From project management and equipment logistics to communications, veterans across FlatironDragados continue to lead, solve problems and contribute to work that connects communities.
Veterans across FlatironDragados help move our work forward in many ways, from project delivery and equipment logistics to communications and corporate operations. Their military experience often shows up in the way they lead, solve problems, stay focused under pressure and support their teams.
In recognition of Hire a Veteran Day, we’re proud to share a few of their stories and celebrate the service, experience and dedication veterans bring to our organization.
Leading with accountability
John Kappers, project manager, served in the United States Marine Corps as an infantryman from 2000 to 2008. During his service, he completed one combat deployment in Iraq, an experience he said he will never forget and one that shaped him both personally and professionally.
“My time in the Marines taught me the importance of leadership, accountability, teamwork and staying focused under pressure,” Kappers said. “Those lessons continue to guide me every day in my role, where I enjoy working alongside a great team to solve challenges and deliver quality results.”
Kappers said he is grateful for the opportunity to have served his country and proud to continue applying the values and lessons learned through his service while contributing to the company’s success.
Solving problems under pressure
Sarah Hoak, communications manager, served 14.5 years in the U.S. Navy as a supply officer. Her service helped shape the way she approaches fast-moving situations, especially when there is not a clear playbook to follow.
“One of the most overlooked qualities veterans bring to the workplace is their ability to solve problems quickly under pressure while remaining calm and focused,” Hoak said.
For Hoak, that ability comes from learning how to make informed decisions with incomplete information, adapt quickly and prioritize what matters most. She said those skills translate directly to construction and the work that supports it, where priorities can shift quickly and teams need to move forward with confidence.
She also said veterans bring dedication, loyalty and ownership to their organizations. They support their teammates, stay committed when circumstances become difficult and focus on completing work to the highest standard while helping the entire team succeed.
Serving with attention to detail
Ray Mungro’s military experience helped shape the way he approaches service, accuracy and follow-through in his work today.
While serving at Fort Bragg, Mungro was the noncommissioned officer in charge of One Stop, the in- and out-processing center for soldiers on base who were not part of the 82nd Airborne Division. His team processed thousands of soldiers, each with a different story and record.
Mungro said that role taught him the importance of customer service, attention to detail and getting the job done, skills that continue to guide his work in document control.
“I began the practice then, that I still use today, of making sure everyone I may have the pleasure to assist has the best experience and leaves satisfied,” Mungro said.
He said veterans bring a calm, “will do” attitude to the workplace, especially when priorities shift or situations become chaotic.
“No matter how chaotic it may become, a veteran will prioritize, keep calm and get the job done,” Mungro said.
For veterans considering construction, Mungro said the industry offers many paths and encouraged veterans to learn both the field and desk sides of the work.
“Construction isn’t just building,” Mungro said. “It’s recording how you build and obtaining the appropriate approvals before you begin construction.”
Adapting and moving forward
Michael Ross, equipment manager, served in the United States Marine Corps from 1987 to 1992. His roles included aviation structural mechanic, KC-130 crew member and brig chaser, but he sums up his service simply: “All in all, I am a Marine.”
The mindset that has helped him most in his career is one rooted in perseverance.
“Just keep moving forward, adapt and overcome, get through it, make it happen,” Ross said.
After joining the Marine Corps just out of high school, Ross said he learned discipline, motivation and the value of hard work. Over the years, he has tried to motivate others, just as others continue to motivate him.
For veterans considering a career in construction, Ross sees a familiar mix of challenge and reward. He said construction can be easier than the Corps in some ways and just as hard in others, but both careers can be rewarding.
“It is a lot easier than being in the Corps and yet at times just as hard,” he said. “Both careers can be just as rewarding.”
Their stories reflect the many ways veterans continue to lead, contribute and make a difference across FlatironDragados.
Learn about career opportunities for veterans at FlatironDragados on our Careers Page.