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Relentless Ally

At �ձ�����, we prioritize people and making a positive impact on the communities in which we live and work, embracing our responsibility to engage nearby residents and stakeholders on changes happening in their backyard. This is a responsibility Maxwell Kesselly doesn’t take lightly. 

Maxwell is a paving engineer on the $666 million Southern Gateway project in Dallas, Texas where he manages and assists a crew in constructing curbs, sidewalks, driveways and concrete riprap. Often, this type of work can indirectly or directly affect nearby homes or businesses.

“It’s important for our project team to inform residents and business owners about the construction changes happening in the area and make sure they understand what’s going on,” Maxwell explains. “Our public information team does a great job at communicating with them virtually, but sometimes we go talk with them in person as a good faith effort to show how much we care.”

For Maxwell, ensuring the community is informed and safe is key in building relationships and trust with residents in the area—two of the many core company values that attracted him to �ձ�����.

When Maxwell joined �ձ����� in 2019, he had already witnessed the Dallas Horseshoe project team’s success in engaging the community while working for another contractor. In addition, he heard many positive reviews about the project team’s Zero Harm culture and commitment to ensuring the project is safe for everyone on and off-site. Knowing that �ձ����� shared his values for community and safety, Maxwell knew �ձ����� was the place for him.

“When working on highways during live traffic, safety is critical,” Maxwell emphasizes. “You have to know the hazards, the entry/exit points and the areas where a vehicle might accidentally enter the work zone. In addition, you have to constantly be aware of the environment around you.”

Maxwell’s experience and passion for community engagement stem from his time in college at Alabama A&M University, a Historically Black College/University (HBCU). In college, he participated in student activities and organizations such as the National Society of Black Engineers and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated – both organizations having strong community service values. As a member and leader of these organizations, Maxwell volunteered with holiday food drives for local families, tutorial programs for elementary school students and other activities that anticipate the needs of the local community.

Today, Maxwell finds excitement in building new roads, being involved in major traffic switches and watching highway construction progress from start to finish.

“As a paving engineer, I make sure all the flatwork is precise and correct,” he says. “I take pride in getting the work right the first time.”

As Maxwell progresses throughout his career, he hopes to one day become a project engineer for highway construction, overseeing multiple disciplines. His passion for community exemplifies �ձ�����’s people-first culture, enabling us to build trust with our customers, deliver sustainable solutions and leave a positive, lasting legacy through the projects we are entrusted to build.