When J.R. Ezell came across JC&A’s website, he had just moved back from Nashville and wasn’t just looking for a job—he was looking for a place to put down roots. That feeling hit during a phone interview from his dining room. “I remember thinking, this is exactly where I want to be. A place where the people who run the company know my name and I’m not just a number.”
Fifteen years later, J.R. is now JC&A’s Director of Preconstruction—transforming napkin sketches into investment-ready plans, balancing big ideas with real budgets, and laying the foundation for project success. But what defines his time here isn’t the title or the projects—it’s the trust, flexibility, and family-first culture that set JC&A apart. “What’s kept me here isn’t just the work—it’s the people.”
A proud father and devoted coach, J.R. often juggles a packed schedule of baseball games and practices, and does so with the full support of his JC&A family. “The flexibility and trust that Mike Garrity and the rest of the partners have in me is valued deeply. No matter where I’m working from, they know I’ll get it done.”
That support started early—and from the top. “I don’t know another company where the President would help me land on my feet the way Jimmy did. That kind of leadership is rare—and it meant the world to me.”
And that support runs deep. “Being a single dad is complicated and logistically challenging, but I’ve always felt seen here. My boys feel welcome at the office, and having JC&A on the back of their baseball jerseys brings me a joy I can’t even describe. Getting to coach alongside one of my colleagues is just an added bonus!”
Some of his most meaningful memories aren’t tied to job titles or milestones—they’re rooted in JC&A traditions. From the annual hot dog eating contest (even if he did lose to Brad!) to oysters in the café, and the Thanksgiving turkey lunch where Santa would visit when the kids were little—each one brings back a flood of memories. But the Spooktacular stands out most.
“My boys are getting a little old for it now, but I’ll never forget the days when they’d run around the office like it was Halloween. They used to look forward to it almost as much as trick-or-treating.
I have a video of Jackson in his juice box costume, spinning a basketball on his finger—just like Nolan did years earlier when the magician called him up to do the same trick. It was a total full-circle moment.”
In the end, it’s the openness to family—the way JC&A creates opportunities for those moments—that stands out most. “That’s what makes this place special.”
That same connection between work and home showed up on the jobsite, too. “Boston Harley was probably the coolest project for me—my parents had bikes at the time, and it felt like their world met mine.” He also takes pride in high-profile builds like 245 5th Ave, the dynamic 690 Canton project, and the milestone work at 50 & 54 Otis. But it’s the people behind the work that stand out most. “The combination of 245 and 690 being led by two amazing women project managers was incredible. I’m sure other companies say that—but they don’t have Megan and Chelsea.”
That sense of pride is part of his daily life. “My proudest moments happen all the time—whenever someone asks who I work for and they immediately recognize and respect the name. There’s something powerful about being part of a company with that kind of reputation.”
When asked what “The JC&A Way” means to him, he doesn’t hesitate: “It’s about relationships. We succeed because of the trust we build—with clients, with subs, with each other. We’ve landed projects because someone was pulling for us from all sides. That trust is everything.”
It’s also what makes JC&A feel like home. “I don’t ever feel like I have to go to work. It’s a privilege to work here. A lot of companies say they’re like a family—but JC&A truly is. I’m forever grateful for this team and everything we’ve built together.”
And perhaps his most meaningful moment of all didn’t happen in the office or on a jobsite—but at home. When asked what they wanted to be when they grow up, Jackson said “architect.” And Nolan? “I want to work for JC&A.”
“That,” J.R. says, “was my ultimate proudest moment.”
