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 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.

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.

Irby Construction Company is pleased to announce that Westley Spickard has been named President, effective July 1, 2025.

Westley is no stranger to Irby; he was part of our team from 2021 to 2023, when he served as Senior Operations Manager. Since then, he has continued to grow within the Quanta family, holding leadership roles at MG Dyess and most recently serving as Vice President of Electric Power Operations for Quanta’s South Region, during which time we worked together frequently.

With over 17 years of leadership experience in project management and operations, Westley returns to Irby with a better understanding of not only our industry but also our distinctive company culture and the opportunities for growth at Irby Construction Company. 

“One of the most important things I bring back to Irby is a true understanding of what a unique place this is to work,” he shared. “I intend to preserve and strengthen the culture that makes Irby such a great company to work for while empowering our people to manage our growth effectively.”

Under Westley’s leadership, Irby is well-positioned to build on its legacy with a renewed focus, driving operational strength, strategic growth, and emerging opportunities in the power infrastructure industry.

When catastrophic flooding struck the Texas Hill Country in the early morning of July 4, Legend Foundation Services saw its chance to return the generosity they have seen first hand.

In just days, the Legend team began mobilizing to help. Mechanic Dustin Vice answered the call Monday afternoon, July 7. Irby Construction Senior Vice President Brian Beck had a simple and urgent request: Could Dustin put together a crew to help flood victims in the Texas Hill Country?

“I jumped at the opportunity,” Vice recalls. That evening, he gathered his family and began loading supplies. By Tuesday night, a six-man crew from Legend was driving close to 600 miles from Geismar, Louisiana, to Comfort, Texas—their cook trailer and 20-foot enclosed trailer packed with everything needed to feed a community in crisis. There were eight 160-quart ice chests full of meat, vegetables, and fruit, along with paper goods and other supplies… CLICK HERE to read the rest of the story.