Josh French ’05: Leading Through Collaboration, Curiosity, and Commitment
Josh French ’05 knows firsthand that successful careers are built through teamwork, relationships, and a willingness to step forward when opportunity presents itself. A civil engineering graduate of SUNY Polytechnic Institute, Josh has spent more than two decades growing with The Fort Miller Company (Easton, New York), where he now serves as Vice President of Sales/Estimating and Marketing, overseeing sales, marketing, estimating, and business development.
A native of Corinth, NY, Josh continued his education at SUNY Poly after earning his Associate’s Degree (1998) from Hudson Valley Community College, while working full-time and raising a young family. “I took a nontraditional path,” he says. “But it was the right one for me—and SUNY Poly made it possible.”
Josh began working at Fort Miller in 1999 as an engineering technician. The company specializes in the production of precast concrete solutions for large-scale construction infrastructure projects across the Northeast, from bridges and highways to marine and airport construction. “Instead of building complex concrete work in the field next to traffic or over water and in the harsh elements, we build everything in a controlled environment,” Josh explains. “Then we ship massive components to job sites. It’s safer, more efficient, and highly technical work.”
After earning his SUNY Poly degree, Josh advanced into project management and design roles, applying what he describes as the most valuable lesson from his education: collaboration. “Nobody works in a silo,” he says. “At Poly, everything was team-based … labs, projects, problem-solving. That’s exactly how our industry works.”
To further expand his leadership skills, Josh later earned a Master’s Degree in business from Sage College (2009). In 2017, he was promoted to his current VP role at Fort Miller. Today, his primary responsibility is ensuring the company has a strong pipeline of work to support its workforce. “Our number one job is to keep people employed and our plant filled with work,” he says. “Everything flows through this department.”
Josh also credits SUNY Poly with preparing him to think critically and ask the right questions. “One of the worst phrases in any company is ‘that’s how we’ve always done it,’” he notes. “Poly grads challenge assumptions. They’re curious, hungry, and willing to step in and improve processes.”
That mindset has shaped his hiring philosophy. Josh has hired multiple SUNY Poly graduates and remains deeply impressed. “It’s not a coincidence,” he says. “They want more responsibility. They want to learn. They want to contribute.”
SUNY Poly is now a family legacy for Josh. His son, Trevor, is a current SUNY Poly sophomore student majoring in finance and a member of the baseball team. “I couldn’t be prouder,” Josh says. “He wanted a school that was affordable, close to home, and offered strong academics and athletics. Poly checked every box.” An active alumnus, Josh serves on the SUNY Poly Foundation Board and remains closely connected to campus. Reflecting on his journey, his advice to students is clear: “Get out from behind the desk. Go to industry events. Meet people. Build relationships. That’s what will truly accelerate your career.”
For Josh French, SUNY Poly wasn’t just part of his past, it continues to shape his present and future.
