Assomeone who has built a long and successful career in construction, Gary Hill knows a thing or two about the importance of planning ahead, whether it’s establishing a timeline for a project or ensuring that future industry professionals are properly trained.
As an Alfred State alum, he also knows first-hand how well his alma mater prepares students for the workforce, and how necessary it is for Pioneers to remain up to date on ever-evolving industry trends and technology. That’s why Gary, the president of Union Concrete and Construction Corp., decided to become a Major Gifts Campaign donor and do his part in helping Alfred State students build successful construction careers and futures of their own.
A native of West Seneca, Gary enrolled in Alfred State’s construction engineering technology program in 1975. One week before classes started, he married his wife, Deborah, and the two of them moved to Alfred and rented out a trailer on Kenyon Road.
Looking back on his time at Alfred State, he fondly recalls the connections he made with his classmates and professors.
“The professors were very engaged with the students,” he said. “And being in small classes, you got to really know your professors and your classmates.”
Knowing I was going into the family business and knowing what my future positions would be, I realized the education I received at Alfred State was more than enough of what I needed... Gary Hill
One particular friendship he made at Alfred State was with Jimmy Smith, who is now the president of Advance Testing Company. Together, Gary and Jimmy founded the Alfred State student chapter of the Associated General Contractors, an endeavor that was supported by Professor William “Doc” Bruce.
“We started the student chapter and Doc Bruce was really supportive of that, which led to a lot of different things that we did,” he said. “I remember we had quite a few job site visits, whether it was seeing the construction of parking garages in Elmira or some major highway construction projects going on at I-86. We were able to set up a lot of different trips to these job sites and Doc Bruce was always really supportive of it.”
Without question, Professor Emeritus William Bruce had a major impact on Gary, Jimmy, and many other construction engineering students, especially when it came to helping them make important connections with industry professionals, whether through site visits or internships.
“Before the term ‘networking’ even existed, Doc Bruce was a networker,” Gary said.
Upon graduating in 1977, Gary continued his education at Purdue University. After just one year, however, he decided to join the company that his father, George Hill, founded in 1950: Union Concrete and Construction Corp.
“Knowing I was going into the family business and knowing what my future positions would be, I realized the education I received at Alfred State was more than enough of what I needed,” he said.
After joining the company full time, Gary worked his way up from surveyor, to project superintendent, to project management. In 1983, he and his brother, Robert Hill, took over management of the entire company. Roughly 10 years later, their sister, Jodi, became a partner at the family firm.
Over the years, Union Concrete has completed a number of signature projects in western New York, including the Gateway Connections project, which involved a major reconfiguration of access to the Peace Bridge Plaza; repairing the exit 53 overpass along the I-90, which sees tens of thousands of vehicles a day and had been shut down due to severe damage by an over-height vehicle; and reconstruction of the Buffalo Niagara International Airport Runway, which involved major, critical asphalt paving work.
In addition to the variety in complexity and size of the projects he is involved with, another favorite part of Gary’s job is seeing older and younger professionals working together, particularly as Union Concrete currently transitions to new management.
“What’s really gratifying is seeing our older generation management team working with the younger generation and mentoring them, and also seeing people who are approaching retirement make opportunities to really develop that next generation behind them so that the company can survive,” he said.
Gary’s own daughter Carley is also doing her part to train the future workforce. The CEO and founder of CAHill TECH, Inc., Carley developed an app-based e-learning platform called “aQuiRe” that provides company-wide safety and training for the construction industry. Her platform makes decades of industry know-how available in the field anytime, anywhere. Carley is one of Gary and Deborah’s three daughters, along with Amanda and Valerie.
The importance of younger generations working together with older generations is something that was instilled in Gary while he was a student at Alfred State, thanks to professors such as Doc Bruce. Now, as a veteran industry professional with more than 40 years of experience under his belt, he is paying it forward to the next generation in several ways.
For example, Doc Bruce suggested to Gary that there should be a scholarship fund. So, he and longtime AGC leaders Frank Cooney and Richard Garman, used their involvement with the Associated General Contractors to establish a scholarship program for students in construction majors, which awards $40,000 in scholarship funds each year. To date, the program has given out well over $1 million in scholarships. Carrying forward the legacy, Carley continues to serve on the program’s committee as an active member of AGCNYS.
Also, as a way to pay tribute to Doc Bruce, who passed away in 2016, and to assist Alfred State students, both Gary and longtime friend Jimmy Smith are raising funds to upgrade the existing Construction Materials Laboratory on campus and rename it in honor of the late professor. Both of them are Major Gift donors, having contributed $50,000 each toward the $500,000 fundraising goal.
Upgrading the lab, Gary notes, is necessary to keep students up to date with the latest industry trends and technology advancements.
“It’s so important that we update the Materials Lab. It’s been decades since it’s been updated and things are changing so quickly in the construction industry. When it comes to the composition and testing of materials, being on the cutting edge is critical,” he said. “With technology, younger people adapt to it so easily. By having that next-gen knowledge, companies like ours can survive because someone is going to keep up with innovation.”
Through the scholarship program, the Doc Bruce Campaign, and helping with transitioning the next generation of management at Union Concrete, Gary is definitely doing his part to ensure that the future of the construction industry is solid. He is committed to helping ensure young professionals have the tools to develop strong careers that are built to last.
