Project Manager at CLP Resources, Inc.
Former Army Special Ops engineer excels in the construction management industry with CLP Resources.
by Warren Duffie
It’s easy to think Chris Gibson’s current job has nothing to do with his military career in Army Special Operations.
The former master sergeant is a project manager for a 28-property (soon to be 42) housing development in Colorado Springs. And though he’s no longer building bridges to traverse cliffs or worrying about someone shooting at him, there are some parallels between his Army and civilian professions.“
Granted, I’m not helping to blow things up, but there is some crossover between those two worlds,” he says. “As a Special Ops engineer you’re a handyman of sorts — you design and build houses and bridges in-theater. So you get an appreciation of how a structure should be constructed, its strength, and how to make quick repairs.”
Gibson, 42, is an employee with CLP Resources, Inc., a staffing company that provides skilled tradespeople — on a temporary or permanent basis — to more than 4,000 construction and facilities clients. Founded in 1987, CLP is based in Emeryville, California, and has 50 offices nationwide.
Hired in early 2006, Gibson has spent the last two months working for Keller Homes, one of the preeminent building companies in Colorado. As project manager of his development, Gibson is a jack of all trades, overseeing everything from carpentry to electrician work to painting. His duties encompass conducting walk-throughs of houses before turning over the keys to new owners, patching minor flaws, and hiring contractors for perform major repairs.
“There’s really no typical day for me,” he says. “I could be asked to fix a crack in a wall or call a contractor to rebuild a wall. Each day varies.”
Not a Temp Agency
Were you a military handyman (or woman)? Did you help build, repair, or take down houses and other facilities? Were you a plumber or painter? Then CLP Resources, Inc. wants you.
Why should you consider this construction-industry temp agency? CLP pays a competitive wage and promises steady work and project variety. Employees also receive medical and dental insurance, 401(k) with employer match, vacation pay, employee referral bonuses, and tuition reimbursement for training in particular trades.
CLP wants Veterans like you
“Veterans boast a strong work ethic,” says Dottie Gallagher, CLP’s marketing communications manager. “They know that being at work at 7:30 a.m. means just that. They also work well with other crew members at a construction site.”
A “Top 100 Staffing Company,” CLP is seeking carpenters, electricians, plumbers, painters, and welders — as well as recruiters, site and office managers, and sales staff. To truly understand the company’s commitment to hiring veterans, look at its Colorado Springs office, where Gibson is based. The office recruiter served in the military. Also, 43 percent of the office’s skilled tradespeople are veterans.
“Take Chris, for example,” Gallagher says. “His quiet confidence — combined with the fact he was a senior NCO (noncommissioned officer) and Special Ops — convinced us to hire him. We knew we could count on him to present himself well on the job site and represent our company professionally.”
Following In his Father’s Footsteps
It’s no surprise Gibson joined the Army. His father was a command sergeant major, and young Gibson spent his formative years surrounded by soldiers, discipline, and commitment to a mission.
Upon graduating in 1984, he followed in his dad’s footsteps and enlisted. He first was an infantryman, but after a couple of years, he signed up for Special Ops training. It was a grueling six-month ordeal, consisting of basic infantry training, individual specialized training (Gibson trained to be an engineer), and all-encompassing field training exercises.
During his career, the 18-year veteran served in North Carolina, Massachusetts, Germany, and in Iraq during Operation Desert Storm. His final assignment was at Fort Carson, Colorado.
But his Army career was cut short by a back injury in 2002. Since he was eligible for his pension and disability pay, Gibson decided to say goodbye to the military. After taking a few resume-writing classes, he entered the civilian workforce — a found a rude shock. This was less than a year after Sept. 11, 2001. The economy was limping along, and jobs were hard to come by. So Gibson managed a bar and nightclub for a year in Colorado Springs.
However, the hours and pay were lousy, and he missed working outdoors. So Gibson traded in his bar towel for a hard hat, working various carpentry jobs at local construction sites before coming to CLP.
“I have to be honest, when they contacted me, and I thought they were looking for day laborers,” he says. “So I wasn’t interested. But they persisted, so I talked to them and liked what I saw.”
“The pay is good, as well as the benefits,” he continues. “When I first left the Army, I took a major pay hit. But I still had my health and dental coverage as well as my pension. If I could have done anything differently, I would have saved more money and taken college classes while I was still enlisted.”
Gibson is currently pursuing a degree in organizational development from Regis
University and has maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA.
Gibson’s Advice:
When asked for advice on building the foundation for a successful transition, this Gibson says:
“Take college classes while still in the military. Take advantage of your G.I. Bill benefits. A degree is so important nowadays for getting your foot in the door with most companies.”
“Start networking early. Build those relationships while you’re in uniform. That way, you can land a job right when you get out.”
“Save your money. Set aside a nest egg. There’s no guarantee your salary will increase in the civilian world, and you never know when the company you work for can go bankrupt.