“I did a lot of knucklehead stuff as a kid,” acknowledges Jamal Gamble. “I ran with some bad friends and got myself into trouble.“

Today, as the father of a daughter and two sons aged 12 to 6, he has adopted a mature perspective on responsibility.

“I don’t want my kids to struggle by getting into trouble like I did,” explains Jamal. “I’m working to set a positive example and keep them on a path to success.”

Before joining The Gerken Companies, Jamal worked at Jeep’s Toledo Assembly Complex for four and a half years. Workplace changes resulting from a recent contract between Stellantis and the United Auto Workers left him uncertain about his job. He enrolled in truck driving training classes at Owens Community College and obtained a commercial driver’s license (CDL).

Jamal joined Kuhlman Corporation as a Mixer Truck Driver in April 2024. Delivering ready-mix concrete to contractor job sites has provided him with a refreshing work environment.

“I love working outdoors and driving to different delivery locations. The work is never repetitive, unlike my experience on the assembly line.”

When driving with his children and fiancée, Jamal enjoys pointing out job sites where he has delivered concrete. To him, that’s another opportunity to offer a positive example for his family. And, to Jamal, it’s all about his family.

The Homebody

By the time Jamal graduated from Scott High School, he had attended five schools, including Jones Junior High, Robinson Junior High, Nathan Hale Elementary, and Byrnedale Elementary. With all that change, Jamal’s family was a vital constant in his troublesome young life. He remains close to his mom, sisters, aunts, and cousins.

“Anyone who knows me would consider me an open book,” says Jamal, a self-described homebody who enjoys spending time with his kids watching cartoons and movies, bowling, or going to Chuck E. Cheese and Dave & Buster’s.

Jamal’s hobbies include playing video games, watching professional boxing and “Law & Order” reruns, and spending time with his soon-to-be wife.

“I’m just a family man,” he declares.

As for work, he insists there is nothing about his job he doesn’t like. While his Class A CDL and HAZMAT licensing are in high demand among employers, he says his search for a better work atmosphere is over.

“I love what I do and the whole environment at Gerken.”

Reflecting on his past, Jamal notes that many people who knew him during his unruly youth will often commend him for the person he has become. Knowing firsthand how bad influencers can lead young people astray is driving this Mixer Truck Driver to be a positive role model for his children.