Irby Construction employees participated in the 2nd Annual Si Robertson Sporting Clay Shoot benefitting Homes of Hope for Children on March 31. Homes of Hope for Children has a mission to serve children in crisis throughout Mississippi by providing strong, Christian homes to every child that lives on campus while ensuring that each child is loved unconditionally and has their physical, spiritual and emotional needs met.

The tournament took place in Lumberton, MS, at Pine Belt Gun Club. Irby’s team consisted of Greg Berry, Jason Clayton, Brad Davis, Kevin Croft and Robert Croft. Irby was honored to participate in an event for such an endearing cause.

“We were happy to go out and shoot for such a good cause that is beneficial to the children in the state of Mississippi,” Irby Team Captain Jason Clayton said. “It was fun to meet Si and compete with each other too.”

On March 30, Irby Construction Company was presented the “Spirit of Richland” award by the Richland Economic Development Association (REDA) at their 2017 Annual Meeting at the Richland Community Center.

This acknowledgment is given to a business each year that demonstrates outstanding community support and economic development for the City of Richland.

Since moving to Richland in 2012, our company has sponsored organizations such as Richland Fire Department, Richland High School, and REAL Christian Foundation.

“Part of our DNA as a company is giving back to the communities we serve,” Executive Director of Business Development Andre Foster said.

Irby Construction employees were in attendance to accept the honors. Irby Senior Vice President Charles Gatewood expressed gratitude to the community on behalf of the company.

Irby Operations Assistant, Josh Boyd, has served as a REDA Board Member for the past three years and was also present.

“It feels good to be able to give back to the city that I grew up in, and I think it’s great that Irby Construction can be a part of that,” Boyd said.

Irby is grateful to be a part of the Richland community and especially grateful for the people that have welcomed the company so graciously.

Richland is located in Rankin County and is part of the Jackson Metropolitan Statistical Area (Jackson Metro). It is just South (less than five minutes) of Jackson, the capital city of Mississippi.

Irby Construction hosts a company cookout at our headquarters in Richland, MS, on the third Thursday of each month. From Mcbride’s famous chili, to deep fried catfish in the summer, employees enjoy congregating for no other reason than appreciation for one another and most importantly, Irby. The luncheon has a laid back, friendly environment where new employees are introduced and encouraged to say a few words about themselves. Any other important events happening that month, such as birthdays, are recognized as well.

The month of December called for a more special and personal “cookout.” Irby hosted a service luncheon in lieu of the monthly cookout, where turkey, dressing, green beans and more, were served by helping hands from the HR Department. Throughout the luncheon, Irby President Lee Jones congratulated 20 employees for their time with the company, ranging from five to 45 years.

January’s cookout was also a little out of the ordinary. An unexpected downpour caused the monthly event to be relocated from the outdoor pavilion to the training room. Trace Grill catered with mouthwatering cheeseburgers along with several sides and fixings that hit the spot. As it turns out, a good burger is just what it takes to cure the rainy day blues.

During the month of February, the team enjoyed a fresh batch catfish fried up by Mr. Bill Joy. For the past 15 years, Mr. Joy has been a faithful Irby employee as an equipment compliance worker.

At Irby, we cherish every third Thursday for the food, camaraderie, and recognition it brings.

Each year, Irby employees who reach milestones in their tenure with the company are recognized for their service. A long tenure is a cultural badge of honor at Irby. It’s not uncommon to have worked here a long while. In fact, the average tenure at our corporate office is estimated to be more than two decades. That being said 20 years or so, is next to nothing when compared to the milestone Mr. Pete Tomlinson, marked at our most recent service awards. Pete Tomlinson received his 45 year service award this year!

When asked about his lifetime with our company, this is what Pete had to say.

“The thing to me that makes Irby special is that I belong to something that goes beyond the way you do business. It’s about the values the Company has and the values of the people who work here. I feel proud to go somewhere and tell the people there that I work for Irby Construction Company, because I know it still means something to be a part of this company. When you look around this great country of ours and you see a line you worked on, you should take pride in the fact that you are one of a select few who does this kind of work. This shouldn’t be just a job, it should be your career and you should be proud you have chosen the best Company in the world to work for. Because you are now not just a line worker, but you are a member of one of the best families you will ever know. The Irby Construction Company family. That is the main reason why I’m proud to say I work for Irby and hopefully you will, too.”

Another very special award also stood out in this year’s batch of service awards. And that’s the first annual  “Employee Recognition Award.”  Irby President, Lee Jones, recently began this new tradition this year and selected Equipment Operator, Gary Wiggs as the first ever recipient.

Gary has been employed with Irby for nearly 40 years. He lives in Crystal Springs, MS, and has been married to his wife, Amye, for 35 years. Their daughter, Amanda, has two children. In his free time, Gary enjoys fishing, golfing, and spending time with his grandkids. Gary started working for Irby at the age of 19 in the parts department and has made many memories along the way. He says one of his favorite parts of his job is working with so many great people on a daily basis. The Annual Employee Recognition Award includes a one-day fishing trip in Venice, LA. Gary says he is “beyond excited” to go on the trip with other members of his family in mid-April.