CEO Update: Home for the holidays

I recently toured our hospital expansion construction site to visit with some local craftsmen working on the project. JE Dunn Construction, the construction manager, is based in Kansas City and has a regional office in Springfield. But many people working on the project are actually from this area.

One of the things that’s been most impressive to me is the number of people working on this job and the amount of workforce and economic impact on the community. One thing I thought about as we’re approaching the holidays is that projects are often a long way from home for these local tradesmen. With this project, they’ll be home for the holidays with their families.

Keep reading the blog post or watch the video to find out what I learned about seven local employees on the job site.

Justin Shorter, Project Superintendent

As the project superintendent, Justin Shorter oversees the entire project. Justin grew up in Lockwood and still lives in the CMH service area. He has several connections with people working at CMH, including an aunt who worked here.

He says many of the laborers live in Bolivar and surrounding communities. “They are true craftsmen we have that have worked for us for years and know how to do this building type,” he says. “It’s great to see they have the opportunity to build something this meaningful right here in our backyard. And, selfishly, I like it because I can drive here and don’t have to travel. These types of projects don’t come up all that often. It’s great to be here and have this close to home.”

Jeff Moore, Superintendent

Driven by his passion for fishing, Jeff Moore lives near Stockton Lake. Jeff does much of the day-to-day coordinating with the trades. He helps everybody stay aligned so they can be successful.

During his 18 years working with JE Dunn, he has worked mainly in the Kansas City area. As part of JE Dunn’s health care group, he has helped build health care facilities across the Midwest.

“I’m just very blessed to be back home and work on a project here in my community,” he says. “CMH is where my wife received her health care, and my mom and dad, my neighbors, my friends. So this is something that’s special to me.”

An extra special connection for Jeff is that his dad was part of the construction crew for the original hospital more than 40 years ago.

“He was a service guy for Springfield Engineering Co. for 34 years,” Jeff says. “I actually got an opportunity to bring Dad here on a Saturday to show him the work he’d done that we are getting ready to tear out.”

Jason Roark, Project Manager

Jason Roark has lived in Bolivar his entire life and worked for Harold G. Butzer Inc., a mechanical contractor based in Jefferson City, for 19 years. He works in logistics, overseeing laborers, getting submittals, and approving and releasing equipment. The CMH project is just one of several he is currently managing.

“I’m proud to be part of a project that’s going to give back to the community,” he says. “I know it’s going to bring more opportunity for health care providers.”

Dustin Jarman, Crane Operator

Dustin Jarman, a lifelong Bolivar resident, joined JE Dunn about four months ago. After hearing about the project at CMH, he wanted to be a part of this project in his hometown. He also is the second generation in his family to work on building a hospital facility in Bolivar. His dad helped pour the concrete for the original hospital facility.

Dustin operates one of the cranes, helping to unload trucks and hoist materials to the upper levels.

“It’s really amazing for me just because this is a project that’s going to be here for years to help serve our community, to better our community, and communities around,” Dustin says. “We’re pretty fortunate to have the hospital here. This is really beneficial to a lot of communities.”

Jay Clements, Atkins Weatherproofing

Jay Clements has lived in Bolivar for 20 years, and he is installing the air barrier waterproofing system on the building. His work with Atkins Weatherproofing normally takes him to Arkansas, so he jumped at the opportunity to work in Bolivar for a while.

“It’s pretty cool, not only because, for a change, I’m home instead of being gone and working, but this building is going to be here for a long time,” he says. “I’m liable to have my grandkids born here.”

He’s happy to be home for the holidays with his family.

“That’s a big deal to me,” he says. “I’ve been in Arkansas all the time for the last six, seven years. The commute is a little better. I’m home in 10 minutes.”

Alex Carney, Iron Worker

Alex Carney was busy placing iron in preparation for a concrete pour and has worked for JE Dunn for about six months. He lives in Collins. He also has family connections with CMH through his mom and uncle, who work here.

“It’s real nice being close to home,” he says. “I get to come home, see family every day and help the community.”

James Ibarra, Iron Worker

James Ibarra lives three minutes from the construction site and has worked for JE Dunn for nine months. He, too, was helping place iron on the third floor.

“It means a lot,” he says about working on the project. “I’m close to home. My family gets to come and see this. My wife’s aunt works right there at the hospital. So they get to come see it.”

Meeting the crew

It was great meeting some of the crew on the construction site. It’s amazing how many skilled people we have working on this project from all over, but it especially makes me feel good that we’re taking care of so many people close to home. It’s amazing to me how much progress we’ve made in this last year — from starting to move the dirt for the first time to the structure we have now.

I’m excited to see what the next year will bring as we continue the project and bring it to completion.

Michael Calhoun shares the latest happenings at CMH in his monthly CEO Updates. He is the CEO/executive director of CMH and the Citizens Memorial Health Care Foundation.