November 10, 2026
From unexpected site conditions to revisions of utility plans, infrastructure projects require teams to adapt as work unfolds. Teams that have worked together for years know who to turn to, which questions to ask, and how decisions could affect project costs and schedules.
At Phillips, some employees have built careers spanning 20 to 30 years. Many of our leaders learned the work firsthand before taking on greater responsibility for teams. Their field experience helps our crews work through challenges and keep projects moving.
In a recent Jacksonville Business Journal article, Zach Garner, a project manager with Phillips Heavy Civil, shared how long-term employees create value for owners and developers. Here are three takeaways from the article:
A change on a jobsite can affect materials, crew schedules, and what work happens next. Experienced team members use lessons from similar challenges to find a practical way forward.
Garner recalls a Phillips project where changes to sanitary and storm utility plans required several structures to be redesigned after construction had begun. He and his team identified the affected work, notified the owner, and adjusted material orders to minimize the impact on the schedule.
“Every project has its own challenges, but the more experience you have, the more situations you have to draw from,” Garner said.
Teams that have worked together for years know how to turn a plan into progress. They understand each other’s roles and how to best communicate. That familiarity helps them put more efficient approaches into practice.
On a recent Phillips project, for example, the original plan called for excavated material to be hauled off-site and brought back later. The Phillips team identified a way to change the construction sequence and keep the material on site, a solution that saved hundreds of thousands of dollars.
“When you’ve worked together for a while, you understand how each other communicates and what’s expected,” Garner said. “Everyone is on the same page.”
Experience becomes more valuable when employees pass it along. Garner credits much of his professional development to Phillips leaders who took the time to teach him the business. As he took on more responsibility, they gave him room to make decisions and remained available when he needed guidance.
“I’ve had three great mentors at Phillips, and I owe almost the entirety of my knowledge to them,” Garner said. “The effort they put into me has encouraged me to pass that knowledge on to others.”
Today, Garner takes that same approach with newer employees, whether he’s walking a jobsite with them or explaining the reasoning behind a decision. Those conversations help newer team members develop their own judgment and prepare to take on greater responsibility. Over time, they can pass those lessons along to the people coming behind them.
That continuity keeps knowledge within the company and strengthens the teams project owners depend on.
“When you’re working with a company that has highly experienced employees, it shows you’re working with a resilient organization,” Garner said. “That consistency should give you confidence that you hired the right team.”
When utility plans change or the construction sequence needs another look, it helps to have a team that has worked through similar challenges in the past. Phillips employees bring decades of field experience to those decisions, along with working relationships that help turn a solution into action.
Planning your next infrastructure project? Talk with the Phillips team about the work ahead.