4 minute read
Northeast
Jeff Beauchemin knows the power of good relationships— while he’s only been regional manager of Colt Builders for a little over two years, he’s known the president, Glen Yates, for over twenty.
Like most of the regional managers at Colt, he’s been in the business since he was a teenager. After starting off as a carpenter, he worked his way through the ranks to become a foreman, a supervisor, a manager, and then a regional manager, and his years of experience has helped him grow one of the oldest markets in the country.
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neW enGland, Old marKet
While the Northeast market covers more states than any other Colt Builders region—including Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey—Jeff says it all feels local.
“Colt’s projects in the Northeast are typically within driving distance for our crews, allowing us to provide local labor and knowledge on our job sites,” says Jeff. “Our employees appreciate being home with their families in the evenings and on weekends as well.”
But New England isn’t without its unique challenges. As Jeff explains:
New England is a well-established market, with many strong general contractors and a lot of good competition. OSHA is obviously all across the country, and the many local offices in this region are well staffed and well trained. Unions also have a strong presence in the area, which changes the dynamics of the market. The good thing about Colt is that we’ve applied our high standards nationally, so we are set up to meet the challenges of the Northeast and the entire United States.
And then there are the builds themselves. New England is home to some of the oldest settlements in the United States, which means that unique, restorative work is part of this region’s project scope.
“Working in the Northeast gives us the opportunity to provide some ‘TLC’ to some of the existing mill buildings in the area,” says Jeff. “One of our current projects is a restoration and third floor addition to an existing mill building. It is a tight, urban space with very little room for equipment around the outside of the building, requiring close coordination with the general contractor to plan and schedule material deliveries to arrive on site at just the right moment.”
PreParinG fOr the future
This kind of challenging work makes Jeff passionate about what he does and where he does it. As general regional manager, Jeff is not only concerned with ensuring that his current employees are well trained, but he’s also looking out for trade students who will be entering the industry in the coming years.
“We’re trying to get further involved with the local technical colleges in the area,” he explains. “We want to develop those relationships and tap into that knowledge.”
After working in the region for years, Jeff also knows the importance of a good reputation. As he says, “The community impact and job opportunities Colt Builders brings to our regions is unique to the industry. Our mission is to provide national reach with local management, and the jobs we provide in these local areas are important in fulfilling that goal.”
Jeff is therefore strategic about where he places his people because he knows that growth is inevitable when you bring the right people on board. “Our teams are currently based in a few key areas within the region,” he says. “Good people tend to know other good people who they refer to come join our team here at Colt, by default, building our workforce in those areas.”
But Jeff is aware that construction isn’t always the first choice for people coming into the workforce. It’s hard work, and New England winters can be tough, which is not lost on Jeff having come up through the field. But he’s still optimistic about getting people engaged in rough carpentry despite the high demands of the job.
—JEFF BEAUCHEMIN, NORTHEAST RGM
Northeast team-building fishing trip
CultiVatinG a Culture Of inClusiOn
“Checking in with the guys” is something that Jeff takes seriously, and it’s a principle he’s strived to embed into the culture of his region. A construction crew works hard through rough weather and difficult builds, and Jeff believes that being able to play just as hard is critical to ensuring a healthy work culture and a quality product.
One of the Northeast region’s new traditions is the annual Colt World Cup soccer game that takes place around Christmas every year. After a fun but competitive game, the entire company enjoys a catered dinner and drinks. This is in addition to fishing trips and baseball games Jeff regularly hosts for his managers throughout the year.
“We try to keep the guys as a big family group,” says Jeff. “These kinds of events are a great way to pull everyone together outside of work.”
And at the end of the day, that’s what Jeff loves about his job— the familial atmosphere that makes Colt such a special place to work.
“It’s the people,” he confides. “We have such great staff both in our office and out on projects, and we all complement each other. Those hard-working, devoted workers that go the extra mile to get a project completed? I love working with people like that.”
—SHANE BROUGHTON, VICE PRESIDENT
Melrose Mill renovation
ABC CT Safety “STEP” Award
