At Jackson, we believe that the heart of every project is our craft, the skilled laborers, carpenters, and operators who turn blueprints into reality. These are the hands and minds behind the structures that shape communities and make great things possible.
When we build a school, we create a space for the next generation to learn. When we build a hospital, we make healing possible. When we construct a laboratory, we enable breakthroughs in treatments and cures. For our craft, there’s nothing like driving past a completed project and knowing you helped make it happen—something that will serve people for years to come.
Self-Performing: Building With Our Own Hands
Being true builders means putting our own team on the work every day. With over 90 craftspeople, we self-perform a wide range of scopes, ensuring quality, consistency, and value. Self-performing work gives us greater control, cost savings, schedule certainty, and peace of mind for our clients, while giving our crew ownership of the final product.
Growth, Clarity, and Opportunity
Our craft culture is built on clarity and opportunity. We’ve defined core positions (Laborer, Carpenter, and Foreman) so every team member knows what’s expected and how to grow. Responsibilities, skills, and performance metrics provide a clear roadmap for advancement, fair evaluations, and continuous improvement.
Foremen and Superintendents are the backbone of every project team, and we invest in their leadership. Hands-on training programs cover everything from safety and scheduling to quality control and team leadership. Superintendents also engage in NCCER programs, equipping them to guide projects and deliver exceptional results.
Investing in the Next Generation
The construction industry faces a workforce crisis. An aging workforce, declining enrollment in trade schools, and negative perceptions of construction have made it harder to attract new talent. That’s why Jackson is committed to promoting construction as a rewarding, stable career.
Through apprenticeships, internships, and workforce development, we’re investing in the next generation of craftspeople. Our carpentry apprenticeship program, developed with the Montana Department of Labor & Industry and NCCER, provides hands-on experience and structured training. High school Junior Apprentices get a head start on a career, learning the trade and gaining real-world skills.
We also bring the trades directly to the classroom. Through programs like Missoula Under Construction, we invite students to experience hands-on construction activities, from building popsicle-stick bridges to generating electricity from potatoes. By making learning interactive and fun, we hope to spark curiosity and show the possibilities a career in construction can offer.
A Culture of Retention and Pride
We’re proud of the longevity of our team. The average tenure of our craft is over 5.5 years, well above the industry average of 3.9. That retention reflects how we care for our people, not just on the jobsite but in all aspects of life. Many craftspeople have built entire careers at Jackson, mentoring others and sharing their knowledge along the way.
Our supervisors and leaders, like Field Operations Manager Grayson Lukasik, Superintendent Saul McMeekin, Project Manager Cody Frey, and Superintendent Darren Stocker to name just a few, started in the field and worked their way up, proving that growth and advancement are real possibilities here. From craft to leadership, every step in our organization reflects dedication, skill, and pride.
The Future of Our Craft
We’re committed to preserving the craftsmanship that defines our industry while expanding our capabilities through self-perform work, workforce development, and upward mobility opportunities. Our people are the foundation of everything we do, and the future is bright because of them.
To every craftsperson at Jackson—thank you. Your skill, your dedication, and your pride make all the difference. You make it possible.
