By: Christopher Mariano
In the complex ecosystem of modern business, a persistent challenge lies in the effective alignment between operational execution and overarching strategic vision. The project manager, immersed in the day-to-day realities of deliverables, timelines, and resource allocation, often operates in a world distinct from that of the CEO. This inherent divide is difficult for many to bridge, taking a unique individual who can combine a daily focus with the landscape of market trends, long-term growth, and shareholder expectations.
It is within this context that individuals like Ivica Papes emerge as critical facilitators, effectively bridging the gap and fostering a cohesive and impactful organizational culture. As a CEO, Papes has run companies such as Naples Organics and Collier Home Improvements. His background coming up however, has seen him manage the day-to-day operations as a project manager on many construction sites. This experience has helped to form the native Croatian into a CEO with a depth of understanding that goes beyond the spreadsheet.
Papes’s approach transcends the traditional role of a project manager, moving beyond tactical execution towards a more holistic understanding of the business objectives. He leverages his strongest asset, “my ability to balance vision and execution,” to create successful enterprises. But his leadership abilities extend farther than setting and achieving goals. The CEO combines a keen eye for detail with clear communication to support success.
He doesn’t merely manage tasks; he manages with context. Papes’ strategy begins with a deep understanding of the strategic goals of his businesses. From there, he surrounds himself with capable people who share his vision. “By creating efficient systems and empowering my teams to take ownership of their roles, I can focus on strategic decision-making,” says the CEO. This enables him to rely on his employees’ commitment, giving him more time to focus on new initiatives and potential expansion.
His communication style is clear, which gives him the ability to convey his messages to the team and make sure their vision aligns with his. Communication is something that Papes has worked on in his transition into the CEO role. While a project manager focuses on specific tasks, as CEO, he must be able to vocalize the entire company’s vision. In essence, Papes operates as a translator, fluent in both the language of strategic direction and on-site operation.
This is especially helpful for someone who has risen through the ranks quickly. While he owns up that his “journey began with a passion for creating value and solving problems,” it has expanded to incorporate strategies for expansion and community building. However, he can always rely on his background in construction, which taught him the skills to manage teams and operations effectively. Papes pulls from these experiences but chooses to take a risk, diving into the pool of entrepreneurship.
Starting your own enterprise is no small task, something that involves putting yourself out there and taking a calculated risk. Papes started this process by “identifying my strengths and how they aligned with market needs.” From there, he relied on hard work and failures to vault him to the position he is in today. Nothing came easy, especially at first, learning how to share his dream with others took time and many missteps.
However, through it all Papes continued to build up relationships and created a strong support network. People who he could rely on to cheer him on in his successes and who he could trust to lend a hand when he fell short. During these beginning times, transitioning between running sites and running a business, he was able to formulate a plan for success.
He focused on valuing the community by offering jobs and providing high-quality products. As Naples Organic and Collier Home Repairs have continued to grow, he looks to give back to the very community that supported him. “Through Naples Organics, we are working on a mobile app that integrates health and nutrition guidance,” he says “This will hopefully aid in the health of the general public.” Beyond the app, Papes remains deeply committed to community work. He cites his work with Little Angels Worldwide which supports local charities as well as orphanages in Nigeria and his own home country of Croatia.
Never forgetting where he came from allows Papes to be authentic and understanding. With a strong value on communication and the ability to foster a workplace that is open to new ideas, he has successfully crossed the gap between project manager and CEO. Papes believes in the power of listening actively and empathizing with his employees, creating a culture of trust and collaboration within the company.
It is this ethos that has helped Ivica Papes to continued success. It is not a revolutionary business idea but rather the ability to provide sound leadership throughout all of his businesses. From his early days working in construction to now successfully running a construction company of his own, the Croatian-born CEO has found his path to success. It is one that is built on mutual respect for both the communities he serves as well as those he employs who help him serve them.
Published by Mark V.
