Kind words travel far in our line of work. Long hours, unpredictable weather, and demanding circumstances are all part of the job. So when a customer takes the time to reach out and recognize our people, we take the time to celebrate them.

That’s exactly what happened at the Hobbs-Roadrunner Transmission project in New Mexico, where the Irby team pulled off an amazing feat: 30 miles of wire strung in a single month.

The work spoke for itself, and so did the feedback. A Construction Lead from our customer reached out to Irby leadership with this message:

“I would like to take some time to acknowledge the great leadership from your team that made this challenging project a success, starting with Brandon and Shannon for all their support in helping with communication from multiple teams. Very detailed and easy to work with. We definitely picked the correct contractor for this tough, challenging project. Shane was just like Chris described: on top of it, making sure the roadblocks were removed so all three contractors could continue to move down the right-of-way (ROW). Excellent to work with and is very talented. Saving Chris for last, he did not surprise me with his great communication skills and talent to motivate. The first day, we had all three contractors in the lay down… and he (Chris) delivered the strong message of one team, one goal, and one hard hat. I could immediately tell that the different subcontractors were all bought in. He (Chris) made safety and communication clear, and that working as one unit was the only way we had a chance to pull this off safely and meet our schedule. I was lucky to be a part of this, and pretty sure that everyone will remember this project for a while. It is not too often that three contractors work like this as one team on a crazy schedule. I appreciate the Irby support once again.”

Kudos to the entire Hobbs-Roadrunner crew! Your hard work clearly doesn’t go unnoticed, and we are grateful.

Brandon Grabart, Assistant Project Manager
Shannon Berry, Project Manager
Chris Swindoll, Director of Operations – TX Region
Shane Plantz, Superintendent

On April 30, 2026, Irby Construction brought about 60 members of its project management team together at our headquarters in Richland, MS, for an introduction and training on EcoSys, its new enterprise project controls platform. The gathering marked a significant milestone as we work to modernize our operations alongside scaled growth. 

EcoSys is a project controls and cost management platform designed specifically for capital-intensive industries such as energy, utilities, and construction. The software gives project teams a single, unified system to track budgets, manage change orders, forecast costs, and monitor project performance in real time. 

“The visibility, control, and efficiencies this system offers our team will be a game changer,” said Matt Wymer Director of Business Operations. “This tool is an opportunity to thrive with the resources we need, rather than survive on ad hoc processes we’ve outgrown.”

The investment in EcoSys reflects Irby’s commitment to effectively managed growth. As does the choice to bring the project management team under one roof for training, a significant logistical and financial commitment. By having everyone learn the platform together, Irby is building a shared foundation of skills and processes that will support consistent, scalable project delivery going forward.

Tools like EcoSys position Irby to take on larger, more complex projects with the financial controls and reporting rigor that both the business and its clients require. The Richland training was not just a software rollout; it was a statement of intent, launching Irby to the future.

On April 18, 2026, Irby Construction Company celebrated National Lineman Appreciation Day. This nationally recognized holiday is a time to honor the dedication, skill, and resilience it takes to be a lineman.

At Irby, we hold a deep respect for the men and women who work on the line. They travel long distances, leave home with little notice, and spend time away from their families to answer the call. That commitment keeps power flowing and our industry moving forward, and it doesn’t go unnoticed. As Brad Cameron, Irby Executive Vice President of Operations, put it:

“Our linemen are the backbone of this industry and a big part of what makes Irby proud of the work we do. The job isn’t easy. It means long hours, time on the road, and stepping up when communities need you most. We’re grateful for the men and women who do that work every day and for the teams across Irby who support them.”

To say thank you, Irby gave every employee $75 to spend in the new Irby Company E-Store toward their choice of polos, hats, pullovers, and more.

Irby also ran a dedicated LinkedIn spotlight series honoring some of our incredible linemen and encouraged our community to leave a kind note on our dedicated Thank a Lineman webpage. Head over to Irby’s LinkedIn page to catch the full series.

On April 16, 2026, Legend Foundation Services hosted a crawfish boil alongside Irby Construction Company at its Geismar, Louisiana, office. Legend and Irby employees gathered to enjoy a feast filled with all the traditional crawfish boil fixins’: this season’s best mudbugs, potatoes, corn, sausage, and plenty of spice.

“Our annual Legend Foundation Services Crawfish Boil is about more than crawfish. It’s about bringing together the employees, customers, and vendors who help build this company year after year,” said Jason Duncan, General Manager of Legend Foundation Services.

Approximately 75 attendees came out to enjoy great food, camaraderie, and a little friendly competition while crackin’ crawfish together. The festivities also included a competitive cornhole tournament, with suppliers and customers contributing raffle prizes such as coolers, fishing poles, gift cards, chairs, and hats.

Events like these reflect the strong relationships and teamwork that continue to drive Legend Foundation Services and Irby Construction forward.

On March 28, 2026, Irby hosted “Family Day” at its Richland, Mississippi, headquarters. The fun-filled day included activities for kids, food, and an opportunity for Team Irby to connect outside the workweek. 

Kids enjoyed a variety of activities, including a bounce house, an obstacle course, train rides, a petting zoo, and pony rides. The Easter Bunny even made a special appearance for “photo ops,” and an Easter egg hunt topped off the festivities. 

Cotton candy and sno cones may have been the move the most popular food items on hand, but a proper lunch, including hot dogs and hamburgers, was also provided. 

We also took this event as an opportunity to raise money and give back to our community. Irby “VIPs” took turns in a dunking booth. Ticket proceeds from this popular attraction event were donated to a local organization.

We are already looking forward to next year!

After years of relentless effort, strategic coordination, and unwavering teamwork, the final phase of the New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC) project in Maine has officially concluded. This marks a significant achievement in Avangrid and NECEC’s commitment to advancing and creating sustainable and reliable energy infrastructure.

The NECEC project began in 2020 and was marked with numerous obstacles — creating just the kind of scenario that provides Irby crews a chance to shine. As a whole, this project showed how Irby can successfully team up with companies from all kinds of industries and backgrounds. By bringing together different skill sets and experiences, we built a strong, unified crew focused on getting the job done right. That kind of success comes from having solid leadership in the right places — people who know how to guide a team and keep things moving. Every challenge was handled with precision, a strong commitment to safety, and a shared goal of building something great together.

Spanning 145 miles of rugged terrain from Lewiston, Maine, to the Canadian border, this ambitious transmission project is now complete and was energized in late November. The successful wrap-up of this final phase represents not only a technical triumph but also a testament to the dedication and resilience of the entire Irby and subcontractor project team.

A heartfelt thank you goes out to the onsite construction crews and project management teams whose tireless work made this milestone possible. Their professionalism and perseverance were instrumental in overcoming the challenges of this complex build. We would also like to thank our key subcontractors whose efforts made this project a success as well: AFP (JV of Aldridge & MJ Electric), Probst Electric, Maine Drilling & Blasting, and On-Target.

A farewell celebration showcased members of our joint venture (JV) team and NECEC representatives. It was a great way to commemorate the end of a transformative journey and the beginning of a cleaner energy future.