For Jalen Brooks, being hands-on has always come naturally. Born and raised in Springfield, Oregon, his interest in how things work started with Legos and bikes and eventually turned into working on trucks and mechanical projects.

Today, Jalen serves as a Telecommunications Foreman, leading a team of five technicians who support HVAC services for wireless sites, fiber hubs, and occasional data center environments across much of the state. His team plays a key role in maintaining critical infrastructure that keeps communication systems operational and the internet running reliably.

Outside of work, Jalen and his wife Courtney manage what they jokingly call their “funny farm,” operating a small garlic business while tackling home projects and spending time outdoors. The couple recently welcomed their four-month-old son, Kolter, and becoming a father has strengthened Jalen’s motivation to build a stable and meaningful life for his family.

Jalen’s path into the industry began right out of high school, installing metal roofing for a local company. He later moved into automotive work at Les Schwab and Lithia Motors, working as a line technician and eventually a service advisor.

From there, he joined Local 16’s Sheet Metal Service Apprenticeship, spending his early years working on controls and VRV installations with a smaller shop. When the opportunity came up at Hermanson to support wireless telecom sites, it felt like a perfect fit. Five years later, he now leads telecom service operations across Oregon.

He appreciates the pace and problem-solving that come with the role.

“I enjoy the diversity of challenges and the pace of the work. No two days are the same, and there’s a lot of problem-solving involved. When things get busy or difficult, everyone is in it together, and seeing the crew succeed and grow is one of the most rewarding parts of the job.”

At Hermanson, Jalen values integrity and accountability.

“Serving customers with integrity, honesty, and transparency builds trust, and that’s something I try to bring to every job. The culture sets high expectations, and I try to lead by example by supporting my crew and taking pride in the quality of work we deliver.”

“I also believe in treating everything you touch as if it belongs to family. You should leave it better than you found it and do it right the first time. Even though we support large companies, the work ultimately affects people.”

For Jalen, leadership is about preparing others.

“Leadership to me means building people up and making the team stronger so that everyone is ready for the next opportunity."

His advice to others in the industry reflects that mindset.

“Own your mistakes and take pride in your work. Failure is part of learning and often the fastest way to improve if you’re honest about it and willing to get better.”

Through accountability, steady leadership, and a focus on developing his team, Jalen continues to support critical infrastructure across Oregon.