Q: What is your current job title at Moss, and what was your path to that position?
A: I’m a loader operator, and I’ve been with Moss since September 2017. I started as a laborer, and I stayed in that role for six months. Then, they moved me to drive the company truck. After that, they had me working as a pipe layer, and then I moved up to the job I’m in now.
Q: Are there any challenges that you encounter in your job on a regular basis?
A: There are challenges every day. There’s no single challenge that I see over and over, but there are different challenges every time we work on a new job. For example, on the job I’m working on right now, we just came across some utility lines that we didn’t expect to be there, so we had to figure out a way to work around that.
Q: What was your work history before you came to Moss?
A: I worked maintenance at a golf course for 14 years before I joined Moss. It was completely different from what I’m doing now.
Q: What do you enjoy about your job?
A: Ever since I was a little kid, I wanted to operate machines. I never got the chance to do it until I came to Moss, but I love it. It’s fun to get in there and operate the equipment. I also love learning, and this job gives me a chance to learn something new every day.
Q: What do you think makes Moss stand out from other companies?
A: I haven’t worked for any other construction or utility companies, but from what I’ve heard, Moss gives you more opportunities to do what you like to do. They give you the chance to move up in the company. You don’t have to work as a laborer forever if you don’t want to.
Q: Is there any specific project you’ve worked on that sticks out in your mind?
A: It’s hard to name just one because I learn from all of them. Honestly, the project I’m working on right now might end up being the one that sticks out for me. This job is a big challenge, and I love unexpected challenges. We thought it was going to be easy, but there’s nothing easy about it. We’re working in the woods out in the middle of nowhere, and that’s always a challenge.
Q: Do you have any ideas regarding how our industry could attract more young people?
A: We have a lot of young people working for Moss, and they’re doing a great job. I think we just need to make sure people know there is an opportunity for them in the construction industry. Moss is doing that already, but many companies are not.
Q: Is there anyone you look up to, or that you consider to be a mentor?
A: I would probably say my foreman Chacho. I learn so much from him. When I want to know how to do something, I just look at how he does it.
Q: What do you like to do in your free time?
A: I have two kids — a boy and a girl. I like to spend as much time as I can with them. For my own hobby, I love horse racing. My uncle owns quarterhorses for racing, so that’s what I do every weekend. I help him with his horses, and I go to all the races too. My free time revolves around horses.