Amanda Smith
Yard Coordinator
As a young girl Amanda lived in Hawaii, where a large portion of her family is Native Hawaiian. After moving to Monroe, Washington she spent her high school years in Mansfield, a small town in eastern Washington. She worked for local trucking company before joining GLY, driving HM350 Haul Trucks around jobsites to load onto lowboy trailers, or she calls them, giant Tonka trucks! As part of GLY’s tool and equipment team, she enjoys supporting Jobs from the ground up and watching as the build happens. Amanda and her husband originally met in middle school and later reconnected. Now you’ll find them riding dirt bikes with their kids and spending time exploring the PNW in their Jeep.
Joaquin Aburto
General Foreman
Joaquin approaches each day on the jobsite with a people-first attitude, emphasizing the importance of a collaborative team culture in finding efficient solutions and creating a learning environment for everyone. One of his favorite aspects of construction is that he leaves each workday having learned something new from his teammates. When he’s not out in the field, you can find Joaquin adventuring in the PNW with his 5 kids.
Elie Egan
General Forewoman
Elie feels at home taking leadership on her jobsites, working with a team-first attitude, taking pride in the lasting relationships she builds with her colleagues, and ensuring everyone knows the great value of their contributions. Being a firm believer of “work smarter, not harder”—Elie addresses problems critically, always searching for ways to improved solutions and streamline processes through LEAN principles to reduce labor while simultaneously improving quality and minimizing errors. You can also find Elie feeling very much at home on skiis, her stand up paddleboard, and hiking and backpacking on the weekends.
Greg Burke
PE Operations Manager
Associate DBIA™
With 20 years of experience in the construction industry under his belt, Greg appreciates and understands the vital role of Project Engineer [PE]. Today, as PE Operations Manager, he leads the charge in setting Project Engineers up for success—focusing on development, growth, and establishing mentorships. Greg’s ability to recognize and appreciate diversity in personalities and skills among the group helps cultivate a learning environment that leaves plenty of room for exploration and innovation. Outside of work, Greg's go-to pastimes include mountain biking, fly fishing, and cooking for family and friends.
Annika Gaffney
Human Resources Director
With over 20 years of experience spanning construction, retail, and hospitality, Annika has mastered the art of building and maintaining a positive, inclusive work culture that fosters employee well-being and engagement. Holding a BS in Business Administration with an emphasis on Marketing, Management, and Entertainment from the University of Montana, Annika brings a blend of creative problem-solving and innovative strategies to her role at GLY. When not at work, she can be found enjoying the outdoors, attending concerts, or cheering at sporting events. Growing up playing softball and spending five years managing, assisting, and playing on the company coed softball team, Annika knows how to bring people together — both on and off the field. As the youngest of six, her experience with juggling multiple personalities is put to good use in HR! Annika is also a proud supporter of Sawhorse Revolution, the AGC Education Foundation, and JDRF Beat the Bridge.
Ben Hamm
Senior Project Manager
Assoc. DBIA™
Ben honed his exceptional leadership skills during his first calling as a high school English teacher, coach, and director of admissions. Patient, communicative, and adaptable to change, the AEC industry scored big when he decided to switch gears and earn another degree, this time in Civil Engineering. Progressing from Project Engineer to Senior Project Manager at GLY, he continues to leverage his diverse background—listening intently to clients and teammates prior to making critical decisions. Hailing from Western New York, where cows outnumber residents, Ben remains a loyal Buffalo sports fan—Go Sabres and Bills!
Dan Frye
Layout Superintendent
Dan is GLY’s go-to guy for anything and everything relating to site surveys and layout. As a consummate team player and expert on layout technology, Dan is responsible for not only planning and coordinating project needs with superintendents, but also for training and educating the GLY Layout Crew and helping The Yard with long range equipment planning. When he’s not out in the field, Dan is 100% family man, spending as much time with his wife and kids as he can.