A Message from Our Founder & CEO, Joe Messner, Jr.
I hope you and your family are enjoying this special holiday season. This is one of my family’s favorite times of the year as we listen to Christmas music, decorate the live Christmas tree, have our annual Target shopping day for Toys for Tots, and watch all the holiday favorites like Elf and The Santa Clause. I am hoping my girls make the nice list this year – we’ll see! LOL
As we reflect on the final quarter of 2023, I am proud to share the strides JGM has made, and I am filled with gratitude for the team that has made it all possible. It has been an incredible year of growth for all of us. Our JGM family now has over 215 teammates and is growing!
We just wrapped up our 5th FMI Quarterly Field Leadership Training session. It is amazing to watch the team collaborate, learn, and grow in just a short 12 months. We are in the early stages of this leadership development program, and I am super excited to see where the journey leads us – onward and upward!
With business growth comes career growth for our team members. This is one of my favorite parts of the job, watching others take on new challenges and making JGM better as a result. This past quarter we have had several key new hires and promotions. Please join me in congratulating the following teammates on their new roles!
Luke Harkcom – Joined JGM as Plant Manager
Jim Ruyak – Joined JGM as Maintenance Manager
Logan Dorminey – Joined JGM as Reliability & Process Improvement Specialist
Mike Palmer – Joined JGM as Construction Manager
Dan Jones – Promoted to Senior Project Manager
Pat Kelly – Promoted to Processing Supervisor
Doug Smith – Promoted to Fabrication Supervisor
Mike Houser – Promoted to Fabrication Supervisor
Justin Zupito – Promoted to Quality Assurance Apprentice
I am happy to announce a major new investment we recently made to increase our overall fabrication capacity and capabilities. JGM acquired a new fabrication facility in Sinking Spring, PA giving us an additional 70,000 SF of fabrication space with seven acres of outside storage. We will ultimately employ over 75 team members at this facility.
We also installed a new Kinetic K5000 XMC Plasma, Oxy/Acetylene drill table at the Sinking Spring facility. This state-of-the-art equipment will elevate our heavy fabrication services, allowing us to undertake large plate processing, girder fabrication, box column fabrication, and heavy plate weldments. Be sure to stop by to check it out!
As we stand on the cusp of 2024, JGM is poised for strong growth supporting our clients with their expansion of American manufacturing and critical infrastructure projects. Let’s keep delivering this high quality, safe work!
As always, we are grateful for our team’s dedication and hard work as we continue the pursuit of becoming the safest, fastest, and most effective fabricator and constructor in North America!
I wish all of you a holiday season filled with peace and joy, and a new year that brings health, happiness, and continued success. Stay Safe.
Joe Messner, Jr.
Founder & CEO
JGM SAFETY CORNER
Prioritize Safety This Holiday Season
From shopping for last-minute gifts to preparing holiday meals and traveling to family gatherings, the holiday season is a busy time for many people. With all the excitement leading up to the holidays, safety may not remain top of mind. To keep our employees, partners, and community members safe this holiday season, we are offering up a few safety tips.
Avoid winter-related injuries and illnesses.
During the winter, cold and inclement weather can pose safety hazards for those who work outdoors. Remember to always wear winter personal protective equipment (PPE) and limit exposure to below-freezing temperatures. Additionally, watch for slick and icy areas on jobsites to avoid slips and falls.
Stay alert while driving.
Holiday shoppers and families traveling to gather with their loved ones can lead to increased traffic during the holiday season. While driving this time of year, it is important to adhere to posted speed limits and avoid distractions.
Prevent worker fatigue from off-site activities.
The holiday season can be an exciting but stressful time of year. It is important to spend time outside of work relaxing and making time to recharge. Balancing your typical diet with holiday indulgences can also help prevent fatigue.
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A Safety Poem
I CHOSE TO LOOK
THE OTHER WAY
By: Don Merrill
I could have saved a life that day, But I chose to look the other way. It wasn’t that I didn’t care, I had the time, and I was there.
But I didn’t want to seem a fool, Or argue over a safety rule. I knew he’d done the job before, If I spoke up, he might get sore.
The chances didn’t seem that bad, I’d done the same, He knew I had. So I shook my head and walked on by, He knew the risks as well as I.
He took the chance, I closed an eye, And with that act, I let him die. I could have saved a life that day, But I chose to look the other way.
Now every time I see his wife, I’ll know, I should have saved his life. That guilt is something I must bear, But it isn’t something you need share.
If you see a risk that others take, That puts their health or life at stake. The question asked, or thing you say, Could help them live another day.
If you see a risk and walk away, Then hope you never have to say, I could have saved a life that day, But I chose, to look the other way.
JGM ON SITE: PROJECT UPDATES
Helping to Build a Large Life Sciences Laboratory & Research Facility
The JGM fabrication team completed some heavy built-up members for what will be the largest life sciences laboratory and research facility in Philadelphia. The project for Gattuso, located in University City, includes assembled columns and girders weighing up to 65 tons each. This $290 million dollar facility will feature 520,000 SF of laboratory space, roughly half of which is already leased to Drexel University. Keep up the great work!
Challenge Accepted! JGM Begins New Projects.
Pharmaceutical Fabrication – Malvern, PA
As part of added scope to the original outage job for the client, JGM has been contracted to fabricate and erect structural steel to support a walkable ceiling. Our team has had to work with engineering and design to overcome operational obstacles that limit the length of steel we can fit into the building in order to achieve the final design. All the steel erection will be done while the plant is in operation.
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GO BEHIND THE SCENES
The JGM Team Completes Overhead Crane Training
We are committed to self-improvement. We know being open and expanding our knowledge improves safety and performance. Recently, team members at our Sinking Spring location participated in a six-hour overhead crane training course taught by Peter Cooke, owner of National Rigging and Crane Training. Participants learned about crane and hoist terminology, OSHA required inspections, record keeping regulations, crane signals, and more. At the end of the course, team members had to complete a written test and hands-on practical exam. We are proud of these individuals for developing their skill sets!
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Check Out JGM’s New & Improved Online Store
We recently enhanced our online store just in time for holiday shopping! If you are searching for the perfect gift for a family member, friend, or even yourself, check out our online store. From hats and outerwear to polos and sweatshirts, we offer many branded products in a variety of colors and size options.
‘Tis the season for new boots! It’s a tradition at JGM that every December, right before the holiday, Saf-Gard Safety Shoe Company pays a visit to our facility so each team member can pick out a new pair of safety work boots. Check out this photo from this year’s Boot Truck Day!
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On December 15, the JGM team gathered at the Coatesville Country Club to celebrate the holidays and collect toys for Toys for Tots. For every toy donated by a JGM team member, they received a raffle ticket to put towards the many raffles including a fishing trip, island trip, designer purses, hot air balloon ride, wine baskets and more!
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JGM Celebrates the Season of Giving
At JGM, it is tradition to participate in the Toys for Tots program during the holiday season. Our team loves helping the community and making a positive impact in the lives of children and this year we were able to donate 594 gifts. Take a look at all of the toys we collected this year!
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COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
A Successful Steel Day
On Wednesday, October 18, we held our annual Steel Day. Over 300 customers, vendors, partners, and students visited our Coatesville location and had the opportunity to tour our shop, hear live music, check out our sponsors, and enjoy tasty food. We were honored to have Wylie Davidson present his story “Leaving a Safety Legacy,” which gave a refreshing look at the importance of a strong safety mindset both at work and at home. Thank you to all our attendees who helped make this event a huge success!
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Q4 RECOGNITIONS
JGM Is Committed to Self-Improvement
We are proud to announce these welders have advanced their skill sets in the shop and have received certifications in the following areas.
Irvin Figueroa Cruz AWS D1.6 FCAW 3G
Richard Enzman AWS D1.5 FCAW 4F
Mario Garcia Gonzales AWS D1.5 FCAW 4F
Joan Perez Rivera AWS D1.5 FCAW 3G
Luis Rodriguez AWS D1.5 FCAW 1G
Jesus Tirado AWS D1.5 FCAW 3G
Mark E Wolf AWS D1.5 FCAW 3G
Jacobo Zapata AWS D1.5 FCAW 3G
Congratulations to Sasa Randjelovic and the team for the successful completion of the AISC audit. We passed with no CARs (Corrective Action Report) and no NCRs (Nonconforming Report). Shout-out to Ben Amaral who recently completed his OSHA 30 certification training! Job well done to all!
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EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT
Meet Luke Harkcom, Plant Manager
At JGM, our team is comprised of builders, innovators, partners, craftsmen, problem solvers, teachers, learners, and more. Today we are introducing you to our Sinking Springs Plant Manager, Luke Harkcom – an integral part of our team. Check out our blog to learn more about Luke and his career journey at JGM.
We are proud to add safe, knowledgeable, and driven individuals to our growing team. Join us in welcoming the following new employees!
Saul Alvarez-Medina CNC
Cristopher Cisneros-Guzman Welder Fitter
Logan Dorminey Reliability & Process Improvement Specialist
Joe Garza Safety Officer
Vince Orner Welder Fitter
Mike Palmer Construction Manager
Juan Quiroz Shop Helper
Luis Rodriguez Shop Apprentice
Mathew Rodriguez Machine Operator 1
Jim Ruyak Maintenance Manager
Chad Sweigart Welder Fitter
Mark Wolf Welder Fitter 2
Q4 Anniversaries
1 YEAR
Roy Cantu
Felipe Garcia
Matt Garvey
Gregory Gongre
Anthony Mills
Pete Parrish
Dale Schlicher
Joshua Shaver
Jose Velez
2-5 YEARS
Darryl Berlinger
Brian Doran
Anthony Wright
6-10 YEARS
Mike Quinn
Brian Sell
11-15 YEARS
Kyle Wick
16-20 YEARS
Joe Messner, Jr.
Joe Pardo
Refer a New Hire & Earn Up to $5,500*
We are always looking for safe, hard-working, and talented people to join the JGM Team and you can help! New hires who come to our company through employee referrals are excellent contributors and stay with the company for longer. If you have a friend, family member, or acquaintance who shares our core values and has pure talent, you could be awarded a referral bonus of up to $5,500 (less taxes)* if you refer the candidate and they are hired.
Team members must refer candidates to Human Resources through the Employee Referral Program by using the Candidate Referral Form to be eligible. Additional rules and eligibility guidelines apply. If you have questions, please contact our HR Coordinator, Cassandra Amaral at [email protected].
If you have a job that you needed yesterday, contact JGM today.
