Equipment Operator Heavy

Garrett Cedotal

Superviser/Leadman/Crane Operator/ Heavy Equipment Operator/Maintenance

Mechanic

*********@*****.***

Great work ethic. Try to get along in a professional manner. Love challenges. Exudes confidence and leads by example. Born January 29 1988 worked every summer from age 9 with my Grandfather who owned a heavy equipment business. Started there. Clean driving record with a valid Louisiana driver's license. Currently holding a NCCCO certification with lattice boom crawler,large hydraulic, and small hydraulic endorsements. Reside currently in White Castle LA.

Experience

Crane Operator/ Heavy Equipment Operator

Shore Construction

Welder helper

James construction

May 2006 - September 2006

Right out of high-school I started as a welder helper with James making $16 / hr. At Valero in Norco La.

Heavy Equipment Operator

James Construction

September 2006 - August 2007

My Supervisor moved to Shintec in Plaquemine LA and was over the lay down yard there. He started letting me run different pieces of equipment one by one when I told him I had experience with machines, and eventually came one day and ask if I wanted to be an equipment operator and make $20 an hour, and at 18yrs old I was abbliged to. During my time with James they ended up funding me going to night school at ABC for Crane Operation on Highland in Baton Rouge LA. It was supposed to be a 2yr. School but I tested out in 6 months, I went to my Supervisor with my new certification eager to get started running cranes and making more money. I was hit with resistance because I had no "real" experience. So I started putting my application out and got calls almost instantly. Shaw asked me to do a interview, I went in and passed the written and practical test and was supposed to start the next day in Port Allen LA on a job that was supposedly going to last 2-3 months on a 15ton Gallion. On the way home from that interview Jacobs Engineering called me with a job offer at Dow in Plaqumine on maintenance for 25 an hour and it was a permanent position. I called Shaw back and told them I was heading to Dow. Crane Operator

Jacobs Engineering

August 2007 - June 2007

Started my first real Crane Operator job at Dow in Plaquemine LA. Once I went through the extensive security and orientation rituals my Supervisor picked me up and asked me if I had experience, and I LIED and told him that I had about 5 yrs. experience and my Grandfather had a business that had cranes. I was 19 and eager, please don't hold that against me. He continued to ask what I had run and took me all around Dow and put me in every crane type they had up to a 65 ton Grove with the heavy hexagon boom. The dispatcher called me out the next day, OLD SCHOOL GUY!, and sent me to the LHC3 unit to run that 65 ton with a scaffolding company that was there. Get to the crane, it has jib folded out, inspect it, and do paperwork. Scaffold guys tell me to follow them, no round stear, push button rear stear. Pull in, boom down, had to manipulate right near the permit office, scared to death working with guys that know nothing about cranes. Set up with buzzers going off, nervous but determined. Finally get the skid pan up probably 100ft taking down Scaffold off of a vessel. They tie the skid pan up with a rope and start loading it up, after a little while of watching the weight come up the machine was getting close to rated capacity of 85% and alarms were letting me know it. I sound the horn to let them know it's time to come down and unload it and they look at me crazy n say "we put way more than this all the time" and I came right back and said " this is my first day on the job and I'm just trying to follow the rules" and he reluctantly submitted and cut me loose and my crane journey started there. Dow was trying to go to NCCCO only so Jacobs sent us to a 3 day class. I was youngest and the only Operator who passed everything written and practical. The large during testing was the new at the time grove with electric over hydraulic,two second delay, and joy sticks instead of rabbit ears. I was young and not set in my ways and easily adapted to the concept at hand. Was congratulated in the safety meeting as the only one who passed and gained about 10 haters and rumors started that I must have cheated lol. While i was there i had done dozens of critical lifts. Worked with the rigging crew, and gained a lot of experience in a short time.Dispatch started getting requests for me specifically to do personel basket lifts because the guys liked the way I operated and felt safe with me and earned more jealousy. I was parked on the side the road in a crane waiting for a job and it was raining and i took a nap. The wrong person with our company passed by and called someone and told them I was sleeping and that was the end of Dow. For now. Went put applications and got a call from Performance Contractors within a week to go to Marathon GME PROJECT. Crane Operator

Performance Contractors

June 2008 - September 2008

Started with Performance at Marothon making $28 an hour. NCCCO, and NCCER certified large and small hydraulic cranes. I was mostly running a 15 ton because they put the older seasoned guys in the swing cabs but I wasn't complaining because I was making good money for a 20yr. Old. Got my check one day and it said without forwarning, I was making $25.50. When I went talk to the supervisor. I asked why I wasn't making $28 anymore, I thought it was a accident on there part but it apparently wasn't. He told me that they made a rule that unless you have a card from another company showing you've ran a 70ton crane or above that you get $25.50. I had a card from Jacobs showing I ran a 65ton, it was there biggest crane at the time. So again I was getting hated on by guys that were older, and this was an reoccurring theme in my early crane career. Hurricane Gustav hit in September 2008 it was about two weeks after the pay incident. I had a pretty bad taste in my mouth about the pay so I started making calls. The first day back after the hurricane I get a call from Volks Construction and they said they need a NCCCO Crane Operator that had Dirt equipment experience to go down to Cocodrie LA and help pump out some towns that were flooded there. Pay was $30 an hour and $100 a day per diem and room was payed for. That was the last time I worked for Performance Contractors. Crane Operator/ Dirt Equipment Operator

Volks Construction

September 2008 - November 2008

Started storm relief work with Volks after Gustav making what I thought at 20yrs. Old was great money at $30/hour and $100 a day per diem. Was my first per diem job. I was unloading huge water pumps off of trucks at a high school with a 35 ton Terex crane and at the flood sites running a 400 Volvo excavator, moving pumps around and digging trenches if need be. I was the only Crane Operator but they had a half a dozen or so Dirt Equipment Operators. I ended up being the last Operator there despite not really knowing anyone and being the youngest. I stayed there maybe 8 weeks and the job was complete. So I put out applications and Turner industries gave me a call to go to Marathon GME PROJECT.

Crane Operator

Turner Industries

November 2008 - July 2009

Started with Turner at Marothon making $28 an hour and running up to a 130ton Grove rt crane. The majority of the time I was running a 50ton Tadano building pipe racks and putting pipe in those pipe racks thereafter. Had a good experience with Turner, learned a lot and got respect from leadership there. Job ended and took a layoff.

Crane Operator

Repcon Construction

July 09 - Sept 09

Did a couple month turnaround at Dow with Repcon and was running a 15ton Gallion. Pay was

$32 an hour. Took a layoff.

Crane Operator

James Construction

September 09 - January 10

Worked at Air Products in Baton Rouge with James for a little while. It was a new construction job running a 75ton grove rt crane and pay was ok at $28 but drive was far and traffic was bad. I got an offer 5 minutes from my house actually paying less but it was going to be an opportunity to run my first friction style crane and I wanted to learn. Crane Operator

Southland Energy Services

January 10 - July 10

Started with Southland in Belle River LA working on my first scrap style job it was the demolition of the Mississippi Queen Riverboat. Pay was $27 an hour, when I first got there they had a 70ton Mantis extended boom crawler crane and was looking for a larger friction crane. They decided on a Mantiwoc 3900w and that was my introduction to lattice boom and friction cranes. It was friends of family who were over the job and were willing to give me some time to learn and get comfortable with the crane. Job was coming to an end and there was talk of taking the crane off of rent. Around that time I got a call from L-con to go to Selma Alabama for good money. I had never traveled for work and wanted a change in scenery so I decided to take it. Crane Operator

Lexicon Construction

July 10 - September 10

Started with Lexicon in Selma AL at a Chicken fat plant, they were building a biodiesel facility and were well into the project when I started. I was running a 55ton Terex rt crane. Pay was $28 an hour and $70 a day per diem. Job was coming to an end and they were itching to layoff people, gave me an ultimatum to either get out the crane and do labor work like sweep and pick up trash or take a layoff so I chose the latter.

Crane Operator/Heavy Equipment Operator

Duphil Pipeline Contractors

September 10 - December 10

When I got back from Alabama I started inquiring to friends about potential jobs and someone recommended me to Duphil. They were doing a Williams Pipeline job repairing valve stations in St. James area as well as Bayou Black area Louisiana. They needed a crane to pick up the heavy valve assemblies, there choice was a 50ton tadano Mantis for the rough terrain. I stayed to the end of that job and they moved me to Beaumont TX. To run a 15ton Gallion tying together straight run pipe on jackstands for a Pipeline to be made locally. Pay at Duphil was $28 an hour and $80 a day per diem. Job came to an end and came home. Crane Operator

Allison Marine

December 10 - February 11

Whe I got back from Texas I started looking for opportunities to run bigger cranes and started putting out applications to places that wouldn't require a NCCCO in lattice boom cranes and stumbled across Allison Marine in Amelia LA. There I got an opportunity to run my first newer style hydraulic lattice boom crawler cranes. They had a few Mantiwoc 888 cranes and two 275ton Terex crawlers. Did setups, heavy lifting and multiple crane heavy lifts. Learned a lot and was appreciative for the experience. Friend of family called and needed a Supervisor/Crane Operator for a scrap job in North Little Rock AR. Someone had died under the hook of someone's crane at Allison and the morale was down, plus I was looking to give supervising a try so I took the job. Supervisor/Crane Operator

IEI Services LLC

February 11 - April 11

Started the job in North Little Rock at $30 an hour, manned it up with a total of near a dozen people. We provided housing, and transportation to and from work. I did PO's for all Equipment and tools needed for the job, coordinated all progressive actions needed. The job was a scrap job pumping out old sunken barges in a boat slip off of the Arkansas River. We had rented a 80ton Linkbelt crawler,a dozer,excavator, and a magnet for loading processed steel into a hopper barge. I had some family issues back at home and had to get back home to deal with that. Someone came in to finish the job while I took care of my business. Job was just about done. When I got back local, IEI sent me to MARS in Gibson LA doing more scrap work. There MARS provided us with a Manitowoc 2250 300ton crawler. IEI was doing some unsafe practices that MARS was not satisfied with and before they kicked them out asked me to put in an application with Shore which was their main contractor. I think it was their intention all along. Crane Operator

Shore Construction

April 11 - November 12

Started with Shore at MARS running the Mantiwoc 2250 making $26.50 an hour but making an ungodly amount of hours, especially during the summer months. If we missed a day he threatened to fire us. During this busy period there my NCCCO expired because I couldn't take off of work. He didn't require his Operators to be certified and brought out a company to qualify us on his cranes. One was the 2250 and the other was a Mantiwoc 18000 660ton. To this day its the biggest crane I've ever ran. It wasn't my main crane there but I'd run it if the Operator didn't show up and in-between Operators getting hired and fired. I also would run all of his material handlers Magnets, grapples, front-end loaders,excavators, shears etc. Jacobs called me for a turnaround at Dow they were manning up for and offered to pay for me to get re-certified through NCCER and a permanent position after for more money closer to home. I took their offer. Leadman Rigging Team/Crane Operator

Jacobs Engineering

November 12 - May 13

Got re-certified through NCCER curtasy of Jacobs. Passed the tests without studying. Large and small hydraulic. They had a practical examiner at Dow who did the hands on. I still had a lot of support from my previous time there. Did the Glycol 2 turnaround and transitioned to maintenance thereafter. Immediately offered a Leadman position on the Rigging team due to my experience gained while I was away and took it. Focusing on critical lifts and precision placement lifts. At this time their biggest crane was a 100ton Tadano rt. I ran it plus all other cranes needed. Started at $29 an hour and went on a turnaround at LHC3 when a cooling tower section fell. Pay for that turnaround was $34 an hour. Did that job and after it was over Dow employees in LHC3 want me to stay in their block, even though it was a Turner industries maintained unit. So I stayed and my turnaround pay stayed as well lol. The crane Forman for Turner was under some scrutiny and I was a candidate for the position but I fell on hard times when I blew out my knee and needed surgery, a non work related injury. I was on short term disability for a while and going through physical therapy three times a week and Jacobs couldn't hold the position any longer and laid me off.

Crane Operator

Turner Industries

May 13 - January 14

Once I got a medical release I started doing searches for Crane jobs and found an opportunity with Turner at Westlake Chemical in Geismar LA. on maintenance for $30 an hour running all smaller hydraulic cranes and large hydraulic up to a 90ton Grove rt. I enjoyed my time there and was graced with plenty of hours. Also while there i took it upon myself to get my NCCCO back and this time i added Lattice boom crawler. An opportunity at CF in Donaldsonville LA. was calling my name it was closer to home and a good bit more money so I sought it out. I had new certifications that I wasn't using and wanted to expand my knowledge and pockets. I hired on with Excel and started at CF.

Crane Operator

Excel Group

January 14 - January 14

Hired on with Excel at $36 an hour and my experience there was short lived to say the least. The first day there I did orientation and also got two of my Crane Operator buddies a job. Second day i came into work still dark, and an area right near the crane I was to be running was barricaded, some guys were having a meeting and I asked them if I could pass through because the only other way to my crane was via the road and it was dark. The barricade I entered was the steel that I was going to be lifting that day. No work was going on, no lifting. Well I broke a barricade rule and safety came later that day to my crane a Mantiwoc 10000. And made an example out of me. On the way home from being fired I passed a TNT Crane and Rigging truck, i remembered that a guy I worked with at Dow was a Supervisor there now. I called him right then and showed up at TNT the next day to do paperwork to go to Mosaic on maintenance. Lead Crane Operator

TNT Crane and Rigging

January 14 - August 16

I started at Mosaic as their Lead Crane Operator on maintenance we had a carry deck, a 15ton Manitex, and a 60ton Tadano rt. My pay was $29 an hour and worked plenty of hours. It was close to home and I developed a good working relationship with the team at Mosaic so all in all I was happy and stayed there for a while. While there I had an incident at home while drinking and got accused of a crime. During the time there I was in and out of court and the process seemed never-ending. Turner was contacting me to go to Marathon for a 3 month shutdown making $36 an hour and $80 a day per diem. They also said that they would try to keep me working with them after it was over so I decided to chase the money. Crane Operator

Turner Industries

August 16 - August 16

Started at Marothon for the most money i had ever made at $36 an hour and $80 a day per diem and all was well for about a week until my background check came back. I got to the gate and my card wouldn't work. Went to Marathon's i.d. center because I thought it was a defective badge and turns out it wasn't. I called my Supervisor and told him what was up and how I didn't know what I was going to do and how I left a job that I had been on for years to come there. He told me that he usually didn't do this, but because I was such a good Crane Operator and guys like me are hard to come by, he was going to make some calls. And he did. And he got me on with Turner Crane and Rigging New Orleans LA.

Crane Operator

Turner Crane and Rigging

August 16 - February 17

Started my first job with Turner Bros in St. Rose LA at a small Shell tar plant on a turnaround making the same as Marathon at $36 an hour and $80 a day per diem driving 90 miles one way back and forth. There they had a 8ton carry deck, a 20ton boom truck and a 30ton Tadano rt. I was the only Operator and bounced around quite a bit but for the money I was making I had no problem with it. I finished that job and was sent to the yard to do various jobs there, cleanup and such, working on equipment, even cutting grass and weedeeding. But they kept me on despite not being a Union Operator. Finally got sent to Shell in Norco LA for some work after a couple of weeks being stagnant. Was running a 100ton Tadano with the jib out assisting Turner SWS guys building a pipe rack for an addition being made to a pipe rack. I was there for maybe a week and a African-American older welder was rigging for me, just flying steel. I got out to talk to him and see if he was ok with everything I'd been doing and if he felt comfortable with me or wanted me to change anything or whatnot. He looked me dead in the eyes and said " Son, I've been doing this for 30yrs. And you're the best Crane Operator I've ever seen. You don't have to change a thing you're great, keep up the good work. " it was the best compliment I had ever gotten and felt good knowing all my hard work was paying off. I got pulled from there to go back to St Rose because the guys there were requesting me back. Did that job. Went back to Norco afterwards and subsequently got a lay off when another Crane Company received the work I was doing. Started the search again.

Crane Operator

Chicago Bridge and Iron Co.

February 17 - June 17

After my layoff with Turner Crane and Rigging I used one of my Crane Operator buddies contacts to get on at Shintec In Plaquemine LA. with CB&I, On a new construction job they had going on there. After all the testing I hired in there for $33.50 an hour and $70 a day per diem working 13 on 1 off. Close to home running brand new crawler Cranes mostly. Started off as a floater and got an opportunity to run my first Luffing Jib style Crane. Up to a 250ton Kobelco with 160ft of main and 140ft of Luffer its the tallest Crane I've ran to date. In December of 2016 I took a plea to an indecent behavior charge, 5yrs suspended 5yrs. Probation. In June 17 after 7 months of being on probation an incident happened at the woman I was staying with's home and because of my prior conviction I was the one they blamed. I got locked up June 29th 2017 for something I didn't do.

Inmate 717056

DOC

June 17 - June 22

After fiting the charge for two years from jail, the DNA evidence came back that I was innocent and the courts started back pedaling they offered me a misdemeanor charge so they wouldn't have to compensate me for my time spent. Credit for time served. And I violated myself because they were going to do it anyway. I wasn't adhering to probation policy by staying with the woman in the first place because I didn't register there. Finished my time out at Dixon Correctional Institute. My time while incarcerated was not idle time for me. I began my spiritual journey from day one and read hundreds of books. My preference was non fiction and self help style literature. I also participated in every self help class I could, and focused on making my health and fitness priority. Along with participating in every sport possible and kept a job as a barber, a new found talent, along with carpentry in our hobby shop. Expressing creativity through that outlet. I learned a lot about reading people and psychology. Gladly ended that journey and haven't looked back. My vision is forward.

Heavy Equipment Operator

Prime Staffing LLC

September 22 - November 22

After the time I served, I started doing anything to make money, from home renovations to washing cars. I saved enough to get my driver's license valid and buy a vehicle. A friend put my name in the hat at a place near home as an Equipment Operator and I got the job.. It was at a local Sugarmill Cora Texas working for American Biocarbons who deals with a bagasse process of palletizing and creating a product called biochar. My pay was $28 an hour. After 2 months of working with Prime,their staffing company, American Biocarbons hired me directly with the plant as a Lead Maintenance Mechanic.

Lead Maintenance Mechanic

American Biocarbon

November 22 - August 23

American Biocarbon hired me directly for $32 an hour to do all types of maintenance, from Tig and Mig welding, Heavy Equipment Mechanic, Milwright work, Fabrication, Fitting, Troubleshooting, Underground Piping, New Construction Projects, Inventory, to sweeping the floors. During my time here I took it upon myself to get back current with my Crane Certification and did a three day refresher class at AAA Crane and Rigging School in Addis LA. I passed all of my test on the first go round and I am actively seeking a job in that field. It's what I'm best at and what I love to do. I had carpal tunnel surgery on both hands successfully but the time I had to take off here made them find a replacement. And my crane career continues ones again. Crane Operator/ Heavy Equipment Operator

Shore Construction

August 23 - September 23

Once I got layed off at American Biocarbons, I went on the job search and tried a company I worked with in the past. They wanted me to hire on right away but the pay wasn't good at all especially running a 18000 Manitowoc and and 18000 with a max-er package. I took the job anyways to hold me off until I found somewhere else. I told them the same thing and they were OK with it. I stayed there 2 weeks. I got a call from Performance Contractors about a job way closer to my house and I took it.

Crane Operator

Performance Contractors

Sept. 23 - Current

I am currently working with Performance Contractors, sitting in a 160ton tadano. Also running the 275ton Kobelco when other operators miss time. I like it here and they treat me like family, but I'm interested in making some more money, and the job I'm on may not last but a couple more months.

Education

NCCCO Crane Operator, LBC/TLL/TSS

ABC, LIFT TECH, AAA CRANE AND RIGGING

2007 - 2023

I've held two NCCER Certifications and now three NCCCO Certifications. I've never failed any part of any of them.

Closing Statements

You may be wondering why I didn't go with the traditional style of resume, and this is why, I don't have a traditional past. I felt it was important to tell details of how I got started, the incidents that happened along the way, and my persistence through the whole process. I am a positive person, Stay with hope and vision for what I want my future will be, and I am determined to get there despite my shortcomings. I'd be more than happy to tell you about anything in my past that is of interest. I think I can be a positive contribution to any establishment that is like minded, and I'm searching for growth and stability in my life. I hope we can work together. Some of the dates and times at the particular employers may vary a little,for i didnt have a previous resume in my possession to pull the details from, but i did my best. If you've made it this far through my resume, Thank You, I know it's extensive lol.

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