As we continue to drive our business forward, We are excited to announce the rebranding of our existing Union business to Skyway USA. This will help develop brand reputation, and operational infrastructure, providing a solid foundation for growth. Moreover, this move will allow us to combine resources, expertise, and market insights, unlocking new opportunities for innovation and competitiveness. Through this venture, we aim to drive value creation, foster synergistic collaborations, and establish a stronger foothold in the industry landscape.
John Grassa
President | Skyway
Please join me in congratulating our newly appointed leaders for the Skyway USA business.
Craig will serve as Vice President, Western Skyway USA, and lead union operations, with locations in Anacortes, WA, Benicia, CA, and Chino, CA. He brings approximately 20 years of Estimating, Sales, Operations, and Management experience to the organization. Craig started his career in Southern California in the commercial mechanical insulation market where he was involved in several high-profile projects such as the LAX Bradley International Terminal expansion, San Diego Federal Courthouse, UC Irvine Stem Cell Research Facility, and the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Adelanto Detention Facility. A few of many other projects during his tenure include Intel’s Ronler Acres Campus Expansion, Portland General Electric’s Port Westward Facility Addition, the BP Exploration Alaska Prudhoe Bay Field, Anchorage Municipal Light and Power Plant 2 Addition, the new Las Vegas Raiders Stadium, and the NRG Ivanpah Solar facility. He has experience working in California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Alaska, Nevada Utah, New Mexico, and Arizona.
Luis brings over 30 years of Estimating, Sales, Operations, and Management experience to the organization. He started his career in the Pacific Northwest in the industrial and marine painting market where he has worked his way up the ranks from an apprentice to leadership roles as coatings superintendent, project manager, and quality assurance manager.
Luis has had the privilege of working as a 3rd party coating inspector and business consultant for over 8 years during his career. This has allowed him to create great business relationships that have lasted a lifetime. He continues to grow in his overall knowledge of scaffolding, insulation, painting, fireproofing, asbestos, and lead abatement. His greatest asset is the desire to grow, learn from others, and share these experiences with his team.
David has over 30 years of experience in the soft-craft industry. He has estimated, planned, and managed many multi-craft industrial and civil projects throughout his career. He's worn many hats, from an iron worker in the Baton Rouge area and window cleaning on high-rise buildings in New York to painting and insulation in Louisiana in the ‘80s and ’90s.
Early in his career, David estimated and managed projects in insulation and coatings, as well as asbestos and lead abatement at multiple sites in the Gulf Coast. Some of these projects have won awards from the Associated Builders and Contractors at both the state and national levels. David has also helped develop and manage successful Unit Price contracts in painting and insulation. From developing client relationships, to initial estimating, scheduling, tracking, and reporting, David has developed the skills that will help him in his new role as Branch Manager in Benicia California.
Pete brings approximately 41 years of Refining, Utility, Estimating, Sales, Operations, and Management experience to the organization. He started his career in Southern California in the Refining Industry at Union Oil California as an operator and maintenance coordinator for 5 years. After missing time spent with his children, he decided to change careers and accepted a job with a company that provided scaffolding. During his tenure, he developed and expanded the refining clients, which included Union Oil (now P-66 LAP), Chevron El Segundo, Texaco, ARCO (now Marathon Carson), Southern California Edison, SDGE, Powerine Refining, Paramount Petroleum, Edington Oil (now Valero), Cal Energy(now Berkshire Hathaway Energy), and Disney’s’ initial construction of the California Adventure addition. In 1998 he was asked to assist in opening a branch in Las Vegas where he developed Nevada Power, and the re-builds of the MGM, and Aladdin Casinos. Upon his return to California, he was tasked with obtaining a market share with the growing new construction market for new Power Generation where he took existing relationships with TIC( now Kiewit), ARB(now Primoris), and worked at the NRG Expansion, Imperial Irrigation District Unit 3 repower, Abengoa Solar, Blythe Solar, and NRG Redondo Beach.
Shawn will serve as Coatings Manager, Western Skyway USA, and lead union operations, with locations in Anacortes, WA, Benicia, CA, and Chino, CA. He brings approximately 25 years of Estimating, Sales, Operations, and Management experience to the organization. Shawn started his career in Southern California in the industrial coatings market where he was involved in high-profile projects for clients such as Valero, P66, AES Power, Calpine Power, Sea World, Disney Land, Magic Mountain, DCOR Offshore, NRG Energy, CBI, Matrix Services, Various Water Treatment Projects- Bid through GC’s, Addition, maintenance services at P66 LAR, P66 Rodeo, PBF/ Shell Martinez, P66 Pipeline, Kinder Morgan, Chevron Pipeline, Shell Pipeline, Southern California Gas Company Nustar Energy, US Oil – Tacoma, Marathon Pipeline & Marathon Pipeline. He also personally oversees all high-profile oil & gas and industrial maintenance coating contracts in the region. He has experience working in California, Oregon, Washington, Texas, Illinois, and Hawaii.
Darin will serve as Vice President, Eastern Skyway USA, and lead union operations, with locations in Crown Point In., Philadelphia Pa., and Wichita Kansas. He brings over 38 years of Sales, Operations, Project Management, Integration, and Executive Management experience to the organization. Darin started his career in 1985, serving the Oil and Gas scaffold market in Southern Louisiana. A few years later, he transferred to Chicago IL where he led IT and asset management departments. In 1993 Darin relocated to Huntington, WV, where he began his executive management tenure leading the expansion of the Ohio Valley in the Oil and Gas, Power, Petrochem, and Commercial markets. Leading the business with over 140 million in revenue, Darin has accumulated a wide array of experience to assist in the growth and development of the re-branded Skyway USA union business.
Bob Blewett has over 41 years of construction experience, from working as a union laborer in high-rise concrete construction to leading the Philadelphia Branch and Northeast Region of Apache Industrial United into its new role as Skyway USA. He started his construction career the summer before his senior year of high school as a laborer for the concrete company where his father worked as an estimator. During his college years, he continued to work summers as a laborer. After graduating from West Chester University, he sold concrete coring equipment. He continued in concrete construction sales with VIMCO Inc. selling concrete accessories and formwork. In 1997 his enjoyment of the technical end of concrete forming led him into the scaffolding and shoring world working for Safway of Philadelphia and later Safway Inc. He developed his scaffolding and shoring knowledge and estimating skills over the next 9 years with Safway estimating and managing large scaffolding projects such as the Kimmel Center, and historic restoration projects such as the Merchants Exchange Building and the Philadelphia City Hall statue restoration. After Safway, Bob went back to work in concrete construction with Madison Concrete Corp., the largest concrete company in Philadelphia, but this time as a project manager managing the construction of the Comcast Center, a 1000 ft high rise in Philadelphia. Bob missed the scaffold and shoring business, so in 2008, Bob opened a new Philadelphia scaffold branch for Safespan Scaffold developing the business in the market until 2016.
Michael Berlin is an accomplished professional with a proven track record in leadership and operations management within the Industrial and Commercial industries. He has a background in plant management, safety leadership, and a passion for delivering exceptional customer service. Michael consistently demonstrates his ability to lead teams to accomplish their strategic objectives while nurturing the development and growth of the team. His strategic vision and boots-on-the-ground approach empower his team to exceed goals while maintaining the highest standards.