Get the Buzz ... 2025 Gas Job of the Year

Paving the Way for Gas Upgrades

Some jobs stand out because of their size. Others because of their complexity. Double Wisconsin jobs earned “2025 Gas Job of the Year” recognition because of how the work was planned, led, and executed—without a precedent to follow.

In Fall 2025, we had two day and night shift crews led by Superintendents, Steven Jupin, Daniel Dingledine Charlie Allen, and Brian Grayson, execute a set of .04 200 upgrades for a customer located in sister cities of Wisconsin.

This project involved a first-of-its-kind gas upgrade with more than 43,000 manhours completed and zero injuries. The scope was demanding, but what ultimately set the job apart was how consistently teams showed up with discipline, clarity, and respect for the work.

A Job Without a Template

On these jobs, every casing in the train was replaced—something that had not been done before. One site had an indoor crane, however there were significant challenges with height, and all components had to be moved through the door. At the other site, there was no indoor crane available, and all equipment had to be removed through the roof. Entire train assemblies were staged outside and elevated into position, requiring tight rigging, short lifts, and careful coordination in complex layouts.

At peak, more than 100 workers representing multiple contractors and vendors were on site. There was no established roadmap for this configuration. Teams had to build the plan as they went—methodically, deliberately, and without rushing decisions.

How the Work Got Done

What made this job successful wasn’t speed or force. Crews practiced additional caution when something was new, asked questions early, and adjusted daily to stay aligned. When uncertainty showed up, it was addressed openly rather than pushed aside. That mindset made the difference.

Leadership presence mattered. The Superintendents maintained calm, transparent communication, held firm on schedule expectations without cutting corners, and helped crews think through challenges instead of reacting to them. When issues arose, teams didn’t scramble—they reset, regrouped, and moved forward with clarity.

One Superintendent summed it up simply: “I knew I could bring issues straight to the crew. They stayed focused and level-headed.”

Safety as a Way of Working

Even with the high volume of manhours and personnel on site, safety was never treated as a checklist. It was integrated into how work was planned and performed every day, every task.

The most critical Life-Saving Rules on this job included working at heights, mechanical lifting, line of fire awareness, energy isolation, and driving safety during a long outage. Crews consistently challenged unsafe conditions, coordinated closely with customers and trade partners, and managed high-risk tasks with discipline.

As one observer noted, “You could see the difference between APM and other contractors immediately.”

The Toughest Challenges

Logistics tested the team daily. Coordinating laydown space for old and new casings, managing work across day and night shifts, and avoiding unnecessary re-handling required constant communication and foresight. Because teams spoke up early and often, they stayed ahead of schedule rather than reacting to it.

A True Team Effort

Experienced talent was brought in from other regions and integrated seamlessly with local crews. Foremen and craft professionals stepped up continuously, and knowledge was shared freely instead of being siloed.

Everyone knew their role. Everyone owned it.

What This Job Proved

These jobs demonstrated that APM’s safety culture scales—even on complex, first-time gas upgrades. Calm, transparent leadership builds confidence. First-time work does not have to result in first-time mistakes. Experience, when paired with humility, creates strong outcomes.

Why It Matters Going Forward

This project set the standard for future gas upgrades, built confidence for the next evolution of work, and raised expectations heading into the Spring outage season. The challenge now is to avoid complacency—to stay curious, cautious, and connected.

This wasn’t just a successful outage. It was a reminder of what happens when planning, leadership, and people align. That’s why these crews earned the “2025 Gas Job of the Year”. We extend a major congrats and THANK YOU to every person involved in this excellent success!

Crew List for both jobs:

  • Steven Jupin

  • Shawn Stack

  • Ricky Adams

  • Joey Hampton

  • Brett Prince

  • Benjamin Sheffield

  • Travis Hurd

  • Bobby Johnson

  • Steven Pleasant

  • Andrew Vansickle

  • Jonathan Williams

  • Danny Hall

  • Nathan Flowers

  • Shawn Carr

  • Noah Porter

  • Grady Smith

  • Lloyd Williams

  • Waylon Hall

  • Andrew Wilds

  • Charles Allen

  • Tyler Smith

  • Joshua Silas

  • Donavan Theno

  • William Davenport

  • Dane Schumacher

  • Christopher Hall

  • Mitchell Spencer

  • Jonathan Faires

  • William Whitaker

  • Joshua Hall

  • Brogan Smith

  • John Bourjeili

  • Robert Richardson

  • Reginald Tucker

  • Frederick Fisher

Communications Teamgas, job of the year, 2025, leadership, excellenceComment