What is your favorite thing about working on your crew?
Probably the camaraderie with the guys—working together to accomplish the same goals.
If you won the lottery, what's the first thing you would do with your winnings?
I would pay off all my debt—mine and all four of my kids'!
How do you stay updated on the latest industry trends, technologies, and safety protocols?
I often look on the EDA Journey (our intranet app) for our own safety materials and updates. I’ll even call Kim Killion, EDA's Regional Safety Manager, if necessary. I also check various manufacturers’ websites when I need to look something up. I actually just got off one of our brand’s websites!
Outside of work, what are some of your hobbies or interests?
Riding my Harley-Davidson V-Rod as fast as it’ll go. I also like taking my wife to the dirt track—she loves dirt circle track racing.
What's one thing you personally must have with you on a job site?
Coffee! Light and sweet—or, as some people call it, extra extra.
Cats or dogs, and why?
Dogs. I don’t have anything against cats, but I’m used to having dogs. I recently had three pit bulls. Two have since passed away, but I have one left—Zeus—and he is a big goofball. They were all lovable babies. They force you to love them and love being petted. Zeus weighs 120 pounds, even though neither of his parents were big. He’s twice as large as his whole litter and twice the size of his mother and father. He started out as the runt and now he’s bigger than all of them.
What's the best piece of advice you’ve given an apprentice—or the best advice you received as an apprentice?
I tell everyone—I just told a kid a few days ago—you have to pay attention, learn quickly, be reliable, be trustworthy, stay steadfast, and be an asset, and you’ll always have a job. It’s a combination of things I’ve been told and learned over the years.
Can you share one new thing you've learned on the job or a best practice that helps save time and keeps you safer?
What I’ve learned—or relearned—is that I need a lot more patience. Things don’t always go as quickly as you want them to, and sometimes you have to go slow to go fast. Certain jobs are tougher than others, and it makes you reevaluate things.
How do you manage stress and maintain a positive mindset in a high-pressure environment like your job right now?
This is an extremely hard question. It’s not always easy to put the job away. People say to turn it off when you go home, but it’s not that easy. You have to be like a gunslinger quarterback, like Brett Favre. Even if you throw four picks, you can’t stop throwing the ball. You can’t be scared to throw. You have to have a short memory and keep trying. Grab the ball, grip it, and rip it—the same way I ride my bike.
Is there anything else about you, your family, or your home life you want to share?
I’ve been married for 31 years. My wife deserves a medal of honor for that! I have four kids—two sons and two daughters. They all have strong work ethics and are leaders in their respective jobs. My oldest daughter is graduating with her master's in May and will be going on a full ride for her doctorate. I’m a very proud dad.