A Message from Our Founder & CEO, Joe Messner, Jr.
The hot days of summer are finally upon us as we hit the halfway mark of 2023! Our backlog remains strong with two recent project awards. First, we are pleased to announce Cives Steel Company awarded JGM the fabrication of heavy box columns and transfer trusses needed for the new 520,000-square-foot life sciences research and lab building on Drexel University’s University City campus. Secondly, we were awarded a unique structural reinforcement project in northeastern Pennsylvania. JGM developed a unique access platform and reinforcing plan that will enable us to work above existing operations to reinforce over 2,000 roof joists. Our crew will work around the clock, six days a week, so we can complete this work in early 2024.
It is an exciting time as the JGM family continues to expand to meet the growing demand of our fabrication partners and industrial owners. We now have over 215 team members and counting. As we grow, it is critical to ensure we always have the best tools, equipment, facilities, and most importantly leadership in place to support our team along the way.
Over the past several months we have made some significant headway towards these goals. I am happy to announce that Debi Weed joined JGM as Vice President of People & Culture. With over 20 years of experience, Debi will lead the charge to ensure we always have the very best people, training, leadership development, and mentorship so that our people are set up for optimum success. Next, Jason Morovich joined JGM as Chief Information Officer. Jason has over 25 years of experience developing and maintaining IT infrastructure for industrial construction companies. He will oversee “everything IT” and work to make sure we have seamless access to our data to allow us to make faster and more informed business decisions. I am looking forward to seamless IT!
Our JGM team members are hard at work on several exciting projects. Our fabrication team just finished completing 5,000 tons of steel fabrication for a steel mill in Kentucky and are currently fabricating approximately 8,000 tons of steel for the JFK New Terminal One Project. Our construction group is nearing substantial completion of a material handling system for one of the largest steel producers in the country, with commissioning starting shortly. Our millwright team is setting and aligning new steel coil slitting and packaging equipment in Arkansas. Lastly, our piping team is putting the finishing touches on a dog food processing plant project in Central Pennsylvania.
I want to thank our entire JGM team, our clients, vendors, subcontractors, and partners for a great first half of 2023. I hope everyone has a great summer. Stay safe, stay cool!
Joe Messner, Jr.
Founder & CEO
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JGM SAFETY CORNER
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The JGM Team Celebrates Construction Safety Week
During the first week of May, the JGM team celebrated Construction Safety Week, an annual observance that brings together teams and reinforces the importance of safe job site practices and procedures. JGM also celebrated achieving 1,000,000-man hours without a lost time incident! To recognize these milestones, Jeff Spatz from the Graham Company gave a safety presentation. Additionally, we provided employees at our headquarters in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, as well as across our job sites with a Mexican lunch to tie in with Cinco de Mayo.
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CPR & First Aid Training
At JGM, we are committed to safety and are proud of our field leadership for completing CPR and basic first aid training.
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JGM ON SITE: PROJECT UPDATES
Cutting-Edge Tools & Technology Keep Projects Advancing with Accuracy
Tube Mill in Kentucky
JGM continues to execute on our fabrication and installation of the automated racking system for this new tube mill. One of three bays has been completely installed including the structure, exit elevators, entry elevators, conveyors, and bridge cranes. Our pre-construction planning and value engineering coordination with the OEM/EOR has improved fabrication and installation efficiency and more importantly minimized safety risks on site. We are currently installing the second bay and fabricating the structural steel for the third bay. Our Hilti Total Station Robotic Layout technology has proved to be instrumental in providing accurate layout and alignment for the anchor bolts, crane rails, and equipment lines.
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Major Steel Mill Expansion in Arkansas
JGM safely and successfully completed the installation of the new mill’s slitting and packaging line in their mini mill one plant. This scope included equipment setting, rail alignment, hydraulic piping installation, and commissioning support. During the execution of this project, JGM was awarded the installation of the cold mill coil transport system, a multi-million dollar contract. This, along with several other site projects, has allowed JGM’s site crew to expand to 40 craftspeople on site. Our Hilti Total Station Robotic Layout technology again has provided significant value in alignment accuracy and layout of the equipment lines, rails, and anchor bolts.
Challenge Accepted! JGM Begins New Projects.
JGM recently partnered with one of the largest industrial warehouse owners in the U.S. to help solve a unique engineering challenge that needed to be done yesterday! Their existing roof system needs to be upgraded to increase overall capacity for future loads. For this project, we must reinforce over 2,000 joists and girders to meet the new capacity needs. The challenge is the facility must maintain 24/7 operations with no shutdowns. Our team has designed and engineered a suspended access platform that will provide safe and efficient access to the work and provide a solid fire protection barrier during all welding operations for the reinforcement activities. Since the platform will be suspended from the roof joist, existing operations can continue with minimal disruption. JGM will also provide 24/7 fire watch coverage to ensure 100% building life safety during the construction phase. We are excited to kick this project off and have it completed by early 2024.
JGM continues work on a brand-new, mini mill in Arkansas. When complete, the three million TPY mill will be the state’s largest private investment project in history at around $3 billion dollars. Our team was recently awarded another project, which involves installing the new cold mill coil transport system. Initial work involves setting and carefully aligning all the rail track in the brand-new facility which is about 1,200 feet long.
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GO BEHIND THE SCENES
JGM Hosts 2nd Annual Bring Your Child to Work Day & Attends AIST Steel Conference
On April 27, we hosted our annual Bring Your Child to Work Day. Participants aged three months to 15 years got to partake in a variety of fun and educational activities and learn more about what their parents do at JGM. We provided lunch from Chick-Fil-A, ice cream from Maggie Moo’s, and a caricaturist from Mr. David C. Perry Creative Entertainment.
Check out these behind-the-scenes photos to see all the fun we had!
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AIST Steel Conference
In May, Darryl Berlinger and Drew Ziccardi attended the AIST Steel Conference. Our team attended presentations from the best in the steel industry, networked with over 400 exhibitors, and learned the latest industry and technology trends.
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COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Building Community Partnerships
Youth Mentoring Partnership
In April, the JGM team supported Youth Mentoring Partnership (YMP), a local non-profit that helps mentor kids in the Coatesville and West Philadelphia areas through sports programs, by attending their Big 3G Shindig at the Devon Horse Show Grounds. We look forward to continuing to grow our partnership with YMP!
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PA Pipeline Task Force
Additionally, on May 4, the PA Pipeline Task Force “Signing Day” Ceremony took place at the Philadelphia Convention Center. This amazing event had a total of 280 new hires starting their careers in many industries within the Philadelphia region helping to build ships and submarines for the U.S. Navy. JGM is pleased to have partnered with the U.S. Navy and local Career Technical Education Centers (CTEs) who trained and educated students to be qualified in the workforce. We hired eight students for cohort two from this wonderful partnership. Congratulations to all students on this wonderful accomplishment!
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Q2 RECOGNITIONS
JGM Is Committed to Self-Improvement
We are proud to announce the following welders have advanced their skill sets in the shop and are now certified under AWS D1.1 in 3G.
James Bell
Jesse Baynes
Zacka Cornett
Carlos Guzman
Douglas Josey
Than Nguyan
Donald Sapp
Axel Valesco
Jayka Weder
Bryan Williams
We would also like to congratulate Ronnie Treser on completing and passing the test to become a Certified Welding Inspector (CWI). Ronnie is currently one of our Quality Control Technicians and has been with us since 2022. Before joining our team, Ronnie attended Pennsylvania College of Technology graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Welding Engineering. Way to go Ronnie, we are extremely proud of your accomplishment!
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EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT
Meet Josh “Gator” Miller, Field Tools & Equipment Manager
At JGM, we have built a team of hard-working, highly skilled individuals who take pride in their work. One of those team members is Field Tools and Equipment Manager, Josh Miller. To learn more about Josh, what lead him to JGM and what he enjoys outside of work, check out our blog!
We are proud to add safe, knowledgeable, and driven individuals to our growing team. Join us in welcoming the following new employees!
Reymond Abundes Journeyman Ironworker
Robert Carr Millwright Foreman
Jesus Castillo Journeyman Millwright
Jared Johnson Shop Apprentice
Victor Ledford Ironworker Leadman
Gael Mejia Lopez Journeyman Ironworker
Donna Markley Account Payable Clerk
Michael Mirat Shop Apprentice
Jason Morovich Chief Information Officer
Robert Perrine Ironworker Foreman
Timothy Perrine Journeyman Ironworker
Santos Reyes Senior Estimator
Thomas Ruiz-Rhoades Shop Apprentice
Giovanni Rivera Shop Apprentice
Alex Rodriguez Journeyman Ironworker
Rolando Sanchez Journeyman Ironworker
Gregory Thaler Journeyman Ironworker
Debi Weed VP of People & Culture
Dennis Woods Journeyman Ironworker
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Q2 Anniversaries
1 YEAR
Ben Amaral
Pat Cannon
Frank Holm
James Murray
Justin Zupito
2-5 YEARS
Cassandra Amaral
Rafael Bermudez
Ant Bernardine
Dominic Bonura
Tanner Crum
Zach Johnson
Marco Renteria
Edgar Santiago
Kevin Traynor
Justin Warrington
2-5 YEARS (continued)
Jim Workman
Cesar Zuniga
6-10 YEARS
Isidoro Alvarez
Tara Ashenfelter
Fabian Cantoran
Mike Towber
11-15 YEARS
Mike Crittenden
16-20 YEARS
Javier Camacho
Lalo Camacho
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Offering Incentives for Recruiting New Talent
Our team members play a critical role in helping us connect with and recruit new talent. To reward employees who refer their family and friends to the JGM team, we offer a bonus up to $3,500. Yes, you read that right!
When a current JGM team member refers a friend, family member, or acquaintance who aligns with our core values, that employee is eligible to earn up to $3,500.* This is just one of the many competitive benefits of working at JGM!
Referral brochures are available in both digital and print copies for you to pass information along to a family member or friend. To request a referral brochure or to learn more about this offer, please contact our HR Coordinator, Cassandra Amaral at [email protected].*
If you have a job that you needed yesterday, contact JGM today.
