Every day, workers at Maxim come together with a shared purpose – to use their talents and abilities to complete a job safely, efficiently and to the high standards our customers expect. That’s the same sense of responsibility and teamwork shared by members of the military, which is one reason why Maxim values veterans and the dedication they bring to our work.
According to the latest Employment Situation of Veterans report released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the share of employed veterans working in the construction industry increased to 6.5% last year. In fact, construction is among the top occupations for veterans. There are nearly 200 veterans working full-time at Maxim across the organization. Veterans Day is a great time to honor those who have served our country and decided to continue their professional career with us. Veterans work across the company, including several key leaders. To commemorate Veterans Day, we talked to several Maxim veterans about how they’ve put their military experience to work here.
Mario Bermudez, West Coast Regional Operations/Safety Director
“In the construction industry, leadership is in high demand,” said Mario Bermudez, West Coast Regional Operations/Safety Director, who is a Marine veteran. “I have found people coming from a military background come to the job with more life and supervisory experience, which prepares them for working in the field.”
“The industry has a military mindset,” said West Coast Tower Operations Manager Anthony Lanza, who served 24 years in the Marines, including tours in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Somalia. “There’s a need to be safe, the work requires a lot of planning and there’s a shared commitment to getting the job done. In the military, we refer to that as ‘mission accomplished.’”
Nez Wheeler, an oiler working for Maxim in Arizona, agrees.
Anthony Lanza, West Coast Tower Operations Manager
Nez Wheeler, Oiler, Phoenix Branch
“The skills I learned in the military apply out here,” Wheeler says. “We need to work as a team under pressure to get the work done.”
Veterans note that transitioning from military life to construction does have some challenges and suggest finding a mentor to help ease the adjustment.
“You need patience,” Bermudez said. “Civilian life is a 180-degree change from the military. Civilian life can be slower and frustrating for vets. I have noticed that having a mentor or a person with military experience makes the transition process a lot easier.”
Clayton Schnieber, Service Mechanic, Wilder
Service Mechanic Clayton Schnieber believes veterans like him will be able to thrive at a company like Maxim, and he believes there are good opportunities for them to pursue. “You work here as a team,” Schnieber said. “And that’s exactly how it is in the military. You work together.”
Maxim values hiring veterans, and the company participates in recruiting events
looking to attract the 200,000 active-duty members of the military who return to civilian life each year. Veterans interested in joining Maxim can send an email to hiringourheroes@maximcrane.com to learn more about opportunities with the company.
