Veterans Day is an opportunity to recognize those who have served our country and the impact they continue to make in their communities and careers. At Bally’s Chicago Casino and on projects across the city, many of those lives intersect with construction: an industry that thrives on discipline, teamwork, and shared mission, much like the military.
This year, we’re spotlighting three veterans whose stories span three branches of service and three very different roles on and around the Bally’s Chicago Casino project. Their stories show how the values and experiences gained through military service continue to shape their careers and the teams they lead.
From Infantryman to the “Trenches” of Construction
Luis Torres planned on serving three years in the U.S. Army. History had other plans.
He enlisted in 2002 and was slated for Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Then came Operation Iraqi Freedom. His unit deployed, and like many soldiers at the time, his contract was extended. Almost half of his service, from 2002 to 2006, was spent in Iraq as an infantryman on the front line.
He remembers one cold, rainy field exercise when he told his sergeant, “I can’t wait till I get out of here. I’m done being wet.” His sergeant’s response stuck with him: “You say that now, but you will always miss what we had here.” Years later, that prediction came true. What Luis misses most is the camaraderie—the clarity of a mission, the sense of shared struggle, and the pride of executing together as a team.
Leaving the Army brought a different kind of challenge: identity.
“I tried different jobs to see where I fit in,” he recalls. Before enlisting, he had considered a career in law enforcement, but after returning to civilian life, nothing quite clicked. It wasn’t until around 2010 that he found his footing in construction, starting as a carpenter.
Construction, he discovered, carried a familiar rhythm.
“I learned how to accept that the structure we had in the military is what I needed here. You get the mission, and then we execute the mission.”
That mindset helped carry him from owning and driving his own truck to eventually managing Veterans Transportation. He met company owner and fellow veteran Steven Gayton at an event, and the two quickly connected over their military backgrounds and similar values. Luis started out “in the trenches” with the drivers—hauling material in and out of job sites, while also helping manage the company from the inside. Over time, trust and shared experience led to his promotion as general manager for Veterans Transportation, now in charge of a crew of drivers on the Bally’s Chicago Casino project.
Luis focuses on coordinating transportation and logistics, working closely with contractor partners to understand their needs and keep operations running smoothly. He continues to draw lessons from his military service, viewing construction as a second platoon built on teamwork and shared purpose.
“We’re in the trenches together. It’s a different environment, but one of the most comforting areas of my life has been in the construction field. The camaraderie, the brotherhood … it’s a great fit.”
Air Force Vet Traded One Helmet for Another
For Sheryl Butler, Veterans Day is a reminder not just of service but of discovering a lifelong vocation.
She served in the U.S. Air Force from 2000 to 2004, attending basic training in Texas before being stationed at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri. She didn’t fly; she enlisted as an occupational health and safety specialist. That role turned out to be pivotal.
“That’s where I learned the business—that this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. This is what sparked my interest in safety,” she says.
During her time in the Air Force, Sheryl developed a strong foundation in teamwork, discipline, excellence, and caring for others. Those values continue to guide her career today.
“The skills I learned in the military—from toughmindedness to dedication to excellence and having discipline—developed my job skills and taught me about caring for people. Essentially my job became my passion.”
After leaving the service, Sheryl went to Northern Illinois University and deepened that passion academically, majoring in technology with an emphasis in occupational health and safety. From there, she went straight into construction safety.
Construction gave her that same sense of mission and camaraderie she had in the Air Force. Sheryl currently works with Gilbane Building as part of the Chicago Community Builders Collective (CCBC) team, where she brings her military experience and passion for health and safety to help foster a culture of care on the jobsite.
“I basically traded one helmet for another helmet. The discipline I learned translates really well into construction.”
One of her favorite military memories is playing on the Air Force soccer team and competing against other military branches.
She says her decision to join the Air Force was as much about curiosity and opportunity as anything else. To this day, that connection endures.
“I go to every single air show in Chicago. I love the power and the noise that aircraft can make. It’s an enormous sense of pride when you hear an airplane like that. It brightens my day.”
From Soldier to CPD to Security Leader
For Patrick McKenzie, service has always been intertwined with gratitude.
Growing up, he held deep respect for the military and law enforcement. Joining the Army, he says, was about opportunity—and about giving back.
“The military gives you a lot of opportunities. The GI Bill to go to school. It’s a good résumé builder and also a love of country. I’ve always had respect for military and law enforcement. It was a good steppingstone.”
Patrick served in the U.S. Army from 1987 to 1990, stationed in West Germany. Those years expanded his world. He learned some German, immersed himself in a new culture, and formed bonds that would shape his future.
He still speaks fondly of boot camp and training—the intensity of drill sergeants, the rigor, the sense of purpose—and of the camaraderie with the men and women alongside him. After his service, that combination of discipline, structure, and teamwork led Patrick to join the Chicago Police Department, where he spent 31 years, retiring as a deputy chief in July 2025.
Patrick now serves as director of security for CCBC on the Bally’s Chicago Casino project, drawing on decades of experience managing people, risk, and complex environments to support the project and the people working on it.
“Since I’ve been at Bally’s, I’ve built a team that’s a well-oiled machine. My goal is to take care of the people who work for me. Make sure they have what they need and are motivated and want to work. That comes from the military.”
Watching the Bally’s Chicago Casino rise from the ground has also given him a new appreciation for construction itself.
“I see so many opportunities in this field—carpentry, masonry, ironworkers … To see what they do, I’m amazed. I said to myself, I missed my calling.”
Carrying the Mission Forward
Luis, Sheryl and Patrick followed different paths through military service, but each carried forward values that continue to shape their careers: discipline, teamwork, leadership, and a commitment to others.
Their stories are a reminder of the important contributions veterans make across the construction industry and the lasting impact of their service.
This Veterans Day, CCBC honors Luis, Sheryl, Patrick and all veterans whose experience, dedication and leadership help strengthen our teams, our projects, and the communities we serve.