A Lifetime Around Heavy Equipment

• 1977 - Tex-Hens, Inc in Nixon. Started operating forklifts at 16 years of age and was put incharge (like lead "man") of loading trucks. Later moved to maintenance crew.
• 1979 - Voss International, Gracom, etc. Started as a welder/fitter building cement plants but
• had many opportunities to deal with cranes and rigging; operated cranes occasionally.
• 1981 -Achieved journeyman status as ironworker/boilermaker fitter/welder, then was assigned to a crane for production work. Worked for various companies, mostly building cement plants
• 1986 - Clearwater Constructors Planned lifts, operated cranes and other heavy equipment, fit pipe, worked on starting up plant equipment at wastewater facilities.
• 1989 - Zachry (Zachry Construction, Zachry Holdings) Worked 26 years on multiple projects as a certified welder, journeyman fitter, crane/heavy equipment operator, rigger, as well as supervisor on 5 projects.

           2015 - National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (CCO)

• Various duties relating to program development, test integrity, public relations
• Served as lead auditor and trained staff auditors and instructors
• Program Manager for proctor workshop program

In 2001, Sam joined the Zachry Construction Corporation/Zachry Industrial Crane Department as a trainer and crane assembly specialist. His role rapidly expanded to cover all aspects of crane training and operator qualification:

• Prepared crane operators, riggers and signalpersons for the rigorous NCCCO exams
• Administered the NCCCO practical exams
• Trained all Field Evaluators to qualify operators, riggers and signalpersons at all sites
• Served as relief operator on all types of cranes
• Assembly/erection (especially tower cranes)
• Wrote corporate crane manual and operator's manual etc., as well as safe working procedures (JSA-s) for crane maintenance and erection processes
• 2004 - placed in charge of crane operator training, qualification,and certification.
• Audited projects and investigated incidents.
• Helped NCCER develop curriculum and evaluation for operators and riggers
• Represented Zachry on NCCCO Commission and 4 committees.