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As the year comes to an end we want to highlight some of the hardworking members of the Fortress Development Solutions team. Our divisions are constantly collaborating on construction development projects across Colorado and Wyoming. Joe is in our Plug & Abandon Division and was nominated by his boss for being an incredibly hard worker and a great leader.  

Q: Tell me a little about yourself and your background.
A: Happily married 24 years 2 girls 2 boys ages 20, 19, 17, 8. Man of faith, graduated, got married, and started in the oilfield in 97.
Q: How has your past training prepared you for a career in construction?
A: Past training has always been key to success thus far. I've never closed myself to learning, there's always something to learn. Past experiences become tomorrow's success.
Q: What do you love most about working in this industry?
A: I love working outdoors enjoying all seasons. love teaching those around me, the knowledge I've obtained throughout the years, and seeing people grow and succeed. The calls I've gotten from past employees to thank me for pushing them to be better. 
Q: What made you decide to join the Fortress team?
A: The growth the company showed and the no-fear approach to try new things.
Q: How important is teamwork on a job site?
A: Teamwork is a combined effort to succeed, it starts at the top leading by example. All our P&A members must know the tasks at hand. It is very important we share every bit of information with our group in order to execute.
Q: How do you keep things fun and safe during long hours on the job?
A: Breaking bread as often as we can, breakfast, lunch, carrying drinks in the cooler for the guys to cool off on hot days. Storytelling around the cooler and sharing past memories and getting to know our people.
Q: As we head into winter what safety tips do you have for your team?
A: Pre-plan for weather conditions is key, know how the weather could affect your day-to-day operations. Spray water repellant on work boots to keep them dry in the snow. Make sure outermost layer is Fire Retardant.
Q: What do you do for fun outside of work?
A: Spend time with my family, building things, landscaping, watching movies, watching UFC and NFL.
Q: What project/job has been your favorite to work on so far?
A: Favorite project has been Stem-P&A, the people I've had the pleasure of working with the last 8 years. Executing deadlines and hitting many milestones, many man-hours worked accident-free.
Q: What are you looking forward to in the new year?
A: Continued perseverance and success, injury-free, incident-free. Adapting to the ever-changing State mandates. 

If hearing from Joe has you interested in a career in construction or oil and gas, look no further. We’re hiring! Join our team of hard-working construction professionals and enjoy our great benefits. We offer competitive pay, have top-of-the-line equipment, and offer a comprehensive benefits package. 

This year the Weld County Junior Livestock Sale raised $1.3M, shattering the previous record. These funds go directly to the students and will help fund their education. They put countless hours and dedication into preparing themselves and their animals for this sale. The Fortress Development Solutions family helped contribute to these future farmers by purchasing many quality livestock. Not only did the students benefit from this event but so did our employees. We were able to turn the livestock into high-quality fresh meat for our employees to enjoy with their families. 

Supporting our community and employees is one of our company pillars and something we strive for all year round. In honor of Giving Tuesday, we wanted to highlight the organizations we love to support starting with the Weld County Jr. Livestock Sale. Take a look at some of the livestock we purchased below and see our employee meat delivery as well. If you would like to donate to these students you can learn more about the next livestock sale. 

Delivery to our employees!

If you would like to support this organization or other local charities our company loves to partner with, click the links below! Giving Tuesday is the perfect time to share with the many great organizations that life up our community all year round!

•    American Cancer Society
•    Boys & Girls Clubs
•    Goodwill
•    Greeley Area Chamber of Commerce
•    Greeley Philharmonic Board of Directors
•    Greeley Stampede
•    National Child Safety Council
•    Noco Unify
•    Weld County Fair
•    Weld County Food Bank
•    Weld EZ/Greeley Area Recover Fund

In honor of Veteran’s Day, we have a special employee spotlight featuring Luke Leonard. Luke served in the Foreign Legion doing three tours in Afghanistan, Libya, and Mali from 2009-2014. We’re lucky to have him on our team in the Reclamation Division. Luke loved the teamwork and discipline he learned while serving. When asked what advice he had for anyone looking to enlist Luke said, “The army prepares you for any challenges you'll face in civilian life because of the attention to detail and the high standards. I would recommend the military for anyone who is looking to serve. There is a job for everyone in the armed services.”

We asked Luke a few questions about his experience working for Fortress Development Solutions and his experience in the Army. Get the full interview below. 

Q: How long have you been in the business?
A: I have been in Oil and Gas for 3 1/2 years

Q: How has your service helped shape your career?
A: My military service helped shape my career by giving me the discipline and motivation to work hard and the ability to work well in teams.

Q: What made you decide to join the Fortress team?
A: I joined the Fortress because I had always wanted to work in the Oil field.

Q: How do you maintain safety on the job and with your team?
A: I maintain safety on the job by being aware of the conditions around me and working as a good teammate.

Q: How has teamwork played a role in your latest projects
A: Teamwork is the most important aspect of the job we do here. A good attitude and constant communication are essential.

Q: Describe a typical day in the life on your job sites.
A: Our days start the day before with a dispatch which lets everyone know what they will be doing the next day. In the morning we pre-trip our trucks, equipment, and implements before we start. Once on-site, an assessment is made of the work area and we fill out a JSA. Once our SOP's are established we get to work.

Q: What do you do for fun outside of work?
A: My hobbies outside of work are target shooting, fishing, riding my motorcycle, skiing, and snowmobiling.

We want to thank all the Veterans who have served our country!