Page 9 - Graypvine August 2021

Field less experienced guy in the

group; making the journey
Focus posed its challenges. At
first, I was as lost as a ball
in a field full of corn. From
having to learn stick shift
The construction industry can be a great field to from scratch and driving on
enter if you’re interested in traveling, and that’s just the wrong side of the road,
what drove Field Engineer Dylan Lewis to pursue to learning EU specifications, Dylan Lewis
a degree in Civil Engineering Technology. Upon standards, drawings and Field Engineer
graduating at the age of 19, Dylan was recruited to standard construction
join the Gray team in June 2019. practice; I had to learn to rewire a lot of my ways of
“I found it difficult to find a career that gave me thinking. Not to mention, Irish accents can sometimes
travel opportunities,” said Dylan. “I was helping my clash with Kentucky ears!
father with HVAC work and was at a customer's “But with the guys out here, the transition was
house working on their HVAC unit. I eventually got easy. This is truly the best team I’ve ever been a part 9
to chatting with the customer about my future and of. Being on an island away from home during a
my desire to travel. He revealed to me that his son pandemic brought us all together. Watching people
worked for a large design-build company named like Chad Jamison, Tim Wilson, and David Florence
Gray Construction and instantly gave me his contact and seeing their work ethic and excitement for what
info, saying, ‘sounds like you better give him a call!’” they do fires me up. Having the opportunity to see
the devotion to safety by Jesse Abel really sets the
“Everyone is willing to take tone for what my own expectations are, in how I
the time to help you learn or contribute to safety going forward on future projects.
I am motivated every day by the knowledge that I can
better yourself because they come into work and learn something I didn’t know
the day before. It is truly a life altering opportunity that
were once in your shoes too.” I’m extremely grateful for.”
Dylan also enjoys working in the construction
The Gray team member who answered the phone industry because it has allowed him to create special
was Jaime Patterson, Resource Manager in Field relationships with many team members.
Operations. While talking to Jaime, Dylan learned how “Everyone is willing to take the time to help you learn
Gray places a large value on their team members, and or better yourself because they were once in your
provides many opportunities for growth. shoes too,” Dylan said. “I wanted to travel the world,
“I was fully invested after that and the rest is and meet new people who could help me grow. Being
history!” said Dylan. “I’ve since had the opportunity able to do so at a young age has been a blessing.”
to work as a Field Engineer on Buffalo Trace Mash If you’re also a fairly new team member just starting
House in Frankfort, Kentucky and the MGC NT Plant out in the industry, Dylan has some advice.
in Killeen, Texas.” “Own the problems you find. Work them through
For a guy with a travel bug, it sounds like Dylan until you have verified they are fixed, even if you
chose his career well; he’s currently working on don’t have a solution. There are plenty of resources
Project ABC in Newbridge, Ireland. who are willing to point you in the right direction.
“I’ve been on projects with seasoned Site Managers And never be afraid to do the right thing. I’ve been
like Shawn Powell for example, and everything they taught to pretend there’s always someone watching
taught me about Gray’s Core Values prepared me because there always is. But all in all, just be a
for being one of the few to represent Gray on its sponge. Never stop learning or asking questions
first European project,” Dylan reflects. “Being from because there is always something new to look for in
a small town in Central Kentucky, and the younger, this industry.”