Industry Person of the Week – Scott Nichols

Today’s Industry Person of the Week is Scott Nichols who hails from Tuscaloosa, Alabama! Here is what he had to share!

Q. How did you get started working in your field?

Scott: I took drafting classes throughout high school and knew I wanted to do something in engineering or possibly learn a skilled trade. I was accepted into the TJAC Local 372 Apprentice Training Program in 1989. I worked for McAbee Construction during the day as a pipefitter welder and attended apprentice school at night for the next 5 years. In 1998, I became a project manager and managed many field projects – from commercial to heavy industrial sites – until 2017 wben I became VP of Fabrication for McAbee Construction.

Q. What do you love the most about your job? What are you most proud of?

Scott: The thing I love most about my job is meeting and working with new clients along with our own employees. I’ve always been a people person. The key to our business is building and maintaining relationships and also building a safe and quality product. That is what I am most proud of.

Q. What advice would you give to someone considering this line of work or new to the field?

Scott: Know up front that this line of work is not glamorous, nor is it clean. However, the sky is the limit – you can go as far as you want to as long as you work hard and are willing to put in the hours. Be patient and learn everything you can. Don’t get complacent and always take advantage of an opportunity to grow. Don’t be afraid of a challenge.

Q. Can you talk about a project you recently worked on?

Scott: We recently completed a large project for a client in the power industry that went to White Plains, NY, and took well over a year to complete. It was a modular structure that was fabricated and assembled at our facility in Tuscaloosa, AL, then truck-shipped and erected in New York. The project was a huge success, and McAbee was awarded Supplier of the Year by this particular client. We are currently working with the same client on a similar project going to Ohio that will begin shipping this June. McAbee will also erect this structure once delivered to the Ohio site.

Q. Anything else you would like to add?

Scott: If you have a child or know someone wanting to learn a trade, encourage them to do so, either through technical school or an apprenticeship program. Sometimes college is not an option for some people, and they need to know that you can make a great living with great benefits. In our industry, we are seeing a labor shortage and need more craftsman to do this type of work. We need to spread the word that learning a trade can be a great career path.