Lead Operator: Jordan
Jordan Bartlett is a field lead operator and septic installer for High Performance Earthworks. Jordan is an all-arounder employee, outdoorsman and landscape and nature photographer.
When did you start working at High Performance Earthworks?
Since May 2019. I’ve known Jesse and Angie for quite a few years. I was their neighbor. I worked with HPE for a short while before this, but then traveled for a full year in 2018. I came back to work here again after that. Before HPE, I worked at Eldora Ski Resort for eight seasons and as a Park Ranger in the summer months.
You were traveling? Can you tell me more about that?
My former partner and I traveled the world for seven months, visited five continents. I was involved in my art full time then.
Art?
Yeah, fine art—drawing and painting. I sell it. I do commissioned work. I don’t do social media that much, but I have sold work at ARISE Music Festival.
I didn’t realize you were involved in fine art. I only heard you were a photographer.
Yes, I also do landscape and nature photography.
What brings you personal joy in the line of work you are doing for the company?
I really enjoy being outside in the mountains. I enjoy tearing up someone’s yard, seeing the look on the customer’s face, and then seeing the customer’s face, again, when we put everything back and the landscape looks amazing. There’s a puzzle aspect of it. Each job has many variables. We work in the mountains, so the job can be very tricky. We go to the site and have to take into account the topography, bedrock, steep terrain, property lines, wells... we have to make a septic system fit into the unique parameters of the job site.
What do you like about working in this particular field of excavation and septic system installation?
My major in college was in sustainable development. Working for HPE is a new angle for that, just in a different field. We work to minimize our impact on the land to create an inclusive system that is not contaminating the water.
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned since being with High Performance Earthworks?
Before starting at High Performance, I worked for the Parks Service and ski industry; I never saw myself working with an excavator.
Is there anything you would like to add to your bio that you would like folks who require your services to know?
We have a really unique situation. We are a group of friends working together, instead of strangers. When working with friends, communication is better and the job is more fun. I work for a cool new company, but I was friends with Jesse before, and Jesse is my boss, and I take pride in doing a good job because he is my friend.