Military Experience Powers Workforce Success

In 2011, Gilbane Building Company formed a wholly owned subsidiary to provide job site safety, general labor, carpentry, final clean-up, and trash removal on project sites across the country. Over the last nine years, Gilbane has utilized this dedicated team to improve our local workforce utilization on our projects and drive economic development. This has enabled Gilbane’s projects to create local jobs, supporting local economies.

Recently, we added several military veterans to our roster in Jacksonville, Florida. Tapping into the pool of talented, capable experts synchs perfectly with our workforce goals, and Gilbane utilizes this as a vehicle to identify the next generation of superintendents.

Shane Swart, at the FIS Office Building project in Jacksonville, says having our internal workforce unit as part of his team helps the project run smoothly and effectively. He singles out Navy veteran James “Will” Willard, a labor foreman for this success. “After 20 years in the Navy as an aviation rescue swimmer working combat search and rescue, Will has good leadership skills and is very organized,” Swart says.  Will mentioned the structure, safety culture and sense of a clear chain of command are things that he’s appreciated in the Navy and while working on a Gilbane project site. “It’s made it an easy transition,” he says.

Personnel have also been utilized at the St. Vincent’s Southside Hospital façade replacement project in Jacksonville. Davis Scribner, Superintendent, states how pleased he is to have a 10-year U.S. Air Force veteran now a Labor Foreman, Jon Paul “J.P.” Guerrero on his team. He explains that J.P. brings experience from the military as well as the skilled trades and his expertise in both is a win-win. “Number one he is organized and has a background that works well for our team structure. His experience allows him to recognize what’s needed.”

Also finding success is Labor Foreman Jim Muser, a 25-year Navy veteran. “In the Navy, we had the Safety and Occupational Health program,” says Jim, who handed aviation ordinance including missiles and bombs during his enlistment. “We follow and exceed OSHA standards. It’s the same safety mindset but with a different name.”

“The goal for both men,” Scribner says, “is to give them experience in commercial construction and help them learn the business with the end goal of transitioning to an opportunity within Gilbane Building Company. When you think of the military you think of reliability and with our veterans, that’s been proven again and again.”

With a team focus on safety, site cleanliness and quality, former military personnel leverage their training to flawlessly execute key control measures, which have proven to be a great benefit to any project site.

*Pictured left to right, are employees Davis Scribner, Will Willard, JP Guerrero, James Muser and Shane Swart.