Keith Bowles, of Manti, Was Promoted to Foreman at Barclay Mechanical

March 29, 2018 — Keith Bowles was recently promoted from the job position of Fitter/Laborer to Foreman at Barclay Mechanical and attributes his advancement to learning from others and getting reprimanded. 

Bowles has worked for Barclay Mechanical for three years, moving his way up the chain by “learning how to work hard,” said Bowles.  

As Foreman, Bowles leads a team of 6-12 skilled laborers such as certified welders, pipefitters, ironworkers, fabricators, etc. Bowles takes the overall project direction from the field superintendent and then divides that workload among his crew. Bowles is the employee who works alongside his crew and ensures they are doing their job correctly and safely. 

“Working as a Foreman for Barclay entails a lot!” said Bowles. “I’m trying harder every day to set a good example for the guys too: work safe, work hard, and work efficiently.”

When asked what the highlight of his career at Barclay Mechanical has been, Bowles recounts two occasions. One was working on a difficult project with Barclay Mechanical’s Field Superintendent, Russell Sanders, and the other was getting reprimanded from one of the Barclay Mechanical owners. 

Although the job he worked on with Sanders pushed the entire Barclay Mechanical team physically, mentally, and emotionally, it was one of Bowles’s favorite jobs he has worked on. He attributes his fondness of the job to the fact that he was able to work and learn from Sanders. Bowles said Sanders helped him learn about himself, how to work hard, and that he truly loves the work he does. 
 
The second instance was during his first job with Barclay as a Fire Watch. Most would say a job as a Fire Watch is anticlimactic. A Fire Watch sits by a Welder with a fire extinguisher in the event there is a fire. While working this job, Bowles found himself taking naps, or playing games on his phone. One day after work, grinders were being assigned to all Barclay Mechanical workers except Bowles. Bowles asked why he wasn’t given a grinder and one of the owners responded, “We don’t give grinders to lazy workers that sit on their butts all day.”

Although the raw, unfiltered opinion was difficult for Bowles to swallow at the time, he said shortly later that it hit him that because of how he was working it was affecting his ability to progress in the company. 

“I made a commitment to try and work as hard as I could from that day on,” Bowles said. “And it has blessed me tremendously.”

About Barclay Mechanical
Barclay Mechanical is a heavy industrial general contractor, offering heavy-duty welding and fabrication services. Established in 1980, Barclay has become a leading mechanical contractor – working all over the country in the energy, food processing, production, and agricultural sectors. We offer the highest level of quality craftsmanship at competitive prices within specified time-frames. We guarantee safety is our number one focus and pride ourselves in having a company culture that encourages hard work, honesty, fairness, and personal improvement.