On Veterans Day, we pause to honor the courage, sacrifice, and service of our nation’s military veterans. At Gilbane, honoring veterans means creating pathways for meaningful careers and lifelong impact. That’s why we’re proud to be an approved employer partner in the Department of Defense’s SkillBridge Program, which helps transitioning service members gain real-world experience in the civilian workforce.
What is the SkillBridge Program?
The SkillBridge Program at Gilbane offers up to 180 days of on-the-job training during the final six months of military service. Participants continue to receive military pay and benefits while working full-time alongside our teams in roles such as project engineering, field supervision, and quality control. These positions leverage the leadership, discipline, and operational excellence veterans bring from their military careers, skills that align perfectly with the demands of the construction industry. With a 70% conversion rate to full-time employment, SkillBridge is more than an internship, it’s a launchpad for success. Veterans who join Gilbane through this program become part of a company that values integrity, teamwork, and dedication to excellence. They help us build more than buildings, they help us build communities, legacies, and futures.
Veteran Stories: From Dedicated Service to Shaping Skylines
This Veterans Day, we’re proud to spotlight four team members whose SkillBridge journeys reflect the power of this program:
Bailey Wince served five years with the U.S. Army both as a Psychological Operations Specialist and Operations and Logistics Sergeant. She interned as a Field Engineer in Charlotte, NC, where she learned the punch list process, construction software, and change management.
“My experience with Gilbane was incredible,” Bailey said. “I was lucky enough to be awarded a position after my internship and am very thankful I had the opportunity to apply my military skills here.”
Sean McNamara, a Navy veteran with 13 years of service as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Chief Petty Officer, joined Gilbane through SkillBridge after connecting with the team in Indianapolis. His externship began in business development and transitioned into a project engineering role on the Indiana University Health New Downtown Indianapolis Hospital project.
“Joining the project, I was an individual who had never seen an architectural drawing,” Sean shared. “The team trusted me from the beginning and invested their time in helping me learn, something I wasn’t expecting in the civilian world.”
Now a Project Manager at Gilbane, Sean credits SkillBridge for giving him the opportunity to showcase his capabilities. “I’m grateful for the people who believed in me and helped put me on a path to success.”
Jill Sharples, an Army Engineer Officer, worked on a confidential headquarters renovation and expansion project in Washington, D.C. during her SkillBridge externship. “I felt like a trusted member of the team,” Jill said. “SkillBridge helped me gain technical expertise and professional confidence.”
Now a Project Manager at Gilbane, she reflects: “A career here mirrors the best parts of the military: team mentality, accountability, and rewarding hard work, with the added flexibility to grow individually.”
Jim Lemp, a former member of the U.S. Army Transportation Corps, joined Gilbane as a SkillBridge extern, shadowing a Project Engineer. “From the get-go, I was treated as part of the team,” Jim shared. “Gilbane helped me re-learn and adapt to the tools of the private sector, and now I’m a full-time Project Engineer at our University of South Carolina (USC) Health Sciences Campus project.”
His advice to other service members? “BLUF: Do this one.” (BLUF, or “Bottom Line Up Front,” is a military acronym that means getting straight to the point. Jim’s saying, in no uncertain terms: “If you’re considering SkillBridge or a career at Gilbane: do it.”)
Your Next Mission Starts Here
Their stories inspire us, not just because of what they’ve accomplished, but because of how they’ve grown, adapted, and contributed. If you or someone you know is considering a civilian career path, Gilbane’s SkillBridge program offers more than opportunity, it offers belonging, purpose, and a future.
Learn more about the SkillBridge program at Gilbane: https://www.gilbaneco.com/careers/build-your-career/military-veterans/
