The McDermotts, A Father/Son Duo at Irving Wallboard

Jade began his career at Irving Wallboard in 2007 as an Operator when the plant first opened. At that time, Nick was only nine years old, but he has fond memories of growing up with his dad working there. “Wallboard has always felt like family to me, even when I was younger. It’s a really awesome place to work with a great group of people,” Nick said.

Before joining Wallboard, Jade worked as a Produce Manager in Fredericton but wanted a change. He took a chance on the new plant opening in Saint John. Since then, Jade has held various roles, including Production Supervisor and Maintenance Supervisor, and now his current role, as a Relief Supervisor.

When Nick joined the team, it was a proud moment for them both. “I loved it! It’s a very safe plant. You worry when your children start working, but I knew he was in good hands,” Jade said. Nick added, “When I joined the Irving Wallboard team, I already knew some of the management and staff from when I was younger.” These previously established relationships made it an easy decision for Nick to apply when a role came up. Since joining Irving Wallboard six years ago, Nick has worked in several roles, including Tarper, Operator and now, Relief Supervisor.

Working together has only strengthened their relationship. “We’ve always been best friends, so working together gives us something else to bond and connect on,” Nick explained. Jade agreed, saying, “My favorite thing about working together is spending time with him and watching him grow and develop his career with the same company I did. Working together continues to bring us closer and it’s also brought me closer to teammates who are similar in age to him.”

Even though they typically work different shifts, their schedules occasionally overlap due to overtime.

“I never anticipated us working together, but I’m very glad we do,” said Jade. For the McDermotts, Irving Wallboard isn't just a workplace; it's a second home.

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