Jared Garceau is ahead of the curve, so to speak.

Not for two more years does the 23-year-old crane and heavy-equipment operator for Atlantic Mechanical Inc. need certification from the National Commission of Crane Operators. But Garceau didn’t wait around for things to happen. And his scores were near-perfect.

“He started with us right out of high school,” said Larry Paul, president of Atlantic Mechanical. “It’s pretty remarkable what he’s done. He’s passed the exams for all cranes. He’s pretty bright.”

Garceau earned his GED at Wiscasset High School in the spring of 2012. By that time, he already was doing basic labor for Atlantic. It wasn’t long until he trained to operate a crane, and he’s been doing just that for more than three years now. The more he did it, the more he liked it.

“It was not what I initially wanted to do,” Garceau said. “I found I was interested when I got into it. It’s exciting and you never know what challenge will present itself.

“It is different every time,” he continued. “It takes patience and confidence. It has allowed me to learn so much.”

Regarding the early certification, Garceau said it was simply a matter of moving forward.

“I have always been open to learning as much as I can and the opportunity presented itself,” he said. “I am grateful for the chance to become certified.”

Atlantic Mechanical has recognized Garceau for his “outstanding performance and dedication to doing the job above and beyond expectations.”

“This year alone Jared had completed his formal education, achieved near-perfect scores from the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators Exam in two separate divisions, as well as made significant contributions to the completion of multiple complex projects for the cities of Harpswell, Ogunquit, and Georgetown among others,” Paul said. “At only 23 years old, Jared’s accomplishments rival those of operators twice his age.”

Garceau is the humble type.

“I get the opportunity to do things that I would not be able to do if I was working at a bigger company,” he said. “Working at Atlantic Mechanical is like being part of a family.”

¦ ATLANTIC MECHANICAL INC. is a contracting and engineering firm serving all of New England from Woolwich. The firm is celebrating 30 years of experience in mechanical, heavy and offshore construction projects. The heavy and offshore division specializes in lighthouse, bridge, navigational aids, boat ramps, hurricane barriers, marine railways and municipal parks and piers. The mechanical division does industrial refrigeration, heating, air conditioning, ventilation, pump stations, seawater intake systems and outfalls.