Generations

After graduating high school, Jay moved to Colorado where he completed his carpenters apprenticeship. Jay and Keli then returned to Montana where Jay worked for a couple of local contractors prior to their decision to go into business for themselves. In 1994, Jay and Keli started Jay Fortune Construction when their son Justin was 6 months old. Back in the early years, when Jay Fortune Construction was first created, Jay did all the construction on the projects and Keli did the office work. From the start, Jay Fortune Construction has always been a company rooted in family. In the beginning it wasn’t unheard of for Keli the take a break from the office and with Justin, even from a young age, to go out working in the field assisting Jay with the completion of a project. Throughout the years, as the company has grown, it has provided jobs for many carpenters and laborers.

Justin graduated from high school in 2011 and went on to study Construction Engineering at Montana State University. After graduating in 2016, Justin moved back to Butte where he now works full-time as a Project Manager for Jay Fortune Construction, and in 2023 Justin’s wife Ali joined the company working in the office. Their two sons, Axel and Cruz, can be seen starting in the same place their father did; at various job sites helping their Dad and Grampy. After 30 years in business, Jay Fortune Construction continues to be a company rooted in family.