After graduating from Clay County High School in Jacksonville, Florida, John Fennell looked to the trades for a chance at a reliable career. He completed welding school and took a job with a local ironworking company.
On several occasions, his employer worked as a subcontract partner on Haskell projects, and Fennell noticed how the general contractor’s crews approached safety and teamwork. The experience left an impression, and he began thinking about how he might one day join Haskell himself.
It turned out that the opportunity was as close as his next-door neighbor.
“You could see how Haskell’s was different from other companies I had worked with and really cared about its people,” Fennell said. “I remember I was up late one night thinking about how great it would be to work at Haskell. The next morning, my mom called me and said she had run into our neighbor, Touan Plant. I hadn’t talked to him since I was a little kid, and I had no idea he was the Director of Haskell Steel. She told him about me, and the next thing I knew, I had an interview.”
Soon after, Fennell joined Haskell’s steel fabrication operation as a welder. Eager to help wherever he was needed, he found himself moving between stations: welding, fitting, painting, loading trucks and gathering materials for crews. The work was demanding, and the hours were long, but in retrospect, he came to appreciate the experience gained from the variety of tasks and roles.
“He’s a good kid and a hard worker,” Shop Foreman Ronald Rauch said. “He peppered everybody with questions and clearly wanted to learn. He’s a dependable teammate. If there was something that needed doing, John was usually there, ready to help.”
While Fennell valued his time in the shop, he aspired to grow beyond welding and field work. Unsure if college was the next step or if roles beyond the shop were within reach, Fennell was approached by Greg Hall, a Senior Welder, who encouraged him to continue his education. About the same time, Fennell connected with Josh Edge, an Assistant Project Manager (APM), who shared his experience and offered practical advice about college programs. This guidance and encouragement convinced Fennell to enroll at Florida State College at Jacksonville, where he pursued a degree in construction management.
In the summer of 2024, Fennell was studying full-time while working full-time at Haskell Steel. The exhaustion was setting in, and Fennell set his sights on finding a role in the office as his next step. At Haskell Steel’s annual Christmas in July event, leaders from across the company attended. Eager for an opportunity and unsure of what to do next, Fennell reached out for guidance.
“All the leaders were there, and I saw Ryan Hollister, the VP of Construction Services,” Fennell said. “I walked up to him and said, ‘I’m in school, I want to work in the office here, and I’ll do whatever it takes. How should I do it?”
Hollister directed Fennell to the company’s internship program, and a week later, Fennell showed up to Haskell’s Jacksonville Headquarters in a suit and tie and asked to be considered for the 2025 Summer Intern Cohort. The program wasn’t designed for full-time employees, but his persistence impressed. The University Relations team arranged a role in the office, where he interned as a project coordinator.
“For a young 22-year-old, he’s very mature and responsible; above average for that age,” Plant said. “He’s got drive and works toward his goals. He puts himself in front of people and isn’t afraid to ask for guidance. I have no doubt he’s going to be successful in whatever he wants to do.”
From January to August, Fennell worked alongside project managers in the office, learning the administrative side of the role while applying his hands-on steel knowledge. His initiative carried through to the annual Intern Summit, where his team won the program’s Intern Big Pitch competition with the innovative idea of creating an internal platform that makes local volunteering and community outreach opportunities more accessible to Haskell team members.
In early August of 2025, he onboarded as a full-time Haskell Steel APM.
Fennell credits his drive to his upbringing. Growing up with limited resources and helping care for his mother, who suffers from Stiff Person Syndrome, a rare autoimmune neurological disorder that can cause muscle stiffness, spasms and other symptoms, taught him the value of resilience and industry. He hopes to grow into a leadership role at Haskell, using his experience to lead with empathy and intention.
“I come from a working-class family, and I know how hard it can be when you don’t have as much as others,” he said. “It’s made me appreciate all the times that someone has supported me or given a word of encouragement. Life isn’t easy for everyone, but I was fortunate and had people who believed in me. That’s why I work the way I do, and it’s why I hope to keep growing and advancing in my role here.
“The team I have and the connections I’ve made inspire me. I hope that I learn to contribute and lead in a way that gives me a chance to give the kind support I’ve been blessed with to others.”
At Haskell, careers grow through opportunity, mentorship and teamwork. Whether you’re starting in the trades, pursuing engineering or seeking leadership in project management, we provide the resources and support to help you succeed. Explore opportunities.
