert” by any means. By trade, in-house counsel are generalists. We do not specialize in any one area, instead assisting in a wide range of fields. At Buildertrend, I do everything from contract review and negotiation to assisting in employment matters, privacy, and customer inquiries. While I have gained knowledge in these different areas, the law is ever-changing, and we are always doing as much as we can to stay up to speed.

Wow, sounds busy! What does a typical day look like for you?

With so many different areas of coverage, each day brings a new challenge. Fortunately, there is not a “typical day” in my role. Instead, I try to start each day with a review of the latest progress in relevant areas of law before turning to the various questions posed by the company’s other departments. The Legal team takes pride in matching the company’s pace by providing quick turnarounds to our projects and assignments.

What would you say is the best part of what you do?

I really enjoy the cross-departmental nature of the role. Like I said each day is different, so I get to work with virtually every department in the company. Buildertrend has amazing, talented, passionate individuals across the board and I love working with each area. The pace and variety of assignments undoubtedly provide a fun, challenging work environment. It is incredibly rewarding any time we get to help our customers reduce their risk posture or sign a new partnership to provide greater value to our clients.

We really like working with you, too, Nick! Now, let’s talk perks. What’s your favorite Buildertrend perk?

I would have to say it is the entire work environment. Buildertrend is an incredible place with amazing people and we are all moving in the same direction. Obviously the daily happy hours are great, but if I had to pick one or two things, I absolutely love the casual office, countless TVs, and camaraderie in our company. I love spending days in a fantastic atmosphere, surrounded by similarly passionate individuals building an industry-leading product.

Editor’s Note: Buildertrend follows the Associated Press style guide, which does not require the use of the Oxford comma. However, Nick is an advocate of the Oxford comma and requested we maintain its use in his responses. We won’t argue with our lawyer.  🙂

About The Author

Chelsea Cole Chelsea Cole is a senior content marketing specialist at Buildertrend