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Gabriel Valenzuela's presence at Super Bowl LVIII served as a triumphant symbol for hardworking individuals in the construction sector. Winning CONEXPO-CON/AGG's recent Super Bowl Tickets Sweepstakes, this 53-year-old seasoned crane operator embodies the pride Las Vegas holds for hosting its inaugural Super Bowl. CONEXPO-CON/AGG, a longstanding institution in Las Vegas since 1996, proudly celebrated this milestone.
“I really never thought something like this could happen to me,” said Valenzuela, who works for Nimble Crane in the Permian Basin, an oil-and-gas-producing area located in West Texas. But hard work and persistence is something that comes naturally to Valenzuela. He grew up in South Central Los Angeles and began working construction right out of high school. His cousin helped him get hired and his first job was as an oiler on a Manitowoc 3900. He’s been working ever since.
As the eldest of seven siblings, Valenzuela felt a strong obligation to support his family from a young age. "At 18, I was clueless," he admitted. "But I was determined. I seized the opportunity to work."
Valenzuela attributes his expertise to his mentors. “I can run a lot of different types of equipment, but my God-given talent is running cranes,” he said. Before moving with his wife and kids to Texas in 2006, he spent several years working as a crane operator for Balfour Beatty.
Throughout his 35-year career, Valenzuela prioritized learning from colleagues and building connections. “I educated myself on everyone’s job,” he said. “In such a high-risk industry, you always want to know what you are doing.”
Operating mobile cranes, mainly Grove and National models ranging from 15 to 530 tons during fracking operations, Valenzuela witnesses firsthand the evolution of crane technology and embraces its advancements in productivity and safety.
“When I first broke into the crane industry, everything was friction over conventional, then with time, it became conventional over electric and today its electric over hydraulic,” said Valenzuela. “Back in the day, precision depended upon a man holding a brake. You had to work. Now you have computers calculating longitude, latitude, radius and wind speed. You can tilt the cab. You have a joystick.”
With his children now grown, Valenzuela's schedule of 14 days on and 7 days off gives him ample time to relax and travel.
“Oil and gas operations are 24/7 and the men and women who work in oil and gas know what it takes to be out in the field,” he said. At this stage of his career, Valenzuela hopes to give back to others. “I have a duty to this industry and to the men that came before me that took the time to mentor me,” he says. “I want to be a mentor to the next generation.”
Super Bowl Highlights
Sharing the Super Bowl weekend with his wife, Teresa, in Las Vegas was an unforgettable experience for Valenzuela. Amidst the city's vibrant lights and entertainment, the highlight was entering the bustling Allegiant Stadium for Super Bowl LVIII.
“I was on the edge of my seat the whole game!” he said. “The fans were crazy.”
Valenzuela expresses gratitude to AEM and CONEXPO-CON/AGG for the remarkable experience.
“We’re happy to show appreciation for the hard-working people of our industry,” said Peter Kaufmann, Marketing Manager at the Association of Equipment Manufacturers. “Since Las Vegas has been home to CONEXPO-CON/AGG for nearly 30 years, it was important for our industry to be represented at this major event.”
