Tag: careers

HPM’s Alana Abbott Promoted to Administrative Assistant

The next time you visit HPM’s headquarters office in Birmingham, you may notice a new face behind the front desk where office assistant Alana Abbott has greeted guests since she joined HPM in May 2020, but don’t worry! Alana’s dedication and team player attitude have earned her a promotion to Administrative Assistant and a new office down the hall.

“Alana’s promotion comes as no surprise,” says Jaclyn Decker, HPM Executive Assistant. “Since her first day at HPM, she has gone above and beyond for all of our employees and clients.”

Alana will now support the efforts of Program Development across HPM, as well as the Planning Services and Preconstruction Services groups.

“Alana has shown the ability to handle multiple priorities and assignments with great attention to detail,” says Greg Ellis, HPM Vice President of Program Development. “She has good interpersonal skills and works well in a fast paced and constantly changing environment.”

HPM’s David Jones Promoted to Senior Project Manager

HPM has assisted in the execution of an ongoing capital development program at the University of Alabama since 2004, working alongside the university on projects ranging from high-tech science facilities to world-class sports venues. It takes a special team to assist with such extremely demanding construction projects, and HPMers like David Jones are the reason we are so successful. For his dedication to the client and tenacity in the face of any challenge, David is being promoted to senior project manager.  

“During his time with HPM, David has acted in a very high capacity as a project manager who manages a wide variety of projects on campus,” said Trent Hall, HPM senior project manager. “David is always willing to accept new projects of varying complexity and scope and never shies away from a challenge.”

Over the past six months, David has grown in his responsibilities and, in addition to managing his project workload, provides leadership to several team members. David also serves as a valued member of the Senior Leadership Team for HPM’s UA team.

“David has never been afraid to roll up his sleeves and put in long hours to get the job done,” Hall said. “He spent many hours on site during the completion of the Tutwiler Triangle Lot and Capstone Parking Deck projects to ensure their successful completion. He has continually pushed projects across the finish line to ensure they are completed by deadlines set by the University of Alabama.”

Before coming to HPM in 2018, David worked as a construction manager for Gray Construction and a project coordinator and estimator for KBR. He has over 17 years of total construction experience and a degree in construction engineering technology from the University of Southern Mississippi.

“David always goes above and beyond to serve his clients at the University of Alabama,” said Brad Cook, HPM senior program manager. “David has a very strong work ethic and a relentless pursuit for improvement. He truly embodies our core values as a company, which is exemplified in the way he approaches his job every day. I am proud to call David a member of the HPM family.”


We intentionally guide with our values to create a culture that is inclusive, challenging, and supportive at HPM. We’ve been named one of the Best Medium-Sized Companies to Work For in America by Great Places to Work multiple years running. Interested in joining our team? Learn more by clicking the button below.

HPM’s Medora Gaddes Promoted to Project Manager

Team members who inspire those around them are vital to the success of any organization. Their positivity encourages others to step up and shine. Medora Gaddes is undeniably one of those people. She is not only passionate about leading our clients to success through project management but also serves as HPM’s Talent Development Coordinator, recruiting the next generation of HPM leaders. For her unwavering enthusiasm and leadership, Medora is being promoted from Assistant Project Manager to Project Manager.  

“Medora is being promoted due to her hard work and dedication to all things HPM,” said Brennan Bell, HPM Senior Program Manager. “She was put on the Calhoun Community College Sparkman Building project as an Assistant Project Manager (APM) with all of the responsibilities of a Project Manager. Over the course of the project, she has proven to be capable of managing the project with little oversight and has fully gained the trust and respect of the client. She has also been working on building relationships and seeking opportunities with North Alabama-based clients and architects, all while balancing being a new mom.”  

Medora first began showing her value at HPM as a Co-Op from 2014 to 2016, assisting with assignments including Walker County High School, Birmingham Intermodal, and even the high-visibility Auburn Pharmacy and Nursing buildings. After her graduation from Auburn with a degree in civil engineering (and a minor in dance), she joined HPM as a Project Engineer in 2017. She immediately began demonstrating leadership qualities, attending events in Huntsville to integrate herself into the local market, and becoming involved with the Chamber of Commerce and the Southern Automotive Women’s Forum. Her project highlights include Calhoun Community College, Abaco, FedEx, Aerojet Rocketdyne Headquarters and Advanced Manufacturing Facility, and the Sand Mountain Park and Amphitheater.  

In addition to her project management duties, Medora does a tremendous job leading our recruiting efforts for the company. She spends considerable time making sure that the needs for co-ops, interns, and full-time hires are being met. Medora has expanded our recruiting network and can be counted on to put forward qualified candidates who are great fits for HPM.

“Medora is an enthusiastic team player,” said Brooks Ballentine, HPM Director of the East Region. “Not only does she handle her project management duties, she is active in helping with business development, client entertainment, recruiting, and coordinating our Emerging Leaders Program. She goes above and beyond in everything she does.”


We intentionally guide with our values to create a culture that is inclusive, challenging, and supportive at HPM. We’ve been named one of the Best Medium-Sized Companies to Work For in America by Great Places to Work multiple years running. Interested in joining our team? Learn more by clicking the button below.

HPM’s Jesse Montgomery Promoted to Senior Preconstruction Manager

Jesse Montgomery didn’t wade into the water when he joined HPM as a Preconstruction Manager in July 2018. He dove headfirst into three complicated programs and hasn’t slowed down since. Jesse is dedicated to serving our clients in every sense of the word, and we are proud to announce his promotion to Senior Preconstruction Manager

“Jesse is very dedicated and has a strong work ethic,” said Del Buck, HPM Vice President of Preconstruction. “Many times I have to ask Jesse to not work too late or not work on the weekend.”

Jesse’s current projects and programs include the Taylor Hardin Secure Medical Facility at the University of Alabama, Round Rock Independent School District in Round Rock, Texas, Indeed, and FedEx Freight. He is a preconstruction team leader, and manages design, cost modeling, and project budgeting. Jesse has also served on the Ft. Smith ISD, FedEx Memphis, HEB Super Stores, Austin ISD, JPI Developers, and various University of Alabama projects. 

“Jesse is smart and knows construction,” Buck said. “I speak for the entire preconstruction team when I say that we are very blessed to have him on our team.” 


HPM’s preconstruction services set the table for a successful project and make the entire building process easier for the owner. We offer expertise in planning a construction project before the actual construction begins, including feasibility studies, cost analyses, estimating, master scheduling, and design team structure and selection. Visit our Preconstruction Services page to learn more.

HPM’s Brennan Bell Promoted to Senior Program Manager

Brennan Bell, Senior Program Manager

As a senior project manager, Brennan Bell continuously goes above and beyond to serve HPM and its clients. After joining Hoar Construction in the spring of 2011 as an assistant superintendent, Brennan came to HPM in 2012 to serve as an assistant field coordinator for storm damage repairs on the Wallace State Community College (WSCC) campus in Hanceville, Alabama. In June 2014, HPM was awarded the Pelham City Schools’ program management services contract, and Brennan was selected as the assistant project manager. He quickly proved himself to be a capable manager of the school system’s capital building program, managing both preconstruction and construction phases concurrently. He successfully managed the completion of the Vestavia City Schools program in the last year and is currently leading a team on the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center (BJCC) renovation. His dependability and drive to succeed make us proud to announce Brennan’s promotion to Senior Program Manager

“Brennan is an incredibly hard working, steady, and dependable manager,” said Brooks Ballentine, HPM Director of the East Region. “He puts the best interest of the client and the program at the forefront. He is always ready to jump in and offer his direct support to make programs successful, even if it means putting in a little more effort.”  

As Senior Program Manager, Brennan is responsible for managing and leading several programs that are supported out of HPM’s Birmingham office, including Calhoun Community College, the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss), the BJCC, and Buffalo Rock. Brennan has taken on additional leadership, including being a member of HPM’s 2020-2021 Leadership Council.  

“Brennan is a rock-solid performer, and he is reliable and driven to succeed in everything he does,” said HPM Senior Program Manager Taylor Thorn. “These accomplishments are all a testament to Brennan’s commitment and ability to serve his clients and HPM teams. He is going to be a great leader in our company for years to come.”

Why HPM is a Great Place to Work

HPM is more than just a project management company. It’s a place to develop your career, grow your knowledge and hone your skills. Founded in 1997 by leaders who are key influencers within our industry, our company is built on core values that run as deep as our history.

Our company is as diverse as our services. We have project managers, engineers, preconstruction experts, accountants, marketing and business development specialists, and more at our offices in Birmingham, Dallas/Fort Worth, Huntsville, Mobile, Tuscaloosa, Auburn, and Tampa. Collectively, we manage over $500 million in annual volume in our program management services.

HPM is home to a plethora of talented staff members. Our employees are relationship-driven, problem solvers, and strongly believe in our four core values: the golden rule, family-oriented, relentless pursuit of improvement and stewardship. Grounded by these values, we do the right things the right way and build trust with our clients.

We have a disciplined and determined work ethic. We are constantly improving our company, ourselves, and our community. We believe in stewardship and aspire to add value to each other, our clients, and our projects within our communities and beyond. When HPM employees aren’t at work, they are in their communities volunteering their time.

At HPM we’re not just managing a building project over and over again. Our employees become embedded in our client sites and become part of their team, too. HPM is all about building relationships and becoming experts in our fields. Many of our clients have been with us from the start because of our long-lasting, deep relationships. 

We’re proud to be recognized as one of the best program management firms and best places to work in the country. We hire employees from all walks of life with various talents and skills. Our unique co-op and internship program is a great way for college students to gain real life experience and become a part of the team at HPM. Many of our full-time employees were former co-op students or interns who have decided to continue their career with us. 

The future is very bright at HPM. Our company is growing throughout the southeast and we look forward to continuing to add new talent to the company. Our future is based on the same things that our history was built on – trustworthy relationships and the commitment to our client’s vision coming to life on time, under budget, and beyond expectations.

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