Gerard Sylvain didn’t know what to expect two years ago when he decided to pursue a career in drilling.

The notion of early mornings didn’t really bother him, but not knowing what to expect on a job site, and what would be expected of him was the unknown that he was excited about but also came with a bit of trepidation.

Photo: Brock Yordy

Two years ago, emerging from a drilling intensive, Sylvain landed a position with Skillings and Sons LLC, a family-owned and operated water well drilling business based out of Amherst, Mass. Two years later, Sylvain worked side-by-side with water well professionals on job sites, manning piping and pressure testing. It’s a demanding role, but two years into what he does view as his career, Sylvain, says he wouldn’t have it any other way.

“It’s not like every job, and that’s what I like about it,” Sylvain said recently in a sitdown with The Driller. “I’m not going to sit here and say I love the early mornings or the physical labor, but that’s a part of this and it’s something I’ve accepted. Some days are better than others, but I like who I work with and I like the responsibility. It’s been good for me.”

Sylvain also feels happy -- and oftentimes a bit lucky -- to have landed with Skillings. As a Black man in a predominantly white industry, he’s heard the horror stories of unfair treatment at other companies. He says he’s not subjected to the bristling culture of working in an environment where degradation and expletives are common.

Photo: Brock Yordy

“I’ve learned so much working for this company, people take the time to explain things,” Sylvain said. “I’m not saying they’re holding your hand because they’re definitely not, but I’m on the same site with drillers, guys who have been doing this for years and they’ll show you how to do a job or offer suggestions on better ways to do things. People check their ego at the door here. And as far as being a Black man in this profession, I work with another one, so that’s not an issue.”

Of all of the various sectors of the drilling industry, water well drilling is among the lowest when it comes to workforce population in the United States. According to data from IbisWorld, there are only 8,739 water well drilling businesses in America. 

But what you might not know is that it’s only the fastest growing with an increase of 3.5% new companies rising year-over-year (2024 vs 2025) and has seen close to a five percent increase since 2020. 

It’s right where Sylvain says he wants to be, and the advice he offers to others looking to embark into the industry is clear: humility goes a long way.

“You can’t come in here with an ego,” Sylvain says, “No one cares what you’ve done before or who you know, this job there’s a lot of areas you can take it and a lot of room to grow if you make an effort to learn from leaders. So being humble, not being afraid to mess up and knowing that if you do, yeah you might [catch an earful], but it’s a part of learning the business and doing it the right way.

“That’s how you grow from a doer to a leader and I can tell you, the ones leading aren’t complaining.”