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AZ to AR: Jessie Steele’s employee-owner journey
When you’re part of a family of brands, opportunity stretches beyond state lines. For employee-owners, we’re not only mutually invested in each other’s success but we have shared values, a shared culture and open doors when it’s time to start a new chapter.
Project Manager, Jessie Steele, learned this firsthand. Jessie built a powerhouse career at Rummel Construction, one of our family of brands in Arizona, but wanted to be closer to her family in Arkansas. Not wanting to leave the company where she built her career, she asked a simple question: Could she make the move but stay within the ESS family?
Leadership at Rummel and Emery Sapp & Sons (ESS) didn’t just say “yes” — they helped her make it happen. With support from her new team and willingness to adapt, she hit the ground running at ESS. Years of grit, growth and relentless determination have led Jessie to become a project manager for the largest traditional bid-build project in Arkansas state history.
Getting started in construction
Her career started with a simple water truck driving opportunity in Arizona. Not quite the right fit, a coworker pointed her toward Rummel Construction. Jessie started at Rummel as a grade checker, planning to stay temporarily. Then, it clicked.
“I fell in love with the industry,” said Jessie. “I even changed my degree mid-program because I knew this was where I wanted to be.”
With guidance from Rummel leaders like Jason Crow, she quickly took on new jobs and earned promotions. In less than two years, she was promoted to project engineer, a role she managed while finishing her degree and raising a family.
Building a new legacy
Moving within the ESS family, the role of project manager at ESS looked a little different than what she was used to.
“At Rummel, the project managers handle almost everything — budgets, subcontracts, change orders, etc. At ESS, there are teams of employee-owners who help with those pieces. It was a big shift to get used to,” said Jessie.
Despite the learning curve, she didn’t back down. With help from fellow employee-owners, she began tackling Highway 612 Springdale Bypass. This huge project presented opportunities in nearly every aspect of construction management, giving her the experience and confidence to thrive at ESS.
Jessie is thriving as a project manager and leader in a majority-male field. Her advice to anyone stepping into a new role or navigating a work transition?
“Don’t be set in your ways. Watch, listen and keep an open mind. Everyone has their own way of doing things; figure out how to adapt to your new team and make it work.”
For Jessie, it’s about more than running successful projects. It’s about building a career and spending time with family. Whether she’s managing massive highway projects or watching her granddaughter take her first steps, Jessie proved she can tackle any challenge.
Thanks to the family of brands, Jessie’s story is one of many where opportunity and support come together to build something incredible.
