What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

Dart league. My dad and I used to play when I was younger, now Caitlin and I play team cricket on Thursday nights along with doing doubles on Friday nights. Currently in 1st for doubles so hopefully this doesn’t jynx it. Haha. Otherwise, I’m a big gamer, zombies in COD is my go to.

What would your perfect weekend look like?

A beach, an ocean, isolated away from the tourist resorts, margaritas, phone left at home and no computer. Like one of those little bungalows in the Maldives, except with no other bungalow around. Haha

What’s something surprising that not many people know about you?

Um… favorite Pokemon is Pikachu. I even have a Pikachu tattoo and that I still have all my Pokemon cards from when I was a kid. I also make candles. Haha

Who/what are some of your biggest influences?

My dad and mom: My dad has always worked in construction, so I grew up around it. My mom, a nurse, transitioned into the administrative side of healthcare and was part of the team that introduced Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) to the first clinic in Dickinson.

What’s something that you’ve always wanted to learn?

To cook haha, I know what I want something to taste like, but it never turns out the way I envision it.

What is one thing you can’t live without?

Chapstick lol.

What’s your official title at Baranko Companies, and what do you do here?

My official title is Business Systems Manager. I oversee and manage all technology-related aspects for Baranko Companies, which includes Baranko Brothers, Inc., Baranko Environmental, LLC, Baranko Services, LLC, and Center Coal Company. Additionally, I contribute to our affiliated companies: Environmental Solutions, LLC, Roughrider Disposal, LLC, and have recently assisted with a new partnership called White Diamond Artificial Lift Services, LLC.

In this role, I ensure that computers, networks, and software systems function seamlessly, implement cybersecurity best practices, and help the organizations leverage technology to achieve their goals. In short, I’m the tech guru.

How long have you been at Baranko Companies?

I have been with Baranko Companies for 16 years, soon to be 17. I started right after high school, back when it was just Baranko Brothers, Inc.

16 (going on 17) years is a long time, what kept you around?

To be honest, it was a combination of factors. After high school, I had planned to move to Winter Park, FL, to attend Full Sail University for Game Design and Development. But that summer, I got into some trouble (a reminder to choose your friends wisely), and by the following winter, I became a parent. My plans for college quickly disappeared.

Even after my mistakes, Glenn and the team still gave me a chance. I had to decide whether to stay on the path I was on or turn things around and make something of myself. In 2012, I was given an incredible opportunity to develop our Topcon GPS and machine control systems along with HCSS HeavyJob, and I haven’t looked back since.

What stood out to me was the trust I was given to take on a project, shape it as I saw fit, and bring it to life. There was always something deeply satisfying about that. At the time, I didn’t fully realize it, but technology in the construction industry was still in its early stages.

How has your role evolved since you joined the team? And what have you seen change the most in this industry?

When I first started out of high school, I was helping with fueling and greasing the machines. From there, I became a laborer and eventually moved on to fusing (welding) most of the HDPE (high-density polyethylene) pipe on projects. After that, I transitioned to operating equipment—first a dozer and then a scraper. I worked as a scraper operator for quite a few years until 2012, when I was offered my first IT position. Up until last year, I served as the IT Manager, and now I hold the title of Business Systems Manager.

When I started, I think there were only five computers at the company—definitely not many. One of the biggest changes I’ve witnessed is the evolution of technology in construction. We’ve grown from a single company to multiple entities, now supporting 52 workstations, 92 users, 124 mobile devices, and 14 servers housed in our own data center.

We’ve come a long way in equipment technology as well, from our first GPS kit and GPS motor grader to now having 8 GPS kits, 4 motor graders, 6 dozers, and 9 equipped scrapers. Back in the day, we had to manually install kits on the machines, but now we have fully integrated i-machines straight from the factory. I’ve also seen the rise of drones and aerial mapping—innovations that were just beginning to emerge when I started.

A lot of people don’t realize it, but construction has some of the coolest tech out there.

How would you describe your day-to-day? Walk me through a typical day.

Haha, I can tell you that what I plan and what actually happens are often two very different things. Typically, before the Red Bull kicks in, I start by reviewing cybersecurity reports—firewalls, email filters, antivirus systems, and so on—or addressing any critical issues that pop up.

There are usually multiple projects or critical issues happening at once, whether it’s setting up a new employee account, making network or system changes, or fixing something an update broke overnight. My day can change drastically depending on the priorities. I don’t like leaving things unresolved, so I try to tackle issues as quickly as possible before moving on to the next task.

One thing I’ve always enjoyed about this role is that it’s never the same. We work in such a dynamic, ever-changing environment that my day can shift in an instant. The idea of working within the same system or routine every single day just isn’t for me. Some people enjoy that consistency, but I’d find it boring.

When have you felt the proudest of the work you do? Why was that?

Oh boy… I’ve had a few memorable projects. One that will stick with me for a while was our new website. That one really stressed me out. There was so much riding on what we were trying to accomplish the following year, so it was a massive relief to hear how much everyone liked it. I pushed hard to launch it by the first of the year, and I easily could have, but it wouldn’t have had the “wow” factor I wanted. Waiting to get it just right was worth it.

Another memorable one was the time I was told, “We want to build our own auction website.” My first reaction was, “Haha… we want to do what? You’re joking, right?” I had no idea how to make that happen, but I figured it out.

If I had to pick the most impactful project, though, it would be HeavyJob. Steph and I have put so much work into that over the years. It’s become one of the most critical pieces of our daily operations, and I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished with it.

In your opinion, why does the work you do matter? (Perhaps to you? To the company? To the community? etc.).

To me, it’s about second chances and continually pushing the boundaries.

To the company? How many organizations can say they’ve accomplished what we have in the last 12 years? While some companies are content with staying where they are, we choose to diversify and expand. I’ve often wondered—where we would be at with technology if it would have been someone else. Haha.

To the community? I was born and raised here, and seeing everything we’ve done gives me a sense of pride. Knowing I’ve had a hand in that is incredibly rewarding.

What has been some of the most important lessons you’ve learned throughout your career?

It’s okay to fail, and it’s okay to fail again. Most people only see the end result, but that success often comes after multiple phases of failure. What we’ve built today exists because we’ve learned from what didn’t work.

What’s the most rewarding thing about your job?

I feel proud after the successful launch of something we’ve been working on. For example, many companies use HCSS Equipment360 as their asset management and maintenance system. HCSS typically sets a target of implementing the software within 90 days of purchase, which can be quite ambitious depending on the approach.

If you simply load the software, add your equipment, and input the relevant information, you’ll have a functioning maintenance system. Sounds straightforward, right? But what if, midway through implementation, you realized you could elevate it to an entirely new level? What if you decided to make it work seamlessly across all systems, requiring a core revamp in accounting or custom development to automate integration with HeavyJob? And then, within those same 90 days, you revamped multiple systems to create a cohesive, live, and fully functioning environment.

That’s when things become far more complex—but solving that complexity to make life easier for our users is what makes me proud. The best moment is when a user finally gets to experience the system and says, “This is much easier than I thought it would be.”

What’s the most challenging thing about your job?

Not knowing the “why” is the biggest challenge for me. If I can’t fully understand the goal, I can’t create the solution. It’s a matter of asking, “If this… then what?” Anyone can build the “what,” but without understanding the “why,” how can you ensure it’s the right solution to address the problem?

Describe an experience that had a lasting impact on you.

I honestly don’t know if I should share this, but life is short, and moments like this stay with you. There was a day when an employee came into my office in the morning, and I was helping them with their tablet. By that afternoon, they were gone.

Do you have any funny or embarrassing (but appropriate) work stories to share?

Haha, oh… yeah. I’ll share this one. When I first started and was still new, I was helping with fueling and greasing the machines. Operators would park their equipment during lunch, and we’d refuel and grease them while they ate. We had a semi-trailer full of fuel, so one of us would pull a scraper forward while the other moved the next one.

Usually, when we moved the scrapers, we weren’t brave enough to go fast enough to shift gears—except this one time when I finally did. I hopped into the scraper, took off, and mid-turn, the front engine died because of a fuel pump failure. The machine wouldn’t stop, and I didn’t know to use the lever to drop the bowl into the ground to slow it down. The scraper ended up running into the boom of a parked excavator, with the cab wedged between the boom.

I didn’t know many of the operators’ names at the time, but one of them came over, opened the door, handed me a roll of paper towels, and said, “Just in case you need these.” Lol, thanks, JoJo!

What tips or advice would you give someone starting in your position?

Just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should. Having the ability to do something doesn’t necessarily make it the right choice.

Where do you see yourself in five years? What about Baranko – how do you picture it being?

Me? Probably the same thing I’m doing today. Baranko? Haha, I don’t know. At one point I thought I knew, but then I get pulled out of OSHA/MSHA training at 4:00pm, told that we just purchased 3 landfills, can’t shut down any operations in the oil field, and that we take over tomorrow morning at 6:00am AND are we are ripping out everything. That one took some phone calls lol.

How do you want the people at Baranko to remember you by?

The Nerd haha…

Any last words?

Yes, a lot of what we’ve accomplished wouldn’t have been possible without the help of many of my colleagues. Thank you!