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At Fortress Development Solutions, we’re a family run company. We love seeing our employees thrive in their work lives and home lives. We wanted to showcase some of our hard-working Dads in honor of Father’s Day. Our team has many Fathers who put in the work every day for their families and we wanted to hear from them and their kids. We sat down with a few Dads and enjoyed hearing their perspective of being a Dad in construction. We also loved hearing from their kids and getting a perspective from the next generation.  

Q: Gonzalo, what is your favorite part about being a Dad?

A: Having my kids with me is best way to do it all.

Q: What do your kids think about your job?

A: They think I have a great opportunity in my job. They know that my dedication and hard work will provide great opportunity for their future. 
 

Q: Jacob, what is your favorite part about being a Dad?

A: The best part about being a dad is coming home from work and seeing my boy looking out the window waiting patiently for me to get home, waiting for me to come through that door and run like never before to hug me and welcome me, His eyes brighten up and jumps of joy to see me get home. My little girl also gets really excited to see me, I love to lay her in my arms and watch her fall asleep. These two things are the ones I look forward to everyday, being a dad is amazing.
 

Q: What do your kids think about your job?
A: My boy thinks that working around heavy equipment is awesome. When he grows up he says he wants to learn how to operate every piece of equipment that I work around of.
But by far his favorite machine is the backhoe, not only does it look really cool for him but he likes the fact that you can dig and load stuff with the same piece of equipment.
 

Q: Dan, what is your favorite part about being a Dad?

A: My favorite aspect of being a father is realizing the positive contribution to an increasingly negative world through the growth of two God-fearing, Jesus-loving, future leaders.
 

Q: What do your kids think about your job?

A: Jordan (13-years old): “I like that my dad enjoys working with his coworkers and that he is able to discuss and share Jesus with them; something many fathers are not allowed to do at work.”

A: Abigail (15-years old): “I like that my dad works nearby and is able to come home every evening in time for dinner with the family.”
 

Q: Dennis, what is your favorite part about being a Dad?

A: How excited my son gets when I come home from work

Q: What do your kids think about your job?

A: My son likes me to send him pictures of the trucks at work he likes trucks. 

Hope you enjoyed learning more about the faces behind your construction projects. Have a Happy Father’s Day!
 

It’s hard to believe that just earlier this year we expanded into Wyoming. What has our Wyoming team been up to? They’ve been busy growing the business in many ways. From snow removal and facility building, to hauling and more! Terry Dewey is our Operations Manager for the Wyoming Division. He’s been an invaluable help to leading and growing this team. He’s shared some picture with a behind the scenes look at our Wyoming team.

Safety is not only part of our company mottos, but it’s one of the top priorities. For our latest employee spotlight, it’s also his division! Dan Falardeau works in our Safety department and makes sure our team is in compliance of all the construction safety standards. Whether it’s OSHA, EPA, DOT, or state regulations, Dan in making sure our team is staying safe on the job. We sat down with Dan to see what a day in his work life looks like.

Q.    What does a typical day look like for you on the job?
A.    My day typically starts at our Keenesburg office where I meet with various work crews, participate in their toolbox talks, and plan my daily route based on worksite locations.  I then head out to the field to conduct site safety assessments, provide health and safety support to crews and supervisors, and monitor site security.

Q.    Tell me about your position and what team you work for.
A.    I was initially hired by Fortress Development Solutions as a Bilingual Safety Coordinator, which role I maintained for the first ten months.  After a short-term assignment as Fleet Manager, I returned to the Safety Department supporting compliance to OSHA, EPA, DOT, and State regulations, as well as implementing and overseeing site security measures.

Q. What skills have you mastered over the years and how does this help you in your job?
A.    I focus on a strategy of achieving continuous improvement – not only with respect to my professional development but also to the implementation of the Fortress Safety Program and the adoption of our safety culture.
I rely heavily on the Word of God and the teachings of Jesus Christ with respect to how I perform my job and my interaction with coworkers, clients, and other contractors.  That said, if there is anything I may have mastered, it is my emphasis on collaboration – collectively leaning on and learning from each other and moving forward in unison.  
•    God tells us in Proverbs 11:14: “where there is no wise guidance, the people fall, but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.”  A lot of very intelligent and skilled individuals make up the Fortress Team, and collectively, we master many skills and take pride in completing our work safely each and every day.  
•    He also tells us in Proverbs 27: “As iron sharpens iron, so one (co-worker) sharpens another.”  That said, my aim is to further promote the culture at Fortress where we sharpen each other’s skills for the greater success of the team.
•    And lastly, it is confirmed in Psalm 133:1: “how good and how pleasant it is for God’s people to (work) together in unity!”

Q. How long have you been in the health and safety profession? 
A. Prior to the past two-plus years with Fortress, I have:
•    4 years of experience as Site Safety Officer for a metal building construction company; and
•    15 years of experience as an environmental, health, and safety consultant to clients in various industries including oil and gas, such as Chevron, Marathon Oil, Shell, BP, Suncor, and DCP (Duke Energy Field Services at the time).  

Q. What is the biggest challenge your team faces 
A.    I have consulted with quite a few companies where “Safety First” was a common slogan but wasn’t a part of their culture.  That said, I appreciate the dedication of the owners, management, and coworkers to ensure this isn’t the case at Fortress.  Nevertheless, we still have work to do in developing, implementing, and adopting improvements to our Safety Management System.  
 

Q. What do you do for fun outside of work?
A. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my wife and two daughters, almost 13 and 15 years old: camping, riding ATVs, walking/running the dog, playing tennis or board games, or just being together on the family farm in Brighton, near a lake anywhere, or on top of any mountain.
I also enjoy serving the Lord as a member of the Board of Directors, the Missions Director, and a volunteer/mentor in the Children’s Ministry at the Chapel Hill Church of the Nazarene in Brighton.  “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” Colossians 3:23-24 

If Fortress Development Solutions sounds like a place you would love to work for, you’re in luck. We’re hiring for many positions. From heavy hauling and CDL drivers to equipment operators and managers, we’re hiring for many positions. Check out all our open positions on our website.