Tag: Boston construction

Thank you for visiting our new “Spotlight ON” feature where we will be speaking with members of the Gaston Team and asking them questions about their careers, backgrounds, and interests.

We’re kicking off this new series with Journeywoman Heather MacMaster. At the time of this post, Heather is working at the Boston University Center for Computing and Data Sciences Building.

How long have you been an Electrician?

Nearly 20 years.

Tell me how things have changed regarding Women on jobsites over your 20 years?

I went from being one of the only females onsite to being one of five on my current job. Females currently make up 10% of construction in Mass and are more accepted on jobsites.

I know you started a Facebook Group recently with some friends. What’s the name of it?

 It is called Boston Union Trade Sisters.

How did you start this group?

During the pandemic last year, I was talking to an old friend from another Local about the idea of starting a Facebook Group for all Women in the trades. It started with 5 Women and has grown to almost 700 in one year. 

Why did you start this group?

We wanted to create a safe space for Women in the trades to network, get advice on work-related issues and personal matters, and build a community of strong, confident females working in the construction field.

What has surprised you about this group of Women?

Seeing the amount of support people receive from strangers. It’s an uplifting group of Women; we really feel like sisters.

I understand you hold events throughout the year. What kind of events has your group hosted?

We’ve held bowling nights, self-defense class, cookouts, dance lessons, a double-dutch tournament – and soon we’re hosting our first Gala.

Can you talk more about the Gala? Tell me about the inspiration for this event and what should people expect if they attend?

The Facebook Group founders wanted to celebrate everything we’ve accomplished this past year. The Gala takes place on April 2^nd in Quincy. We’ve already sold out and expect nearly 300 people. We’re going to have female speakers talking about the importance of Women in construction as well as dinner, dancing, and raffles to raise funds for the group and community.

What can we expect to see from Boston Union Trade Sisters in the future?

We’re hoping to grow, offer more continuing education for Women, and inspire other cities/states to create their own community of Tradeswomen.

On October 8th, Team Members from Gaston Electrical joined Consigli Construction to participate in the Blackstone Valley Educational Foundation STEM Webinar Series.

The series was developed to introduce middle school students to the many exciting career paths and opportunities that exist in STEM fields – including construction.

HR Director Nina Radzim spearheaded Gaston’s involvement and coordinated an overview of the subcontractor role which included Estimator Selene Burke, BIM Manager David Fiorini, and Prefabrication Shop Manager DJ Murray.

Each Team Member took time to explain their respective roles within the company, their responsibilities relating to projects, and their backgrounds. Students then asked questions via the webinar chat function. Of particular interest was the use of BIM in construction coordination, and the important role of women and minorities in the industry.

To learn more about the Blackstone Valley Educational Foundation, please visit https://bveducationfoundation.org/

Recently, Bill Weber, Jr. joined Lonnie Cumpton of NECA National and Tauhira Ali of Milwaukee Tool to discuss offsite prefabrication, pre-planning, and the push for greater efficiency in construction during the “Innovation Studio” podcast.

During the discussion, Bill talked about the history of prefabrication at Gaston Electrical, the hard work to build the division, and the benefits seen on the jobsite today. He also offered advice and best practices for other electrical contractors who may be in the process of establishing their own prefabrication division.

To learn more about Gaston’s Prefabrication Division, you can visit our website by clicking here.

In the wake of Covid-19 contractors, are faced with new challenges regarding workplace productivity, scheduling, and worker safety. With a lot of communication and planning – leading construction firms have been able to adapt to new guidelines, and develop new protocols for a safe return to work.

Recently, Mike Weber and Greg Skalaski, Executive Vice President for Shawmut Design and Construction’s western division spoke with Kim Slowey at ConstructionDive.com – sharing industry insight and best practices.

Click here for the full article at ConstructionDive.com

“Continuous Improvement” is one of our four core values at Gaston Electrical. More than just words, we try to put them into practice daily. This particular core value takes special attention and effort however – as it requires all of us to think outside the box, question the way we (as a company and industry) have always done things, then develop innovative solutions to meet our goals.

Creative problem solving won’t be found as a daily responsibility in most electrical job postings, but in today’s competitive construction market, it is essential. Our electricians, project managers, and prefabrication team members are continually solving problems and developing innovative solutions.

They are highly-skilled at identifying opportunities for greater efficiency and increased safety, then putting plans into practice – all the while coordinating, adapting, and communicating across multiple departments (and with our clients) to ensure success.

Once such example is the successful collaboration between Project Manager Adam Stanieich , General Foreman Jim Ferris, Project Superintendent Mike Martinelli, and the Prefabrication Department Manager DJ Murray at our One Chestnut Place residential tower project in Quincy, MA.

For this 140-room, 18 story apartment tower project, the team worked together to identify prefabrication opportunities at the outset – resulting in the creation of prefabricated load centers which could be assembled in our 15,000 SF shop and delivered to the jobsite, and wheeled into place per our schedule.

Please click here to view the video of this successful load center installation process and learn more about our prefabrication services.

Gaston’s Corporate Safety Director Rick Coakley recently contributed to a feature on the importance or Safety Leadership Training in EHS Today. Click here to read the full article.

Recently, ENR New England named Harvard’s Pagliuca Life Lab to its list of 2017 Best Projects in the Higher Education category. The Gaston Electrical Team worked closely with General Contractor Shawmut Design and Construction and other project team members (including Shepley Bulfinch, Reed Hilderbrand, R.G. Vanderwell Engineers, NRB Modular, and Triumph Modular) on this innovative project. Access the full article here.

Learn more about the project here.

On June 21, 2017, Gaston Electrical attended a groundbreaking ceremony for Wentworth Institute of Technology’s new academic building for engineering, innovation, and the sciences. The event was co-hosted by Wentworth and general contractor Gilbane. Once completed, the 75,000 SF facility will represent the first academic construction for the campus in 45 years.

To learn more about the project, click here.

Gaston Electrical

On June 7th, the Gaston “Lights Out” Team participated in the 2017 Commodore Builders Dodgeball Tournament. This was the 10th annual event and once again, it proved to be one of the best AEC industry events in Boston! The competition was fierce, but through hard play, teamwork, and maybe a “little” luck, Gaston pulled out a win in the final. Special thanks to Joe Albanese and the entire Commodore Builders team for a fantastic evening. We look forward to competing again in 2018 – until then, we’ll be basking in the glow of dodgeball victory!!

On June 1st, Gaston Electrical hosted the 2017 Summer Open House for all office & field teams. The event celebrated recent successes, offered a chance for everyone to connect, gave Principals Bill and Mike time to share news about exciting upcoming projects. Highlights included awesome BBQ, refreshments from Castle Island Brewery, and amazing door prizes from some of our friends at Granite City Electric, Northeast Electrical, Newman Associates, NES Rentals, NEFCO, and Standard Electric. Thanks to everyone who attended – we look forward to seeing you in 2018.