What does cattle ranching and utility construction have in common? Quite a bit if you’re talking to Rick Hamm, who reached two (2) important 25-year milestones in both his personal life and career this year.

 

To commemorate Rick’s silver anniversary as owner and operator of the R&R Arena - a working cattle ranch/event center, and as project superintendent for PUCC since April 24,1995, Rick agreed to share his early beginnings with PUCC’s Tracy Weaver. In the interview below, Rick talks about where he started in the business, the work he is most proud of at PUCC and what advice he has for the next generation of utility construction workers.

TW: What was your first job in construction?

RH: Superior Boring and Tunneling. I started working for them when I was about twenty (20) years old.

TW:  How long did you work there? RH: Five (5) Years;

TW: What events in your early life propelled you into the utility construction field?
RH: Construction paid really well.

TW: For those who know you well, horses and cattle are a life-long passion of yours. In fact, you have owned and operated the R&R Arena for 25 years, the same amount of years you have worked for PUCC. What type of work do you do at the R&R Arena?

RH: On the weekends I manage over 225 heads of cattle along with about 30 horses. I also host weekend activities at the R&R Arena such as barrel racing and cattle roping.

TW: How does your personal passions as a rancher and competitor at the R&R Arena align with the utility construction work you do at PUCC:
RH: When it all comes together at the end, the satisfaction is the same.

TW: What is it that drives or excites you to get up every day and go to work on a construction project for PUCC?
RH: To see what challenges lay ahead for the day.

TW: What is something that makes you feel competitive?
RH: Sitting on a good cow-horse.

TW: What skills did you gain here at PUCC? From whom did you learn them from?
RH: Gary Testa and Ernie Woodcock taught me static pipe bursting and pneumatic pipe bursting.

TW: What work are you most proud of at PUCC?

RH: There was as Pipe Burst and Open Cut Sewer Project in Waverly, VA we did back in the early days. Jason Fowler went in first and did the pipe bursting. We came in when he got done and took out a piece of 48-inch storm drain, then we built a DI Structure. We formed out the 8-inch gravity sewer to run through it. We laid 300 LF of pipe down beside the side road and then set up and bored 24-inch casing pipe under a four (4) lane highway and had to hit a manhole on the other side. The lazer went straight through the middle of it all, right into the manhole.

TW: You have one of the most experienced crews at PUCC. Otilio Medina achieved 18 years of service this past March and Larry Overbay has over 13 years’ experience. What people skills do you use on a day to day basis working with your crew?
RH: I try to keep an open mind and have a good sense of humor throughout the day.

TW: How have you helped grow and develop your team over the years?
RH: I try to get the older, more experienced crew members to help the younger, inexperienced crew members.

TW: What coaching or teaching methods have you used over the years to help others succeed in business?

RH: When we work, we work. When we cut up, we cut up.

TW: You are married to your wife Cambi and have four (4) children, Felicia, Kolton, Jessica and Samantha and three (3) grandsons, Connor, Calvin and Gus. What part of the job at PUCC do you come home and tell your family about?
RH: The humorous things my crew members do throughout the day.

TW: Looking back over the years, do you have a special moment in time that you will never forget?
RH: Jay Fowler’s retirement party.

TW: What future opportunities do you hope to gain at PUCC?

RH: Health and Wealth.

Postscript: Rick has worked for Portland Utilities Construction Co., LLC since 1995 and has over forty (40) years’ experience in the water and sewer industry. Rick currently installs pump stations and water and sewer pipe lines via pipe bursting and open cut for company satellite operations in East Tennessee, Southwest Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.