Building a Career in Construction: The Journey of Jim Hayes, a Trade-Born Leader

When Jim Hayes talks about his start in the trades, it sounds less like a career decision and more like a fun family tradition. “My dad and four uncles were all millwrights,” he says. “I basically grew up on job sites.” As a kid, he’d ride along with his dad to airport projects, getting a front-row seat to the kind of work that requires both grit and technical skill. It made a lasting impression—and eventually led Jim to follow in their steel-toed footsteps.

In 2006, Jim officially started his career by joining the union as a millwright. The union offered more than just a pathway into the field—it provided in-house training, a livable wage from day one, and great healthcare benefits. “It’s hard to beat a program where you get paid to go to school and walk away with a real skill set and zero loans,” Jim says. Over the next 11 years, he traveled across the U.S. and beyond, working on industrial projects that took him everywhere from the Midwest to the Virgin Islands. His favorite? A job at the St. Thomas International Airport, where his crew rebuilt baggage claim devices, while enjoying the island sun in the middle of winter.

The travel was exciting at first, but the desire to stay closer to home eventually grew stronger. That’s when a Morcon leader he knew from a past project reached out about a baggage handling system job at MSP. “That same week, I found out my wife was pregnant with our first son,” Jim recalls. “It was a big week!” He took the leap and joined Morcon in 2018, starting as an Assistant Superintendent. Less than a year later, he was promoted to Superintendent.

“I love seeing the final product—what it was before, and what we were able to build,” he says. Years in the field has given Jim a deep understanding of jobsite dynamics, scheduling, and how to manage people and projects with both efficiency and respect.

In 2023, Jim moved into his current role as Project Manager. “It was time for a new challenge,” he says. “Now I get to work more with clients and help bring in work—not just build it.” His field experience gives him a strong edge: real-world insight into timelines, trade labor needs, and estimating. He builds manpower plans that are accurate from the start—resulting in fewer change orders, less risk, and smoother outcomes for everyone involved.

One constant throughout Jim’s journey has been the union. “If I was ever between jobs, I could just call the hall. They’d text me when new work was available,” he says. “There’s always opportunity, and the benefits are outstanding—great healthcare, a solid pension, and access to jobs across every trade.” Jim adds, “Whether you want to be a carpenter, laborer, electrician, or HVAC tech—there’s demand. Every trade is looking for more people.”

And as for Morcon? “I’ve been here eight years, and what’s kept me is the culture. It really feels like one big family. People help each other. On bid days, PMs stop in just to ask how they can help. That culture makes a difference.”

His advice for anyone considering a union trade career? “Just do it. You’ll earn while you learn, avoid student loans, and have real opportunities to grow. If you show up and work hard, you’ll go far.”