Growing up in New Orleans, Louisiana, Andrew Montgomery's nickname was "Gator." When asked for context, Andrew smiled and explained the reason was "just because [he] was from the south." While we may never know the entire story behind his affiliation with the bayou snapper, we do know that Andrew eventually left the old bayou and moved to the the drier confines of Los Angeles. Andrew has called Los Angeles home for twenty (20) years now, almost all of that time while working as a union Carpenter (Local 209).
Andrew found his way onto the 6th Street Project as a journeyman carpenter through Veronica Diaz, SSW's Jobs Coordinator. Veronica had recently met Andrew and learned that he had previously worked for Skanska (lead partner of the SSW team) on the Expo 2 Project about 4 years ago. She was able to bring him in to meet with the SSW superintendents on the 6th Street Project and based on this meeting, he was hired to work on the 6th Street Project.
In his younger years, Andrew had trouble with the law, but he realized that life would be easier if he worked hard and strived to succeed. The desire to improve his future inspired him to enter the construction industry, and to "give back to the community" by mentoring kids and "helping them turn their life around." Andrew also takes great pride in running a non-profit basketball program for children.
Andrew is a very proud father of two successful boys. His eldest son went to college on a basketball scholarship and traveled the world playing for his college team and has followed the footsteps of his father in running a nonprofit organization to help youth in the community. His younger son just graduated from high school and is currently traveling with his friends. "Now," he said, "is time to enjoy quality time with [his] lovely wife after a lifetime dedicated to raising [their] sons."
His advice to people wanting to join the construction industry, Andrew stated that it is crucial to "make sure this is the career you want to pursue because it not for everyone, but if you stick to it, it has great benefits and personal growth experiences."
