There’s a lot more to construction work than waking up in the morning

The construction site at the expanding Potawatomi Bingo and Casino in the Menomonee Valley. (photo by Barbara White)

by Barbara White
Last week we introduced the Gilbane Building Company, a local construction company that I-Witness worked with for this series segment on construction.

Gilbane is one of the largest privately held family-owned companies in the construction and estate industry. They are committed to providing complete facility solutions to all their clients.

Since 1873, the company's stability and emphasis on client advocacy, has helped customers reach their goals.

Gilbane is comprised of two companies--Gilbane Building and Gilbane Development. The two companies often work in concert to provide integrated expertise in the areas of finance, development, planning and construction.

Gilbane also deals with construction management, facilities consultation and program management. The Gilbane Development arm deals with development, project management, real estate strategic planning, acquisition and investment. The company has managed projects all over the nation.

Linda Sowell, the director of strategic programs for Gilbane, was my host. I met with her a couple of weeks prior to beginning my job as a construction worker. We went over many things and I ask many questions. I was given lots of material regarding Gilbane and the trades to review. Fortunately, the material answered most of my questions.

We talked about the different projects Gilbane are involved in and I would be working on, which were the Potawatomi expansion project and the new world headquarters for Manpower, Inc. These projects were selected to give me a broad view of the array of job opportunities in the construction trades.

Linda is very skilled at her job, answering all my questions. She shared with me many of the things that Gilbane was doing to bring more Black people and other minorities into the trades. We talked about the fact that not many Black people are working on the major building projects throughout the city. She stated that Gilbane is committed to diversity, noting that 18% of their work goes to minority businesses, WBE and MBE contractors.

"There are many opportunities in the market," Linda said. "We are aware that we have to get better at attracting minorities and we are doing that."

She sighted they support and work with WRTP, (Wisconsin Regional Training Partnership), and Big Step, (Building Industry Group) a training center for those who want to work in the trades. She described how the company assists minority contractors, helping them position themselves to become prime contractors. "Can we get better? Yes, and we have and are continuing to do so," Linda emphasized.

I noted to Linda that there are not many women working in the trades. I asked her how did she like working in the trades verse some of the other kind of jobs she has worked?

"The job is very rewarding," Linda answered. "I get to help people and be a part of a better picture."

Watching Linda work, I could tell she knows this construction business and the company she works for. She is simply awesome.

We continued to talk about the various jobs in the trades. (Which I will expand on later in the series when I become an apprentice). We also discussed the pay ranges, benefits and career opportunities versus job opportunities.

Linda and I talked about my actual day on the job, the things I needed to prepare for, the projects I would work on and what I needed to wear. But before I could report to work, Linda said I needed to attend an orientation session at WRTP.

While I am a novice on most of the jobs I am doing in the series, I want to make you aware that I researched and studied for this particular job before attempting this particular installment of the series.

Linda and I concluded our meeting by setting dates for me to start work, where I needed to report, etc. We also went over the agenda again to make sure I would get to experience the things I needed to in order to truly appreciate the type of work people in the construction trades do day in and day out.

I attended the orientation and my heart was warmed to see so many young Black males there. It’s at WRTP that you learn all the things you need know and will have to do to get into the program. (We will revisit this aspect of my job journey when I report on being an apprentice).

After the orientation, I looked at the list of the things I was to wear to work: jeans, a long sleeve shirt, a windbreaker and work boots. Fortunately, I had everything except the work boots. I made a few phone calls and found a pair of girlie work boots. Gilbane was going to provide the hardhat and safety glasses. I was ready now for work.

Linda communicated with me again through e-mail, following up on our previous conversation and confirming my workday. I was to report to work at 7:15 a.m.

I tried going to bed early. But I was so excited about my new job; it was hard for me to sleep. I finally fell asleep around 1:30 a.m. I do not advise this for all you who plan to go into the trades. A good night sleep is very important, especially as it relates to safety.

The clock went off at a quarter to six. Being on time to work is very important. I estimated it would take me about 15-20 minutes to get to work. I did not know what the traffic would be like, so I wanted to give myself plenty of time to get their (as well as to really wake-up).

I arrived at Potawatomi at around 6:55 a.m. I parked in the structure and headed over to the construction sight. Becky Severson, a regional safety manager who went to school to become an architectural engineer, greeted me. She told me that she fell in love with construction after being on a construction sites all the time.

"When you are designing, you can calculate and create. I could not sit behind a desk. Plus, what I went to school for I do not even use. Doing this (out on the construction site) is what I love.

Linda then arrived with my hardhat and safety glasses. I want y’all to know my hard hat was the top of the line and it had my name on it. I loved it.

I was taken to a trailer where there were workers who were just hired, like Julius Davis, who has been a laborer for 14 years. Julius had to take a drug test, show his union card, and fill out his personal information. He normally would have been sent back home to wait for a phone call, but they told him he could stay for the orientation because they would have his results in an hour and if everything was okay, he could start work the next day.

He was so excited. Starting the next day meant he would begin making at least $23 an hour, which is well over a $1,000 for a six-day workweek at eight hours a day. Davis is with the Laborers Union Local 113. Only union workers can work on these jobs and they are paid union wages.

In the orientation, we were told the hours we would work: 6:30 a.m.-5 p.m. first shift and second shift 5 p.m.-12 a.m., six-day workweek. We were told what was expected of us: No drugs or drinking on the job, we must have a driver’s license if we are going to drive any of the equipment. We get a break from 9:30-9:45 a.m. lunch is at noon.

We were told about the project we are to work on, the multimillion dollar Potawatomi expansion construction. The Bingo hall and casino are expanding, tripling its size. There will be a bridge built leading from the current Unity Bridge linking it to the parking structure, which is also being expanded. In addition, an underground parking structure is being built under the casino itself.

We were shown a video presentation regarding safety on the job, which is a big issue for the company. They practice preventive safety and there is always a regional safety manager on site.

The instructor took us through all of the safety measures as we viewed the video, starting with being in real good physical condition, getting a good night’s sleep, the proper way to bend and lift objects. We had to learn all the safety steps of handling equipment, how to use the tools, how to pick them up etc.

After the orientation, we were all given our safety certificate and we could now begin work. Linda had something to do in the main trailer office, so she introduced me to Tracy Carson, a young Black woman who is the Potawatomi project engineer. They call her the "Superstar." She is the information specialist that monitors the project. From managing paper work to trouble shooting, whatever it is regarding the project, Tracy knows it.

Tracy is a graduate of the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE), where she earned a degree in engineering, architect, design and construction management. She has worked in construction for over eight years.

As we talked, I asked her how she came to work for Gilbane. Pssst, I want y’all to know she never applied for the job. The company called her and offered her a job.

Tracy stressed that there is plenty of room in the construction field for women. "Women working in the trades here (Wisconsin) is low in comparison to other states," Tracy noted. "Women play a bigger role as laborers, but they are not running the projects like in other states."

Tracy said it was really rough for women here before Bob Fenton came. "You have the same type of education, but you have to prove your worth." Even though a woman was competent, knew how to do the job and was skilled like the male workers, you ran the risk of being set up for failure.

"They believe you are here because of affirmative action and that they were doing you a favor (hiring you), never respecting that I was here for the same reason they were, because I was skilled and competent. However, Bob changed all that. He kept his word that things would change." Tracy added that there no longer is a "good old boys" network.

I watched Tracy in action and yes, she can roll with the best of them and I felt so proud. She said one little shift or time stoppage could be very costly.

"I thought I wanted to be in architectural construction management, but I found out the job I’m doing now was needed," Tracy said. "At the Urban League, we used to manage projects and I fell in love with it after I started doing it and saw that not many women were doing it."

Talking with Tracy truly enlightened me. I do not know if the "good old boys" know it, but the girls are in the house. Gilbane has over 70 employees, 25% of their staff is women, and so progress is being made. The corporation is committed to improving their standards with women.

A mother of four children, Tracy said the dress code in construction is not a problem for her, adding you can still be a woman in what is still a predominately man’s job. "I do have a pink hardhat," Tracy said.

In their move to become more diverse, the president of Gilbane issued a mandate to have greater diversity.

Stay tuned for more "In My Shoes" and Gilbane Inc. next week.