< PreviousPresident and CEO of Florida East Coast, Peter Dyga, is extremely passionate about the construction industry and developing bright futures within it. “There are a little over 320 registered apprenticeship programs in the state of Florida. Our chapter and our sister chapter in Tampa are two of those 300. So, I’d like to say we’re less than 1% of the registered providers, but anywhere from 15 to 20% of the freshman apprentices last year entered one of our two programs. So, we are by far the single largest provider of apprenticeship education in the state of Florida.” While Dyga accepts that the apprenticeship program is rigid in terms of legal specifications, he explains that it is vital for young people to be educated on the potential benefits of choosing such a pathway. “An apprenticeship is a very spe- cific legal model or definition of post-secondary education and that’d be the first thing that I stress to people. An equally good first choice to our more traditional college bachelor’s degrees. In some ways, I would say we have some things going for us that make us a better choice, which is, by law, its tuition free. The graduate apprentice will be equivalent of someone who graduated with a bachelor’s degree and will actually make more on average than someone with a bache- lor’s degree. So, you’re graduating with zero debt and you’re making more than average, plus you already have a job.” ABC Florida East Coast Chapter likes to equate its values and benefits to three legs of a stool. Dyga uses this as an example to express the importance of the chapter’s core. Without the three legs, a stool will not stand. To Dyga, each leg represents a different aspect of the chapter: Business Development and Relationship Building, Education, and Government Affairs. Investing time and money is important to the people at not only ABC Florida East Coast Chapter, but all chapters. The Florida East Coast Chapter has 1.5 full-time government affairs professionals, as well as two contract lobbyists to supplement their needs, and a full-time lobbyist for ABC of Florida. Electing the right people is critical to the success of the construction industry. Construction is one of the most regulated industries. Therefore, having a strong focus on advocacy and government affairs is beneficial to all mem- bers of any ABC Chapter. The other leg of this stool which refers to Business Develop- ment and Relationship Building is the backbone of construc- tion. Networking opportunities lead to new developments, partnerships, increased work, and the cycle continues. ABC Florida East Coast Chapter’s members consist of approx- imately 73% contractors and boasts great potential for developing future business relationships. The education leg that completes Dyga’s stool is arguably the most important aspect of the ABC Florida East Coast Chapter. While the chapter is heavily involved in the pre-apprenticeship/appren- ticeship side of education, an array of educational services and courses are also available to those within the industry. “There are a little over 320 registered apprenticeship programs in the state of Florida.” | 60 MAY 2023The construction industry is filled with talent workers, trades- men, craftsmen, and artists. Finding ways to develop these talents further is part of Dyga’s vision for the ABC Florida East Coast Chapter. The chapter is on a mission to excel and exceed all expectations while catapulting ABC into the future and cementing them as leaders in construction and education. However, like any organization, the chapter is only as strong as those within it. This is why the members of ABC Florida East Coast are instrumental to its ongoing success. All of the work the chapter undertakes is to solidify a stronger future for the construction industry and its members. Dyga’s passion for the construction industry is clear to see. However, for him, it is not just a job, this is a future. “I can think of no other industry where the American Dream is as alive as it is in construction. And what do I mean by that? I mean, you can start with the tools on your belt. You can spend four years in a post-secondary apprenticeship getting your degree or certificate, and some short time after that you may want to open up your own company. You may want to be your own electrical contractor and take the skills that you learned and be a businessman as well or an entrepreneur.” That is the thing about the construction industry, there will always be ladders available to climb. But unlike most ladders, these ladders have no limit. You can continue to climb and climb until you have reached a successful career; or better yet, a successful future. | 61 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONWRITTEN BY EMMA KILCAWLEY HEMANI E very stage of the construction process has its place and its value. From foundation upwards, a building is only as strong as its weakest part. However, one area in particular can do some heavy lifting. The exterior and shell of a building works on both a protective and cosmetic level. With its core function as a shelter from the elements, it is a vital cog in the overall project. With this in mind, JGR Construc- tion Inc., a premier structural and concrete contractor based in Florida, has a big job on its hands. Described as a “shell contractor” by Antonio Obregon, Co-president of JGR Construction alongside Javier Gonzalez, the company will build the shell of a property, carrying out its concrete and masonry construction. In an industry where speed and value can be prioritized about quality, JGR Construction Inc. is very much an outlier. 62| 63 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONFounded in 2009, the company provides a range of services to customers including pouring footings, installing masonry, and constructing complete concrete shells. What truly sets the company apart from its competitors is its three core values which permeate every aspect of the work it does. According to Obregon, this allows the company to focus on its job of “building great builders.” Most companies will talk of core values; they are an intrinsic and commonplace part of business. Many of these, however, are aspirational in nature and can sometimes be at odds with the day-to-day workings of a company. With JGR Construc- tion, things are different. Its three core values: We are one, Driven to excellence, and being Relentless in terms of every- thing it does, have developed and grown as a reflection of how it has been successful. For example, according to Obre- gon, “the team work tirelessly every day, focusing on getting the work done and maintaining good relationships with each other, partners, suppliers, and clients. The ‘relentlessness’ of the team is a constant, ongoing pursuit.” By doing things the right way, the company has been in a position to take a step back and design core values that reflect real world processes and attitudes. Rather than aiming for something, JGR Con- struction Inc. has values that it lives by every single day. Going against standardized norms is something of a habit at JGR Construction Inc. As Obregon explains, the team has a deep sense of partnership, with everyone working towards a common goal. This creates a sense of fun and camaraderie that is hard to match. Bonding activities, so often the structured, laborious, management technique occur in an open and organic way. As Obregon shares, “the team simply do things that they want to do in order to share time with each other. As a result, these become bonding activities.” With strong working bonds in place, the company is always in a healthy position when faced with the daily challenges of such a fast-paced and intense industry. “The team is united and optimistic. Everyone is excited about the company’s growth. At JGR Construction Inc. we have a very empowering culture. Everyone lifts their colleagues up and speak highly of their teammates’ dedication, innovation, and work ethics. As our core values state, ‘We are one’ and we recognize each other’s hard work.” For any company that hopes to achieve success and lon- gevity in the construction world, following JGR Construction Inc.’s lead would be a good idea. This spirit of solidarity is exemplified by the “very strong” worker retention rate the company enjoys. By way of example, Obregon explains how “The team is united and optimistic. Everyone is excited about the company’s growth.” 64John Abell Corp. is proud to partner with JGR Construction over the last 15 years! Looking forward to many more successful projects together. ( 305 ) 253-4444 | JOHNABELLCORP.COM Providing Construction Materials & Supplies Since 1974 “just a couple of weeks ago we celebrated an anniversary for the employees that have been with us for longer than five [or] ten years.” He goes on to share that that the longest tenure of an employee working at the company is an incredible 17 years. With this rich experience in-house, it is easy to see why the company is growing steadily and taking on new staff “every six months.” A strong employee retention rate can only be maintained when staff are encouraged to reach their potential. With this in mind, JGR Construction Inc. runs a recruitment and management training program. This program, which has nurtured the skills of a number of current employees, allows workers to get a taste of everything. “We have a recruitment and management training program. Our students go through 18-to-24-months training where they experience every facet of the business.” By doing this, Obregon believes that this ensures staff can follow a career path with the highest oppor- tunity for success. “The program allows people to specialize in whatever area is of most interest to them and is the best match in terms of their own skills. Our Vice President of Operations and Pre-Construction Manager have both come through the program, for example.” | 65 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONAs he explains, students begin this process in the area of estimating and, along the way, they are exposed to a diverse training experience that includes pre-construction, project management and field work. The experience of working in the field gives the students real-world knowledge and skills from the outset with safety and quality control also being important components of the program. Obregon feels that the program is a much-needed contribution of the industry in general. “Through this program we foster young profes- sionals. Our focus is on building great builders and is one of the things we are most proud of. Both the young, and more experienced, professionals that come into the com- pany can see the career opportunities at JGR. We really are focused on developing their careers in conjunction with the work that they do for us.” This success has inevitably led to JGR Construction work- ing on some standout projects in recent years, including the Kavista Apartments project in Miami. Located in the historic neighborhood of El Portal, the project is a mid-rise apartment building comprising of eight stories, a total of 282 units, and over 300 parking spaces. For this project, JGR Construction Inc. provided 401,800 square feet of con- crete and masonry for the ANF Group and gave all involved the opportunity to provide much-needed affordable hous- ing to the area. Kavista Apartments Miami, FL 66Other standout projects completed by the company recently were Wynwood Haus and the Miami Riverwalk. Wynwood Haus, a twenty-story residential tower located in Miami’s creative and cultural hub in Wynwood is a multi-family devel- opment consisting of 224 units with “over 5,000 square feet of ground-floor retail and world-class rooftop amenities.” JGR Construction provided an incredible 322,530 square feet of concrete and masonry for Beauchamp Construction. On the Miami Riverwalk Phase 2 development, JGR Construction Inc. provided 528,500 square feet of concrete and masonry for the Kaufman Lynn led project, an eight-story luxury apart- ment building with over 400 ft of unobstructed views of the Miami River. Moving forward, the company has plans for big growth. As Obregon explains, the local population is growing at such a rate that opportunities in the area are abundant. For him, this gives JGR Construction Inc. the chance to use those core values and move with the needs of the community. “We have some proprietary goals and 10-year plans that are adventur- ous in nature. We plan to expand to different markets and dif- ferent product lines also. Even though there is some turmoil across the economy, we are very optimistic. For the most part, however, we're very bullish in South Florida. We think the population growth in Florida as a whole, specifically South Florida, is very high and we don't see residential construction and multifamily in particular stopping anytime soon.” Wynwood Haus Miami, FL | 67 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONWRITTEN BY DAVID O’NEILL I t goes without saying that the concrete industry in North America is considerable in both scale and scope. The mate- rial, most widely associated with the construction sector, is pretty common. For centuries it has remained a constant, supporting and advancing industries as wide and diverse as architecture, infrastructure, and an unending variety of pre- cast products. With over ten billion tons of it being produced annually in the United States alone, it is the most widely used material on the planet by a considerable distance. When we consider concrete, however, it seems to be in something of a static state. The mix that supports and hold most modern urban infrastructure has not changed substantially in hundreds of years and, for some, that seems to be accepted without question. Why is it though, on a planet where innovation and advancements are demanded on a daily basis, that concrete gets something of a free ride? More importantly however, does concrete provide an opportunity for technological develop- ment or is it a case of, ‘if it ain’t broke…’? | 68 MAY 2023| 69 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONNext >