Leadership

Paul Jones serves as Chief Executive Officer of W.W. Gay Mechanical Contractor, a premier full-service commercial and industrial contractor based in the Southeast United States. Paul’s career with W.W. Gay began in his high school years as a summer employee, and in 2005, he joined the Orlando office full-time. By 2013, he was promoted to oversee operations, management, and development for the Central Florida market. His leadership capabilities led to another promotion in 2018 when he became President and Chief Operating Officer, prompting his relocation to the Jacksonville corporate headquarters. In January 2021, Paul assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer, where he continues to bring a dynamic and forward-thinking vision for the company’s future.

Paul is deeply committed to serving the Jacksonville community, holding several key positions. He is Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Local 803 Plumbers and Pipefitters Health and Welfare and Pension Fund, a Trustee for Local 234 Plumbers and Pipefitters, a member of the Board of Directors for the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce, and an Advisory Board Member for United Community Bank.

His accomplishments have been recognized by various prestigious awards, including the Jacksonville Business Journal’s 2020 “40 Under 40” Award and the University of Florida’s 2021 “40 Gators Under 40” honor. Paul is an active member of the Young Presidents’ Organization, Gator Bowl Sports, Jax Civic Council, Guardian Ambassador, and has previously served on the UF RISE Advisory Council.  

In addition to his leadership roles, Paul has dedicated significant time to various charitable and professional organizations. He served a three-year term on the Board of Directors for Junior Achievement of North Florida (2018–2022) and held numerous leadership positions during his seven-year tenure on the Board of Directors for the Central and Northern Florida Chapter of Make-A-Wish Foundation. In recognition of his expertise, he was appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis to the Florida Building Commission, where he chaired the Plumbing Technical Advisory Committee until September 2022.

Paul earned his Bachelor of Science in Building Construction from the University of Florida, where he was inducted into Sigma Lambda Chi, the International Construction Honor Society. He is a licensed Certified Mechanical Contractor, Certified Plumbing Contractor, and Certified General Contractor in Florida.

Paul is honored to lead W.W. Gay Mechanical Contractor, building on its solid foundation and continuing its legacy of excellence.

Tom Smith began his career with W. W. Gay Mechanical Contractor, Inc. in 1991. Much of those 30 years have been spent between the Jacksonville and Gainesville offices, heavily involved in all aspects of the business. During his 5-year apprenticeship, Tom worked in many divisions including A/C, Controls, Plumbing and Test & Balance. After his apprenticeship, he began in Project Management and was then relocated to the Gainesville office in 1997. He was promoted to Vice President in 2002 and Director of Operations in 2012, where he oversaw all aspects of the business. In 2020, Tom re-located back to the Jacksonville office to serve as Executive Vice President and head of Operations.

Tom served our country in the United States Army Aviation for 4 years. During his service in Europe, he also received his Associates Degree from the University of Maryland. Upon returning home, he began studies at Southern Illinois University for a business degree in Workforce Management. Tom is also a state-certified Mechanical, Plumbing and Underground Utility Contractor.

Travis Camp is the Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of W. W. Gay Mechanical Contractor, Inc. He joined the company as an Assistant Controller in 2007 serving alongside company leadership by assisting with financial reporting and managing back-office functions. After nine years of expanding his responsibilities and role within the company, he was promoted to Chief Financial Officer in 2016. In this capacity, he has been leading the effort to modernize the company’s ERP while using newly captured data and metrics to assist operations in driving the company forward.

Travis’ exposure to W. W. Gay Mechanical Contractor, came at a young age. His uncle, a pipefitter with 40+ years at the company, would share stories with him of working for the company with “the best employees in the business”. Travis came to Jacksonville in 1997, to attend the University of North Florida where he earned, with honors, a Bachelors of Business Administration in Accounting and later graduated with a Masters of Business Administration degree. In 2001, he began his career as an auditor with Arthur Andersen and continued in that role with Harbeson, Beckerleg, and Fletcher CPA’s in Jacksonville. In 2007, Travis became a Certified Public Accountant in the State of Florida. His 6 years in public accounting, including annual audits of several construction contractors, brought him invaluable exposure to the financial reporting structure and best practices inside the industry.

Chris Stalnaker is Vice President for the W. W. Gay Gainesville office and has been with the company since 1998. Starting out as a pre-apprentice in Gainesville, he continued his education through the Jacksonville Plumbers Pipefitters JATT where he graduated in 2003 as a Foreman. Shortly after, he was promoted to Project Superintendent where he worked on and oversaw projects of many different sizes and types including healthcare, industrial, higher education buildings, sports complexes, and more. He held that position from 2003-2012 before being promoted to Field Operations Manager where he managed all labor produced out of the Gainesville office. After 8 years in that role, Chris was promoted in 2020 to Director of Operations where he oversees the operations, management, and development for the Gainesville office.

Chris’s focus is to add value to others and hopes to build the Gainesville operation into an even stronger foundation for generations to come.

Matt Furlong is Vice President, Preconstruction of W.W. Gay Mechanical Contractor. After joining the company in 2015 as an Assistant Project Manager, he quickly jumped to the position of Project Manager. There he gained experience in manufacturing, clean rooms, central energy plants, process piping, FDA life science facilities, and high-end office buildings. After 7 years of managing work in the commercial and light industrial markets, he continued to grow his leadership skills as the Vice President, Special Projects with responsibilities that included leading W.W. Gay’s Information Technology department, overseeing the construction of our new headquarters, as well as supporting the pursuit and management of special projects. In 2023 Matt accepted a promotion to his current role where he oversees preconstruction activity across the company. He is pleased to continue the family legacy in the company as his grandfather worked as a chiller mechanic for Mr. Gay decades ago.

Matt graduated from the University of North Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering as the Mechanical Engineering Student of the Year. He is also a proud member and past president of ASHRAE Jacksonville Chapter.

Walt Traxler is Vice President of Gainesville Operations and has been with W. W. Gay since 2002. He was hired as a Project Engineer at the Brain Institute Minors Office while attending college at the University of Florida, assisting on various projects at the UF Health Science Center Complex. He worked full-time while finishing his degree at the M.E. Rinker, Sr. School of Construction Management where he graduated in 2003. Shortly after graduation, Walt was promoted to Project Manager and worked on the UF Cancer Genetics Research Complex, a $23 Million Dollar HVAC Mechanical project, which was, at the time, the largest in Gainesville company history.

From 2003-2020 he has managed many types of projects with the Commercial team, including laboratory research, animal care, site utilities, energy plants, and the majority in healthcare. After 17 years in that role, he was promoted to VP of Commercial Operations where he oversaw operations, management, and development of the Commercial Team, as well as the Estimating department. In 2023, Walt was promoted to oversee all Gainesville operations.

Walt’s focus is on teaching and coaching the next generation and building on the solid foundation that was laid by incredible field and office staff that came before him.

Anthony White, Chief Strategy Officer, leads development and implementation of W. W. Gay’s strategic initiatives, which activities across our organization in concert with our company mission, vision and values.

Anthony spent 17 years developing and executing capital projects for Fortune 500 customers primarily in the food and beverage manufacturing market at Haskell, prior to joining WW Gay. There he led teams to engineer, procure and construct manufacturing and distribution facilities including complex HVAC, utility, process and packaging systems. Additionally, Anthony led market strategy, business development, project execution and account management initiatives for the North American Beverage alcohol market.

Anthony is a graduate of the University of Florida, earning a Bachelor of Science in Building Construction as well as a Master of Business Administration. Anthony is also a Certified General Contractor in Florida.

Emily Andrews began her career with W. W. Gay in 2020 when she was brought on board to launch the company’s marketing department, which had existed for nearly 60 years without a single marketing employee, and also spearheaded the company’s rebrand. In her role, she oversees a small team and is responsible for all aspects of marketing, communication, community relations and employee engagement.

She is heavily involved in the Jacksonville community and loves giving back to the community that has given her so much. She works closely with Dreams Come True and the Gator Bowl and previously served as the Winston YMCA’s Advisory Board Chair and many other organizations across the community. Emily was a 2024 recipient of the Jacksonville Business Journal’s esteemed 40 Under 40 Award. She graduated from the University of Central Florida (UCF) where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 2010.

Scott serves as Senior Vice President and leads the North Florida Plan & Spec Group, overseeing the Commercial, Industrial, and Government Business Units. He joined W. W. Gay in 1993, shortly after earning his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1991.

As Senior Vice President and Group Leader, Scott drives project success through strategic coordination and meticulous execution. With over three decades of experience, he has delivered complex projects across sectors, including healthcare, higher education, corporate offices, government facilities, military installations, telecommunications, data centers, and theme parks. His expertise allows him to implement best practices that empower project managers and teams to achieve outstanding results.

A licensed Professional Engineer and Mechanical Contractor, Scott’s leadership and technical excellence have been recognized by ASHRAE, where he served as President of the Jacksonville Chapter and was honored with the “Young Engineer of the Year” award.

Ronnie is Vice President of Georgia Operations and has been with W. W. Gay since 1992. Prior to joining the company, he served as an Infantryman in the U.S. Army, participating in numerous operations, and later continued his service with the Florida Army National Guard.

Starting as a pre-apprentice in Jacksonville, Ronnie completed the Local Union 234 Plumbers Pipefitters JATT Apprenticeship, graduating in 1997 as an HVAC Journeyman. He quickly advanced to Foreman, overseeing service projects of varying sizes, and later became a Start-Up Coordinator, managing larger mechanical projects to ensure proper equipment installation and startup. His career progression continued as HVAC Service Manager, where he led all HVAC service operations, and ultimately as Director of Service Operations, overseeing multidisciplinary teams and client relationships across Jacksonville, St. Augustine, and Tallahassee.

As Vice President of Georgia Operations, Ronnie brings extensive expertise and a dedication to the growth and development of the Georgia office. In this role, he oversees all aspects of office operations, management, and team development.

An active member of the Georgia community, Ronnie serves on the Apprenticeship Training Committee and is involved with CAAG (Conditioned Air Association of Georgia), ABC of Georgia, MSCA, and the Bryan County Chamber of Commerce.

Bruce Cox is the Safety Director at W. W. Gay Mechanical Contractor. With over 20 years of experience in industrial safety and chemical production at a leading global chemical corporation, Bruce brings extensive expertise to our Safety Department. During his tenure there, he was an integral member of the Emergency Response Team (ERT) for 17 years and served as both chair and co-chair of the company’s Safety Steering Committee for more than six years.

In 2020, Bruce joined W. W. Gay as a Safety Specialist in the Gainesville office. In this role, he excelled at communicating and implementing safety programs, delivering workforce training, and ensuring compliance with site-specific safety plans and location requirements. Shortly thereafter, he expanded his responsibilities to serve as Safety Specialist for the entire Central South Florida Region.

In 2025, Bruce was promoted to Safety Director, where he now leads the development and implementation of company-wide safety programs and processes. He holds a Site Safety Health Officer (SSHO) certification and is deeply committed to fostering a culture of safety, with a focus on continuously enhancing safety education and practices to empower team members with awareness, responsibility, and vigilance.

John serves as Vice President of Commercial Construction, overseeing the company’s Commercial Business Unit. He began his career with W.W. Gay in 1990 after earning a Bachelor of Science in Construction Technologies from the University of North Florida. Starting as a detailer in the Structural Steel Shop, he quickly advanced to Industrial Service Project Manager and, within three years, to Project Manager, where he led projects across the commercial, industrial, and government sectors.

Over the next decade, his focus turned to healthcare construction, managing major projects for clients including Mayo Clinic, Baptist Medical Center, Orange Park Medical Center, and St. Vincent’s Medical Center. His success in building strong client relationships and delivering complex projects led to his promotion as Business Unit Leader of Healthcare, where he directed project managers and ensured excellence across the division. In 2023, he was elevated to Vice President, where he now provides leadership and oversight for the Commercial sector.

He also holds certifications in ASSE 6005 Medical Gas Systems Generalist and CICTI Infection Control Certified Healthcare Management.

Chrissy Graham is Vice President of Human Resources at W.W. Gay Mechanical Contractor. She began her career with the company in 2007 in billing for the Jacksonville office, where her role quickly grew to include major accounts such as the Plumbing Department, Ascension St. Vincent’s, Mayo Clinic, and Repair & Maintenance projects. Her dedication and ability to take on new challenges led her into safety and HR, where she transitioned to the Safety & HR Administrative Assistant role in 2017.

Just one year later, she was promoted to Billing Manager, overseeing all administrative assistants in Jacksonville and billing operations for the Tallahassee office, while also serving as assistant to the COO. These experiences expanded her knowledge of company operations and strengthened her leadership skills. In 2024, after years of supporting HR initiatives, she was promoted to Vice President of Human Resources, where she now leads all aspects of HR company-wide.

Known for her dependability, initiative, and people-first approach, she continues to play a key role in shaping W.W. Gay’s workplace culture and supporting its employees. She is also an active member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).

John Russell is the Field Operations Director for W. W. Gay’s Florida region and has been with the company since 1992. He began his 33+ year career as an apprentice in North Florida, working across HVAC, plumbing, and welding fields. He completed a five-year apprenticeship through J.A.T.T., graduating with their highest honors. Following this, John oversaw projects of all sizes across the Healthcare, Commercial, and Industrial markets.

In 2007, he was promoted to Field Operations Manager, leading Commercial labor teams from the Jacksonville corporate office. He then advanced to Vice President of Field Operations in 2012 and to Senior Vice President of Field Operations in 2022. Today, as Field Operations Director, he oversees field teams and coordinates between project managers and field staff, ensuring seamless communication and collaboration across all levels.

John’s proactive problem-solving skills and commitment to maintaining the highest standards in the field make him an invaluable asset, ensuring projects are executed smoothly and consistently exceed client expectations. A dedicated leader in the North Florida community, he has served on multiple committees and boards over the years. In 2023, he was appointed to oversee labor across all trades for the Florida region, maintaining a focus on providing the best field teams in the business to meet the needs of both clients and the communities W.W. Gay serves.

John Songer is the Regional Operations Director for South Central Florida at W. W. Gay Mechanical Contractor, providing leadership for HVAC, sheet metal, and plumbing projects across the region.

A second-generation sheet metal professional, John began his journey with W. W. Gay in 2011 as a Superintendent in the Port Orange Sheet Metal Shop. With over three decades of experience in the trade, including an apprenticeship from 1990 to 1993, he brought deep expertise in both fabrication and installation to the role. As Superintendent, he oversaw all aspects of sheet metal production and project execution, ensuring quality and efficiency from planning through completion.

John advanced through the ranks to Project Manager, managing the Port Orange Sheet Metal Shop’s workflow, production schedules, and quality control while leading projects from preconstruction to closeout. In 2023, he was promoted to Regional Operations Director, where he develops and implements strategies that drive operational excellence, business growth, and profitability across South Central Florida.

His professional certifications include Former Certified Welding Inspector and Former OSHA 500 Instructor. John is dedicated to advancing W. W. Gay’s mission of delivering the best service, at the best value, with the best people — every time.

Jamie Webb is Vice President of W. W. Gay’s Industrial Department and has been an integral part of the company for over three decades. He began his career as a laborer and truck driver, supporting field operations, while steadily gaining hands-on construction experience at various job sites. In 1999, he transitioned to the office as a Project Manager for the Industrial Department. In 2000, he was also promoted to ASME Quality Control Manager.  Jamie held both positions until being promoted to VP of Industrial in 2023.

Under his leadership, the ASME Quality Control Department ensures every project meets the highest standards of quality and reliability by maintaining compliance with ASME codes and certifications. The team manages welder and welding procedure qualifications, performs inspections and testing, oversees documentation and reporting, and coordinates with authorized inspectors to verify code compliance.

He holds certifications as an AWS-Certified Welding Inspector, ASNT/ACCP Visual Inspector Level II, NDE Liquid Penetrant Inspector Level II, and US Army Corps of Engineers Certified Construction Quality Manager, demonstrating his unwavering commitment to safe and reliable industrial operations. An active member of both the American Welding Society and the American Society of Non-Destructive Testing, Jamie remains focused on empowering the Industrial Department and advancing excellence across every project.

Jason Williams is the Group Leader of our North Florida Service department and has been with the company since 2001. Starting out as an apprentice in Jacksonville, he continued his education through the Jacksonville Plumbers Pipefitters JATT where he graduated in 2006. During his apprenticeship he gained experience in multiple departments throughout W. W. Gay including our Fabrication Shop and Plumbing Service before finally deciding on HVAC Service.

After serving the HVAC Service department for over 21 years, Jason was promoted to HVAC Service Manager in July 2023, where he improved the departments functions. After a year in that role, Jason was promoted to Group Leader of North Florida Service where he now oversees all Service Departments and development.

Jason’s focus is on strengthening our Service department and our technicians to continue to serve W. W. Gay’s mission of providing the best service, at the best value, with the best people — every time.

Kevin Williams is the Regional Operations Director for our Central Florida Service Department.

With a background in Public Administration, Kevin was introduced to the construction industry by his grandfather, an Electrical Foreman who encouraged him to pursue a career in the trades. Kevin joined the company in 2014 as an HVAC apprentice with Local Union 234. After completing his apprenticeship, he transitioned to the Gainesville office, where he supported the HVAC manager in the equipment and startup department. There, he gained valuable hands-on experience and quickly excelled, eventually earning a promotion to lead the service department.

In this role, Kevin managed a wide range of service projects across industries such as healthcare and manufacturing. Over two years, he focused on strengthening customer relationships, streamlining operations, expanding the department, and fostering employee development. His leadership and results-driven approach led to his promotion as Regional Operations Director, where he now oversees the management and growth of the service management team throughout Central Florida.