James Hemmert has worked in construction since he was fifteen years old. So, he was already familiar with how a construction job site works when he applied to UMC in 2016. Once he joined the team, he quickly realized things were slightly different at UMC because the company truly believes in and values its employees. With the help of UMC, James enrolled in trade school, paid for by the company. He even got a pay raise that year, too! The way UMC treated its employees was unlike any other company he had worked for.
With the help of UMC, James worked his way through four years of trade school while working on UMC job sites. Everyone was incredibly supportive of his growth, and he had the chance to work with some journeyman plumbers and foremen willing to teach and guide him. He learned how to lay pipes, install water mains, complete gas finishes, and everything that goes into turnkey plumbing services. When his schooling was complete, James passed his journeyman exam, and a year later, he got his master’s license, too. He’s now pursuing a journeyman’s license in Idaho, Colorado, and Idaho to help on all the UMC job sites.
Now, nearly seven and half years after joining UMC, James works as a site superintendent at the Kalaco apartments project, a 280-unit, 7-story building with two parking levels. It’s an exciting challenge, and he’s enjoying the work. As site superintendent, James coordinates with fellow trades and the general contractor to ensure that UMC’s work is moving forward and completed correctly. His hard work and dedication are paying off. James was selected to run UMC’s first Bozeman project in 2024!
As a site superintendent, James has grown to value UMC’s unique culture on the job site. Since the UMC team includes plumbing, HVAC, and insulation, several team members are usually on-site, which he says makes it feel like a family. He values the dedication of each UMC team member to the company’s core values. When he started with UMC, the core values and vision hadn’t yet been outlined, so he was a little skeptical when they were announced. He felt he was doing his best and didn’t need the refresher. But over time, he started to see how vision and values helped everyone remember who UMC is as a company and the quality that UMC strives to deliver.
The dedication to the core values each UMC team member upholds is one of the reasons why, as a site superintendent, he knows that he can count on his UMC teammates to help deliver quality work and to be team players. When he sees other trades pushing back against the general contractor or not doing their part to move projects along, James knows that the UMC team is committed to moving the project forward, doing their best work, and working cooperatively because of the core values that the company instills in each team member.
After all his time at UMC, James is still happy to be here. He has seen firsthand how well UMC treats its employees and invests in their growth. As he’s talked to other members of the UMC team who have come from different companies, he’s realized how rare that support is in the industry. James knows the grass isn’t greener away from UMC, so he’s committed to continuing his career with us. We’re so grateful to have a team member like James in the UMC family!
