From his eighth-floor office on CHOC\u2019s Orange campus, Craig Cherf has a commanding view of the Bill Holmes Tower.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I look at it,\u201d Craig says, \u201cI not only admire its beautiful exterior, but in my head, I see the concrete foundation and the steel beams underneath it.\u201d<\/p>\n
As a senior preconstruction director with the Newport Beach office of McCarthy Building Companies, Craig helped oversee construction when dirt was first turned on the project in fall 2009 through the tower\u2019s opening in 2013.<\/p>\n
Now, from a large monitor on his desk, Craig has a live-cam view of his second milestone project at CHOC: the Southwest Tower (SWT)<\/a>, the nine-story outpatient building set to open in late June 2025.<\/p>\n Craig\u2019s connection to CHOC runs deeper than supporting its growth through signature construction projects.<\/p>\n Just months after work began on the Bill Holmes Tower, Craig and his wife, April, got devastating news.<\/p>\n Their only child, Jackson, who was 4, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)<\/a>, a rapidly growing cancer that starts in the white blood cells in bone marrow.<\/p>\n Craig watched the Bill Holmes Tower rise as his son received treatment at the Hyundai Cancer Institute<\/a>.<\/p>\n While spending time in the hospital playroom, Craig would explain to his son and other patients the significance of the tower that was rising right outside the window \u2014 an experience that would connect Craig to his job in a way he could never have imagined.<\/p>\n \u201cBeing a part of CHOC is a highlight of my life and my family\u2019s lives,\u201d says Craig, reclining his 6-foot-4 frame before another busy day of meetings and site visits to check on the progress of the Southwest Tower, whose exterior will be completed this summer.<\/p>\n This Sunday, June 16, family once again will be center stage at the Cherf household as Craig, April and Jackson celebrate Father\u2019s Day and Jackson\u2019s recent graduation from Villa Park High School.<\/p>\n \u201cIt will always be part of my family.\u201d<\/p>\n After his April 2010 cancer diagnosis, Jackson spent three years in and out of CHOC for treatments. He is now cancer free.<\/p>\n But those early days, weeks, and months after the diagnosis were challenging.<\/p>\n April, who was working in the marketing department at McCarthy when she met Craig in 2003, took a leave of absence and never returned to work.<\/p>\n Craig, who started as an estimator at McCarthy in 2001, also took time off for three weeks to be with Jackson at CHOC.<\/p>\n Craig and April would trade overnight shifts to comfort their son at bedside.<\/p>\n Jackson spent three weeks at CHOC for his initial treatment and was on medications and steroids when he went home.<\/p>\n The steroids caused weird cravings.<\/p>\n \u201cCheetos and milk were his food and drink of choice,\u201d Craig says with a smile.<\/p>\n \u201cHe did great,\u201d he adds. \u201cHe was resilient.\u201d<\/p>\n Jackson does not remember much about his time at CHOC. One thing he does remember is pet therapy.<\/p>\n With dogs at home, too, and a love for all animals, Jackson is considering a career as a veterinarian. He starts at a community college in the fall with plans to transfer to a four-year university to earn a degree in animal sciences.<\/p>\n Recently, Jackson and his parents visited CHOC for a mini-reunion<\/a> with members of the Outpatient Infusion Center<\/a> (OPI). A few nurses recalled treating Jackson. The OPI will be relocating to the fourth floor of the Southwest Tower.<\/p>\n Jackson says he is looking forward to celebrating Father\u2019s Day.<\/p>\n \u201cHe always has been there for me, no matter what,\u201d Jackson says. \u201cHe\u2019s always supported me when I was at CHOC and throughout my schooling.\u201d<\/p>\n To celebrate Jackson\u2019s high school graduation, the Cherf family will soon jet to Cabo San Lucas.<\/p>\n Ziplining and ATVs will be just part of the fun.<\/p>\n Since 2015, Craig has been a member of the CHOC Corporate Partnerships Committee<\/a>, a group of professionals from investment firms, banks, law firms and other businesses who meet monthly to try to attract new donors and introduce new programs.<\/p>\n \u201cI think from the top down, from Kim (Cripe, CEO<\/a>) to Kerri (Schiller, CFO<\/a>) and others, the culture here is spectacular,\u201d Craig says. \u201cThis is a first-class organization and facility, and I think it starts with Kim and her staff.\u201d<\/p>\n Craig continues to work on a handful of other McCarthy projects as he oversees construction of the Southwest Tower.<\/p>\n He took on the additional role of project lead for the Southwest Tower to immerse himself in the operations side of construction, collaborating with partners CannonDesign, the architects, Jacobs, the construction manager, and a host of subcontractors.<\/p>\n The Southwest Tower is progressing well, Craig says, with 200 workers working on it.<\/p>\n Craig has worked on everything from airports to parking structures. But there is a certain type of construction project he prefers.<\/p>\n \u201cI love working on children\u2019s hospitals,\u201d he says. \u201cIt\u2019s my favorite thing to do.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\nA building rises<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Tag-team effort<\/h3>\n
Animal lover<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\u2018First-class organization\u2019<\/strong><\/h3>\n