Employee Spotlight: Gordon Miller

I’ve only had the pleasure of working with Gordon for about 3 months. Though he’s been with us longer, we weren’t on the same team until wrapping up a recent project.

In those 3 months, Gordon has always had a positive attitude and relates well with others. He elevates the mood in any room he goes into—he’s a really positive influence on those around him. Gordon’s honesty and integrity build confidence in those around him. He is a rising tide that raises all ships. Gordon is on time and reliable. He works his hours, never complains about the amount of work given and is hungry to learn to be more effective in his work.

Gordon fast tracked into O’Brien as a Foreman. His abilities have allowed everyone that works with him to trust him. His mind is creative and he finds ways to accomplish tasks and find solutions for safety issues. His efforts and positive attitude make others around him open to join forces with him.

So while I have no crystal ball, I see Gordon’s future as bright and full of opportunity. He is a gem that we are blessed to have brought on board and he will go as far as he wants to go.

-Joel Braun, Superintendent

“Longboard dance sesh downtown the day before the Tabor race. I won a set of some killer wheels.”
“Me and my checkered shorts racing at Mt. Tabor.”
“Practice runs at Maryhill before race day.”
“Waiting for my heat up at the Maryhill race.”

Q&A with Gordon

I’ve always been skilled with my hands. As a kid, I loved playing with toys that involved building and creativity. I had a knack for taking things apart and putting them back together, a passion that has followed me throughout my life.

Job sites are constantly changing—the scenery, the challenges, the people. Even if you’re on the same project for months, there’s always something new that keeps you on your toes. I enjoy having a new puzzle to solve every day.

It’s also really rewarding getting to work with people who have all these skills I haven’t learned yet, and having the opportunity to learn those new skills and keep moving forward with my development in this industry. I really try to absorb everything I can possibly learn about all the different aspects of construction.

To be with O’Brien is huge. This position I’m in now is something I’ve always dreamed of. It’s been a long road getting to this point, and I don’t ever want to forget where I came from because it keeps me humble, grounded, and focused.

I started as a laborer for a brick company a long time ago, so to have worked my way up from the very bottom has been something I’m really proud of. O’Brien is a solid company, and the people here, people like Chris and Phil, see potential in me that I didn’t see in myself. They’ve helped me see that I have the skills and experience to be a leader, and they believe in me and bring the best out of me. I don’t think I’ll ever outgrow the shock factor of the opportunity that I’ve been given here. O’Brien has made me look at my life in a different, more positive and professional way.

I’ve been working on the Society 42 site in Portland, and that’s where I got my start with O’Brien. I was working with a temp agency, and they got me in touch with Phil, who I’ve been working with for almost a year now. I know this place like the back of my hand, every wall. It’s been stressful and there’s always a lot going on, but now that it’s almost done and looking so much better than when the project first started, all the hard work is paying off.

I love this place because, despite the challenges, I’ve learned so much in such a short time. Working with various trades, I’ve gained experience in just about everything. From small tasks like reading blueprints and using mechanical rulers, to bigger responsibilities like planning, scheduling, and ensuring safety, I’ve learned how to keep things running smoothly. Everyone I’ve worked with has taught me something valuable, and these lessons have stuck with me even on other job sites. I find myself ensuring that everything is done safely and professionally—it’s becoming second nature. I’m really excited about that.

I’m an outdoorsy guy. I do a lot of downhill longboarding, so I’m pretty much everywhere. I do a lot of cruising around different roads in Clackamas, Oregon City, Mount Tabor, the Zoo bomb—lots of nice little hilly areas with really nice roads. Tabor is like my backyard; I love to mob down and hike back up. Daddy’s Board Shop used to have a skate shop inside, so I’d just go there and skate all day when it was raining out. I also do a lot of kayaking on the Willamette, and I’m trying to get a group together to do a day trip tour of the river.

I’ve learned how to be a professional. There isn’t a construction tool out there I haven’t used, but now I’ve been focused on office, paperwork, and computer skills, and really learning that side of the job. That’s my goal and this job has really helped me pay more attention to these things. I might go back to school and freshen up my math skills—learn how to solve as many problems as I can without a computer or calculator.

I’ve accomplished a lot financially this year. Now that I’m getting consistent work, I’ve been getting myself out of debt and making ends meet on my own. I’ve saved a little money, and bills are paid. It feels good to be able to really make things work and get all that extra weight off my shoulders. I finally got health insurance, so I can start getting my health checked up on. I’m gonna take full advantage of that and really get my health together.

I’m also planning a trip back to Virginia to see my mom. She’s suffering from dementia, and I talk to her every day. I’m really trying to get home to see her before she doesn’t remember who I am. I’m just happy that I’m achieving my goals before my parents pass away. I just want them to be proud of me before they go.