About me
My Background
Hi, I’m Ward Hively. I was born and raised in Steuben County, NY. I am the father of three incredible children and engaged to the love of my life, Brittany Hughes. We expect to get married Fall of 2024.
Western NY was not without its challenges, much like Robert Kiyosaki with a “Rich Dad” and a “Poor Dad” I had a Pipeline Foreman Uncle and a Glass Making Father. With a graduating class of only 70 kids and one stop light in the middle of town, our only industry was Corning Inc. home of Gorilla glass and a bunch of other fragile ornamentals and the Marcellus shale. The Marcellus shale changed my life.
Uncle Bum
My uncle is a wild man, the kind of guy you see in Walmart with a Duck Dynasty Beard and Carolina Steel Toes covered in an animal skin coat he made over the years hunting on the hill. I remember growing up, my older cousins were my biggest role models. We would play twisted metal and tomb raider together during the summers which are some of my fondest memories as a kid.
Then, it all changed.
Shortly after my parents divorced when I was in middle school Mom moved to Mansfield, PA. It is a small town as well but unique in that it was nested in the midst of the Marcellus Shale. Driving to her house on the weekends, I remember seeing the red glowing sky at night. The hills were like volcanoes of fire, with flames 30+ feet tall as far as the eye could see. Stories circulated about neighbors lighting their kitchen faucets on fire as the community worried methane had leaked into the well water. I suppose some of these stories were hogwash while others were unfortunately true.
My uncle was given an offer to install the pipelines connecting the flare stacks, which were well pads and production facilities by the time he dealt with them, to each other… mountain top to mountain top. I suppose he started as a laborer but I don’t recall that lasting long before he brought home a blue Chevy 2500. The best looking truck I had ever seen.
A single wide trailer doubled in size, the double wide became a beautiful hunting cabin like home. 3 acres became many more with a pond and a cabin. I had never seen money before, I was shocked.
Mom and Dad weren’t struggling much, they had great jobs. Dad as an Engineering Technician and Mom as a Nurse of some sort of hierarchy I don’t understand. Uncle Bum just made pipeline money I guess.
“Uncle Bum, what is going on? How are you getting all of this stuff?” I said, beginning to know
“I became a foreman on the pipeline and made sure I paid all my debt before it got to big” he replied
“Well, who is your boss?” I asked
“The superintendent, he’s a great guy. Never sleeps much I figure.” He replied
“And his boss?” I insisted
“Oh, that’s Mr. Murphy. He’s a project manager for the Gas Company. You don’t want to mess with him or he will run you off.” He replied, with a smile and a lip full of Copenhagen Snuff. The “real man’s chew”.
“That’s what I want to do when I grow up.” I concluded.
My Turn
And that’s just what I did. I started as a laborer but I spent more time in my head thinking of numbers than growing calluses. I appreciated the boys working with me for keeping me focused, I could work alone just fine but pipeliners are a tough bunch and I’m more of a thinking man. The constant joking made me an easy target I suppose.
“I am going to be an inspector.” 21 year old me lamented, not expecting the reaction I got.
“Like hell, you’re to young and you don’t have any experience.” He told me
“I’ve been doing this on and off since 17.” I argued
“ Listen bud, if that’s what you want. Go get it, I’m not going to stop you. I just think you should have 10 years in before you try telling another man how to do his job.” He scolded
In one ear out the other, I wasn’t listening to that. I left that spread in October and received my Nace II Coating certification. I’ve had my fair share of hiccups along the way but I haven’t looked back since. One kid became three. I remember asking an inspector while I was a laborer what it took to be a true pipe liner… he said “You aren’t a true pipe liner until you’ve been married, divorced and all your money goes to child support. That’s how you know you’ve made it”
Divorce
He was right I guess. My career left me in a bind. I had traveled the better part of the North half of Appalachia before the Coronavirus stalled my efforts. My employers offered me to go to Florida and work, I agreed. I was scared, we all were. Owner, Operators were closing doors and you didn’t want to be left without a job on these uncertain terms.
We didn’t make it as a couple, it was too hard I suppose. The Lord has a funny way of making bad things right though. It wasn’t long before I was promoted to Project Manager. A huge mentor of mine, Dan Allen, promoted me. With a few tears in my eyes I thanked him for the opportunity. I don’t believe he knew it at the time, but he helped me accomplish my goal by 24. What an accomplishment. I was a Project Manager for the gas company by 24. What did those guys back home know anyway?
I learned the challenge wasn’t the pipe but the people. I love people but keeping a team of traveling inspectors lined out is a challenge. I came up with this wild idea one day… “what if I could automate their inspection reports… like write them for them. My inspectors would have perfect reports every time. Then, I will be able to show the client and they will keep giving us more work!”
So, it worked. I built the gas companies first fully automated project management system using Smartsheet. The funny part is, I became the client?
They offered me a job managing all the pipeline projects coast to coast, Ocala to Sebring in an area we call the Central Territory of Florida. This is for Teco Peoples Gas.
I found out, climbing the ladder to corporate wasn’t for me within my first week of office life. I belonged on mountains or fields, not a cubical. It was tough to transition to that lifestyle. To stay occupied and deal with the lost per diem, I founded Skyway. I wanted my own deal, something I could be proud of.
The best part of this story is, my business has been growing ever since. II brought on a dear friend of mine Daniel, he has supported the growth of Skyway ever since. So far, his biggest challenge has been associating the data with the real world. He is great with algorithms which is why we compliment each other. Our newest addition, Kieran, is still in training. Kieran is incredibly bright. I am excited to see what things he can accomplish.
That’s us. That’s Skyway and that’s my story. I would love to hear yours!
My role
I am the main visionary behind the brand and its mission to make a difference in the lives of those in our community. We serve Utilities, Energy, Construction and Government. I promote team work and collaboration and work to inspire my team to be the difference our clients are looking for.