Page 18 - Graypvine December 2020

Field Site Safety “It was one of the bigger

jobs Gray was doing at
Focus Manager Jesse the time, so it took the
collaboration of each
Abel had a
challenge in
college that a few of us can probably relate to. team member to ensure
the job was completed,
“I was struggling to find a degree in college I but completed in a safe
could relate to, and something that I wanted to do manner. It was truly one of
for the rest of my life,” he recalled. “My stepfather the best teams I have ever Jesse Abel
mentioned Safety and Health which I soon fell in been on. We all gelled so Site Safety Manager
love with. I knew a safety professional within Gray well together. It was pretty
at the time, who recommended me to Bill Carey awesome to wake up each morning, knowing you
[Gray’s Safety Director], and the rest is history.” were going to work with a group of your friends.”
After working as a Site Safety Technician with Today, Jesse is working overseas on Project ABC
Gray for three years, Jesse was promoted to Site in Newbridge, Ireland. His advice to his fellow team
18 Safety Manager. He particularly enjoys working in members is to simply ask questions.
construction because it changes every day. His “I truly admire people who come to the job each
passion for the outdoors fits perfectly with a career day and ask questions. Someone that asks a lot
in the field, so he doesn’t have to be behind a desk of questions is showing they are wanting to learn.
all day long. Plus, Jesse enjoys traveling around the Another piece of advice would be to not be afraid to
country and the world. speak up. When you come to Gray, you are joining a
“I really feel I came into my own on the Sofidel family, a family that will be behind you every step of
project in Circleville, Ohio in 2017,” says Jesse. the way.”

The recently completed EGGER Wood Products facility in Lexington, North Carolina.