Meet the GCI Team
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TRAVIS PETTIJOHN
OWNER | INDUSTRY PIONEER | MOBILE MATERIAL PLACEMENT EXPERT
Travis is the owner of GCI Slingers LLC and a driving force behind the evolution of mobile material placement in the United States. With 25+ years of experience in building, operating, and improving conveyor-based placement equipment, Travis brings deep hands-on knowledge in hydraulics, electrical diagnostics, troubleshooting, and equipment design. Travis helped lead the company through major industry changes—transitioning from shooter conveyor systems to dedicated Stone Slinger units—and in 2014 became the owner of GCI Slingers LLC. Known for his passion, ingenuity, and problem-solving, Travis continues to work closely with manufacturers and customers to develop innovative solutions—keeping fleets productive, reliable, and ready for whatever the jobsite demands.
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AARON WITMER
PRESIDENT
Aaron joined GCI in 2014 and brought a valuable customer’s perspective to our leadership team, backed by over 20 years of construction site and crew management experience. A Cornerstone University graduate, Aaron worked in both Indiana and California within the construction and foundations industry, gaining experience across residential and commercial projects. With a strong understanding of how Stone Slingers are used in the field—and why they’re becoming increasingly essential to the future of construction—Aaron blends leadership experience with real hands-on knowledge. He holds a Class A CDL and is an experienced Stone Slinger operator, giving him practical insight into the equipment, operation, and parts that keep jobs moving. And when he’s not leading the charge, you can usually find Aaron dreaming up his next prank on the employees.
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WENDIS FUGATE III
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Wendis has built a solid career in operations and leadership, drawing from both his military service and over a decade in the construction industry. He's got extensive hands-on experience in logistics and dispatch, where he's focused on making sure everything runs efficiently in demanding, high-pressure settings.
After leaving the military and returning to construction, Wendis quickly settled into roles that play to his strengths: steady leadership, strong teamwork, and
straightforward communication.People who work with him describe him as highly organized, reliable, and level-headed when things get intense—someone who gets how critical good coordination is to keeping projects safe and on track.
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BILL BLAKE
DIRECTOR OF SAFETY, COMPLIANCE AND QUALITY CONTROL
Bill brings a vast, hands-on background in heavy equipment and fleet operations. He joined GCI Slingers LLC in February 2017, starting as a Stone Slinger operator before moving into the shop to support fleet maintenance and repairs. Bill advanced to Shop Manager, where he helped implement customer build processes and fleet maintenance programs, and later served as Dispatch Manager, running the company fleet for 2.5 years. Bill is GCI’s true swiss army knife. Today, Bill leads GCI as our Director of Safety, Compliance, and Quality Control, helping ensure our people, equipment, and processes meet the highest standards, every day.
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GABBIE HARDIN
DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
Gabbie brings 20+ years of experience and a talent for turning opportunities into long-term partnerships. After spending six years at Cummins focused on on-highway and vocational trucking, plus 12+ years in power generation sales with Cummins and Kohler, she brings a rare mix of industry knowledge and strategy. Gabbie joined GCI in 2024 and has already made a major impact by driving significant sales growth and expanding connections across the industry.
A proud Navy Veteran, Gabbie served from 1997-2003. Outside of her professional endeavors, she is passionate about supporting foster children through her non-profit organization Foster Fairies and cherishes time spent with her two daughters and two dogs.
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CHARLIE STIERWALT
PURCHASING MANAGER
Charlie has worked in the construction industry since 2013, bringing a strong hands-on background in heavy equipment operations. He joined the GCI team in 2020 as a dump truck driver and quickly advanced into key roles including Stone Slinger Operator, Dispatch, and Shop Manager. With experience spanning field operations, fleet coordination, and shop leadership, Charlie is now our Production and Purchasing Manager, leading our supply and distribution efforts—helping ensure the right parts, equipment, and support are in place to keep projects moving efficiently.
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MORGAN DEARINGER
OPERATIONS BILLING SPECIALIST
Morgan Dearinger has been with GCI for 10 years and plays a key role in keeping our day-to-day operations running smoothly. She manages operations billing for both fleet and production, ensuring accurate invoicing, clear documentation, and timely processing that supports our teams in the field and in the shop. Known for her consistency, attention to detail, and dependable support, Morgan helps keep everything organized and on track behind the scenes.
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SARAH NOEL
CONTROLLER
Sarah has been with GCI for nearly 5 years and serves as our Controller, overseeing the financial operations that keep the business running strong. She manages core accounting functions, supports budgeting and reporting, and helps ensure processes stay accurate, organized, and compliant. With a steady, detail-driven approach, Sarah provides the financial clarity and structure that supports our team and long-term growth.
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AARON CAIN
LAFAYETTE GENERAL MANAGER
Aaron Cain joined GCI in 2019 and brings more than 20 years of experience in the construction industry, including over a decade in construction management. His deep industry knowledge, leadership, and hands-on approach play a key role in guiding GCI’s operations and long-term growth. Before stepping into management full time, Aaron had a one-of-a-kind chapter in his career as a professional monster truck driver. From 2013 to 2019, he competed full time behind the wheel of Quad Chaos, Jurassic Attack, and Jester—proving his ability to handle high-pressure environments both on and off the track (no world titles… yet). Aaron is an active member of both BAGL and IBA and is passionate about giving back to the community. He volunteers his time with several local T-ball and youth baseball teams, Habitat for Humanity across multiple counties, and the Boy Scouts of America. Outside of work, Aaron enjoys spending time with his wife of 20 years, Sonja, and their three boys.
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SONJA CAIN
LAFAYETTE DISPATCH MANAGER
Sonja Cain has been with GCI for four years and will celebrate five years with the company in May. She brings a strong background in operations, financial accuracy, and team management to her role at the Lafayette location. Prior to joining GCI, Sonja spent five years in the banking industry working in the settlements department, where she was responsible for processing, balancing, and reconciling ATM cash and check transactions. She also has more than ten years of experience as a retail and restaurant manager, developing a strong foundation in leadership, organization, and customer service. At GCI, Sonja serves as the Lafayette dispatcher, office manager, and data analyst, where she plays a critical role in coordinating daily operations, managing office functions, and supporting data-driven decision-making.
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DAVE SMITH
CONSULTANT
Dave joined the team as a Parts & Production Consultant backed by 35 years of experience in the trucking industry. After earning his undergraduate degree from Purdue University, he began his career at Irving Materials as a fleet mechanic, building hands-on know-how from the ground up. Over the years, he worked his way up to ultimately leading fleet operations at IMI, bringing a practical, solutions-focused approach centered on performance, uptime, and keeping equipment and teams operating at their best.
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KELLEY KISSEL
DISPATCHER
Kelley brings more than 20 years of experience in the construction industry, with a background spanning project administration, sales, and dispatch. Her well-rounded experience gives her a strong understanding of both field operations and customer needs. As GCI’s newest team member, Kelly serves as a dispatcher, where she plays a key role in coordinating schedules, supporting drivers and ensuring projects run smoothly from start to finish.
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WENDIS FUGATE, JR.
PRODUCTION MANAGER
Wendis Fugate Jr. joins GCI as our new Production Manager, bringing over 40 years of expertise in the foundation industry. A familiar face to many at GCI, Wendis is returning to the team after previously serving as a stone slinger operator and dispatch manager for over 5 years, where he played a key role in streamlining operations and ensuring timely deliveries.His career highlights include operating one of our original bi-fold conveyors early on, demonstrating his deep-rooted knowledge of industry equipment and processes. With a proven track record of reliability and innovation, Wendis is poised to lead our production efforts, driving efficiency and excellence in every project.
Meet the Shop Team
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MATT BIDDLE
LEAD FABRICATOR
Matt has been building bad ass trucks for us for 8 years straight—if it’s metal and it needs to be tougher, cleaner, or basically indestructible, he can weld it. He prefers dogs over people (and honestly, he’s got a point), but don’t mistake the quiet vibe: Matt’s the reason a lot of our trucks roll out looking mean and built to work.
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JACOB GWALTNEY
GRANDMASTER OF UPTIME
Jacob has spent the last 8 years at GCI becoming one of our most trusted problem-solvers. From diagnostics to repairs to truck builds, he’s the one we count on when something needs to be figured out fast.
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ERIC SIDDALL
FLEET MECHANIC
Eric has been with GCI for 7 years keeping our fleet on the road and running strong. From oil changes to swapping a feed belt, he’s the guy who keeps our Stone Slingers ready to roll—fast, reliable, and always on it.
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GARRETT JOHNSON
FLEET MECHANIC
Garrett has been with GCI for 1.5 years and has quickly become a go-to hand in the shop. As our Smash My Trash upfitter and repairman, he’s all about building it right, fixing it fast, and keeping equipment dependable in the real world. Whether he’s dialing in an upfit, troubleshooting an issue, or knocking out repairs to keep things moving.
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NATHAN WHITE
UPFITTER
Nathan is one of our upfitters who joined GCI Slingers in 2024 after previously driving a stone slinger for the company. Wanting to be more hands-on in the build process, he transitioned from the driver seat to the shop floor to help build and upfit trucks, bringing real-world operating experience to the team.
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DAN SMITH
FLEET MECHANIC
Dan is our newest fleet mechanic at GCI Slingers. He focuses on keeping our trucks and equipment road-ready by handling preventive maintenance, diagnosing issues, and completing repairs to help minimize downtime and keep the fleet running safely and reliably.
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JOE MARTIN
LAFAYETTE FLEET MAINTENANCE
Joe brings more than 22 years of experience from the United States Air Force, where he retired as a Heavy Equipment Operator and Logistics Manager. He joined GCI Slingers in 2020 as a stone slinger driver in Lafayette and has been an integral part of the company ever since. During the launch of Smash My Trash production, Joe spent eight months in Zionsville before returning to Lafayette, where he continued driving and later transitioned into Dispatch for two and a half years. Today, Joe supports the Lafayette operation through fleet maintenance while continuing to dispatch, manage paperwork, and operate stone slingers, dump trucks, and other equipment. His versatility and deep operational knowledge make him a key asset to the Lafayette team.
Meet the Dogs
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SULLIVAN (SULLY)
OG MASCOT AND CHIEF MORALE OFFICER
Sully is the original GCI legend and our unofficial mascot. He’s a 9-year-old Great Dane (and proud owner of Aaron Witmer) who stands taller than most humans and is occasionally mistaken for a small horse. Sully is a sweet, gentle giant who truly believes he runs the company.
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SHEP AND SHINER
VIZSLA BROTHERS AND CHAOS COORDINATORS
Shep and Shiner are Vizsla stepbrothers who really should’ve been named Brennan and Dale. They’re high-energy, low-logic, and are fully convinced they’re the main characters at all times. The good news? They’re ridiculously handsome. The bad news? That’s also pretty much the only thing they have going for them.
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TEDDY
SHOP DOG AND HEAD OF SECURITY
Teddy is the German Shepherd shop dog who belongs to our fleet mechanic, Eric, and he takes his job extremely seriously. He’s basically a four-legged soldier whose main duties include: keeping everyone in line, supervising foot traffic, and making sure nobody gets too comfortable standing around. Teddy runs a tight ship!