When asked about what he did in a day, the first words out of Jose Meza’s mouth were that he didn’t do his job alone.
“Without my team I’m nobody,” Jose said.
Jose works as a structural tradesman at Joint Force Headquarters- Colorado and, alongside his team, provides a variety of services to the DMVA from changing lightbulbs and moving office equipment, to landscaping and plumbing.
A familiar face, Jose combines hard work with a smile and a hearty laugh, he never fails to raise the spirits of anyone who takes the time to stop and say hello.
Originally from Los Angeles, California, Jose has a background in a variety of industries from framing to crane handling. He moved to Colorado in 2013 to continue his work as a crane hand, and four years into the job he learned about an open General Laborer position at the DMVA. Jose saw it as an opportunity to give back to his nation and community, and he took the position.
Since starting, Jose’s dedication and hard work have seen him promoted from general laborer to structural tradesman II.
“In the Hispanic community we take massive pride in our work,” he said. “It’s how I provide for my family. I’ve always wanted to serve; it’s always been in my heart. I’m proud of this job because I get to serve those who are serving this country.”
One of the largest sources of pride for Jose was the construction of the Slovenian Kozolec at JFHQ commemorating the military partnership between the Colorado National Guard and the Republic of Slovenia.
“When we had finished the memorial, they did a ceremony with the Slovenian military. One of the men came and thanked me,” Jose said. “He had tears in his eyes, I don’t think I’ll ever forget that.”
Some of the other projects that Jose and his team have completed around the JFHQ campus include building out a yoga room, creating a lactation room, and increasing the interior space of The Adjutant General’s office. They are currently working to remodel the kitchen in the TAG Suite.
“We’ve gotten to see this campus develop over the last years as a result of our hard work,” he said.
Outside of work Jose has a wife and two children, a 12-year-old son and a 7-year-old daughter. Tacos on Saturday mornings are a weekend family tradition and afterwards they often stroll through flea markets or go on an afternoon hike.
The DMVA is so grateful for all the work that Jose and the rest of his team at JFHQ do every day. Their years of hard work have kept the grounds and facilities in Centennial pristine and in good condition.
These silent heroes keep the JFHQ campus running smoothly and provide all employees with a clean and well-maintained workplace. Thank you for your years of service. We at the DMVA look forward to working with you for years to come and watching your career grow with the DMVA.