February 04, 2026
Adam Oliver, Vice President of Operations
When I took off my Navy uniform for good, I was certain I would never get dressed for work again and feel the pride that comes with wearing a military uniform. That uniform was a symbol, a clear identifier that I was a part of something bigger. Serving was my way of giving back to a country that had given so much to me. SoBran, Inc. gave me back that sense of pride, and the ability to continue serving in a capacity that once again allowed me to give back. Mr. Otis understood that as a retired military man himself, he also understood the pride that comes with being part of a collective, of working together towards a singular goal with the set of standards that give us the perfect roadmap for a job well done.
So my decision to step into the company felt like a natural progression, a new way to serve.
I started my SoBran career working on a warehousing project on Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. This is a small, tight community. As the base logistics contractor, SoBran maintained a full complement of delivery vehicles including tractor/trailers, large flatbed trucks, and multiple pick-up trucks. While it might not seem like much, on an island where the only way to get vehicles is through a tug and barge, we had the largest fleet of heavy vehicles available on the island. Of course, this did not come to the forefront of mind until a storm you may have heard of named Hurricane Sandy hit the base one night. Several buildings were torn down, trees and power lines were snapped, and large debris was scattered throughout the base. Without hesitation, SoBran offered to use our fleet of vehicles to assist with debris removal, helping the community during those first critical hours after the storm.
It’s also important to know that a large portion of our personnel on the GTMO contracts were direct hires from the Philippines. About a year after Hurricane Sandy hit the base, a typhoon of historical size hit the Philippines. Some of our personnel lost everything, while others had family that were in dire need of assistance after the typhoon. Knowing that we employed members that were likely deeply impacted, Mr. Otis was the first to make a call and ask what he could do to help. We have no contracts in the Philippines, nor is it a community that we have boots on the ground in; however, Mr. Otis knew that SoBran had families that needed help and he wanted to be sure they knew SoBran was part of their support system during this difficult time.
It was during this experience that I truly learned how rewarding it is to give back, as well as always making sure SoBran becomes an active member of the community it serves. Over my career, I have been to more military installations than I can recall but regardless of the branch of service, they all had one thing in common. Contractors were seen, but rarely heard. But I quickly discovered that SoBran was profoundly different and that difference had a name: Mr. Otis.
For a decade and a half, I witnessed firsthand how Mr. Otis didn’t just care about his employees in the abstract the way some bosses do, he cared about us as people. He cared about our families, our communities, our dreams, our growth and goals. He understood that behind every contract, every project, every deadline, he had a responsibility to real people with real lives and he never took our contributions for granted. His favorite thing to do was visit our sites and socialize with us on the ground. And I mean truly connect, not the stiff, obligatory executive walk-throughs we’d all expect from the big names of company leadership. Mr. Otis would sit down, ask questions, listen, and remember. He remembered our names, our stories, our challenges. He would personally sign every card, (birthday, holiday, special life events, condolences, etc.) organize gifts, benefits and more for his employees. He wanted to be sure we had every opportunity to advance on our own professional journeys. That’s why he was also so passionate about SoBran’s employee programs including tuition reimbursement, scholarships, and promotion from within.
It’s easy to convince yourself that you’ve made it to where you are in life completely on your own. I could tell you that I am where I am today because I forged my own path, independently conquered obstacles, and opened my own doors, but that wouldn’t be true. That’s why when I think about what SoBran means to me, I think about opportunity. Approximately 15 years ago I was given the opportunity to manage an overseas warehouse for SoBran. I thought for sure I would be leaving SoBran when it was time for my family to leave Guantanamo Bay, but before we left, I was presented with a new opportunity in the company. The company was investing in me, and that is a direct result of Mr. Otis.
It’s a difficult time of change for all of us as we navigate SoBran without the guiding hand of Mr. Otis in 2026, but I find comfort in knowing that his legacy will continue through SoBran’s work, in every employee he believed in, in every career he helped launch, in every family he helped support, and every community he helped strengthen. In every career he helped launch and in every family he helped support, every community he helped strengthen. We carry those lessons on safety, quality and a personal touch that can make our colleague or client’s day just a little bit brighter. Mr. Otis may no longer be here to walk our sites or sign our cards, but his spirit of generosity, his commitment to the people around us, and his unwavering belief in new opportunities will continue to guide us. That’s the door he opened for all of us, and it’s one that will never close.