August 2024 Weigh-In

Celebrating the Completion of the McLaughlin Gymnasium

We’re excited to announce the completion of the new McLaughlin Gymnasium at Polk County Schools! This impressive 28,373-square-foot facility is a transformative addition to the campus, marking a major
milestone in McLaughlin’s expansion to accommodate both middle and high school students.


The gymnasium offers state-of-the-art amenities, including locker rooms, a weight room, a training room, and offices. Beyond serving as the hub for McLaughlin’s athletic programs, it also provides a versatile space for school and community events and functions as a hurricane shelter, ensuring the
safety and well-being of all.


We’re proud to have contributed to this project and look forward to seeing the positive impact it will have on the students and the community!

Williams Company Celebrates Topping Out of Kindred K-8 School

Last week, we proudly celebrated the topping out of the Kindred K-8 School in the School District of Osceola County! This remarkable 3-story, concrete tilt-wall K-8 prototype is designed to accommodate 1,415 students and achieve the prestigious designation of a High-Performance Building.

During construction, the PE storage building has been utilized as a small mock-up structure, ensuring precision and quality. The project also features a standalone gymnasium designed to meet the latest Florida EHPA standards, further highlighting our commitment to safety and innovation.

To show our gratitude to the hardworking subcontractors who made this milestone possible, we hosted a catered lunch from Big Daddy’s BBQ and an exciting raffle. A special thank you to CHA Fire Protection Services, Cronin Construction, Energy Air, Hire Quest, Kenpat, Modern Plumbing, Pacesetter, Sunbelt Rentals, Terry’s Electric, and VMG Construction for contributing fantastic raffle prizes!

We also extend our sincere thanks to the School District of Osceola County, SchenkelShultz Architecture, our trade partners, and vendors, who have devoted countless hours to ensuring safe and high-quality construction. Your hard work and commitment are the foundation of this project’s success.

Celebrating the Ribbon Cutting of McLaughlin Academy’s New Gymnasium

Williams Company was honored to be part of the grand opening ribbon-cutting for Polk County Public Schools’ McLaughlin Academy for Excellence! Our Senior Project Manager, Matt Akins, delivered a heartfelt speech on the pride we feel in contributing to this vibrant addition to the McLaughlin campus. The new 28,373-square-foot gymnasium will not only support all of McLaughlin’s athletic programs but also serve as a community meeting space and a hurricane shelter for Polk County. Designed with the future in mind, this addition includes locker rooms, a weight room, a training room, and offices, making it a fantastic resource as McLaughlin transitions to include high school students. We’re excited to see this facility empower both students and the community for years to come!

Breaking Ground on Osceola County’s First Habitat for Humanity Home

Williams Company is proud to build the very first Habitat for Humanity house in Osceola County, in partnership with the Habitat for Humanity Greater Orlando and Osceola County. Last Friday, we celebrated this incredible milestone with a special groundbreaking ceremony, where we heard inspiring words from Habitat’s CEO, Habitat Board Chair, our own President and Habitat Board Member Chris Rollins, and Vice President Matt Olberding. We also had the joy of meeting the wonderful family we’re building for. We’re looking forward to handing over the keys in just a month as part of Habitat’s Home for the Holidays program!

Pumpkin Decorating Contest Brings Creative Spark to ESOPalooza!

As part of our ongoing ESOPALOOZA celebration, we hosted our very first pumpkin decorating contest last week—and it was a smashing success! Everyone brought their creativity to the table, incorporating our ESOP logo into some truly unique and inspired pumpkin designs. The competition was fierce, but after a company-wide vote, we’re excited to announce our top 3 designs. Congratulations to our winners!

ESOPalooza Heats Up with 3rd Annual Chili Cook-Off!

October is ESOP Month, a time dedicated to highlighting the numerous benefits of employee stock ownership for individuals, companies, communities, and the economy at large. This month serves as a reminder of the ways ESOPs empower employees, enhance organizational performance, and contribute to economic growth on both a local and national scale. To mark this significant occasion, we launched “ESOPalooza,” our month-long celebration filled with fun and engaging activities.
This week, we hosted our 3rd Annual Chili Cook-off, and it was a huge success! We had an impressive turnout with 11 unique chili recipes entered into the competition, each bringing its own flavor and style. In the end, our reigning chili champion, Rick Dunn, secured the most votes once again, taking home the title for the third year in a row! A big congratulations to Rick and our top three finalists for bringing the heat!

Edmunds Center Renovation Enhances Accessibility and Athlete Experience

Named after the fourth president of the university, J. Ollie Edmunds, the Edmunds Center first opened in 1974 and houses the locker rooms for the volleyball, basketball, cheerleading, and cross-country teams. Over the summer, Williams Company renovated the interior of the arena to enhance the facility’s accessibility and enrich the student-athlete experience.

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Jason Kruse Promoted to Senior Project Manager

Please join us in congratulating Jason Kruse on his promotion to Senior Project Manager! With over 25 years of experience, including honorable service in the U.S. Marine Corps, Jason has showcased his expertise across various roles. His career includes working for large construction management firms and overseeing capital projects for an industrial manufacturing company in Indiana before moving to Florida. Since joining Williams Company, Jason has consistently proven himself by managing complex projects to completion, building strong relationships, and delivering successful results for new clients. Congratulations, Jason!

Matt Akins Promoted to Senior Project Manager

We are excited to announce Matthew Akins’s promotion to Senior Project Manager! Over his tenure, Matt has demonstrated exceptional dedication and skill, fully aligning with our core values and earning this well-deserved promotion. Matt’s experience before joining Williams included working in Dubai, managing a team of 30 professionals in modular construction, and Senior Leadership positions overseeing $300 million in projects. Since joining Williams Company, he has repeatedly shown his readiness for this role. Please join us in congratulating Matt on this achievement!

Elliot Jusino Promoted to Project Manager II

We are excited to announce the promotion of Elliott Jusino to Project Manager II!

Elliott has been an integral part of Williams Company since 2016, consistently demonstrating remarkable work ethic, leadership, and dedication. His role as Project Manager on the Williams Company main office project showcased his ability to deliver on complex projects while maintaining a strong commitment to company culture.

Beyond his project success, Elliott has also led company events and made lasting contributions, including being named Employee of the Year and organizing impactful community initiatives. As he steps into his new role, we look forward to the continued leadership and expertise that Elliott will bring to our team.

Please join us in congratulating him on this well-deserved promotion!