For four years, Larry served as a Navy coxswain, driving and navigating a variety of small watercraft, from 40-foot personnel transporters to rigid inflatable boats, that move troops ashore or between vessels.
Toward the end of his service, in 1997, Larry began searching for a job in the commercial construction industry, seeking “a place where I could start out on the ground level and work my way up.” His goal was to reach the role of a construction superintendent.
Larry found Hourigan Construction, and over a 20-year career here has risen in the company’s own ranks from a $7.50-an-hour laborer to a salaried project executive. He says there are four skills that readily transfer over from the military to the construction industry: attention to detail, teamwork, leadership and safety.
The rest, as they say in the military, has to be learned in OJT (on-the-job training). He stresses patience for service members looking to join a private sector construction job.
“While leadership qualities and teamwork easily transfer over, you have to have patience in learning the actual job, and you need to find a company like Hourigan that is willing to work with you to build your job skills,” Larry says. “You’re not going to come out here and be a superintendent immediately. But with a little bit of patience you will find it very rewarding and fulfilling.”
Larry is one of 11 veterans working at Hourigan, split between our two locations in Richmond and Hampton Roads. The vets’ roles range from project management to network engineering to IT director and even the company’s Chief Administrative Officer. Hourigan is certified as a Virginia Values Veterans (V3) company through the Virginia Department of Veterans Services, one of many to demonstrate a public commitment to hiring veterans.
Hourigan is one of a few dozen companies attending the V3 Hiring Event on October 16th in Richmond. The event, free to registered veterans, will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at The Country Club of Virginia’s James River Course prior to the practice rounds of the Dominion Energy Charity Classic Golf Tournament.
Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe is scheduled to kick-off the one-day hiring event and welcome veterans and corporate representatives attending. The goal is to give Virginia veterans and transitioning service members the opportunity to meet one-on-one with representatives of many of the Commonwealth’s top employers.
Virginia Values Veterans (V3) Hiring Event
October 16th
9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Free to registered veterans
Country Club of Virginia’s James River Course
709 South Gaskins Road
Pre-registration is required and free for veterans and service members.
Register here.