As we celebrate Veterans Day, we are proud to spotlight and share the stories of several veterans who are also members of our Toll Brothers family. Thanks to these individuals and all the other active and retired military members we work with daily, we continue to be safe and free. Meet Todd Burton, Designer III, ESE Consultants, from our Idaho division: In 2006, the U.S. was deep into the post-9/11 era. “We were in a time of war, and I felt it was my time to serve,” he says. Todd sailed through his aptitude test. With a diverse skill set, Todd chose surveying and civil engineering. After he completed boot camp, Todd was stationed in Heidelberg, Germany for the next six years. He met his future wife, Brittany, who was also on active duty there. They married in 2007. Todd became a stepfather but would later have two daughters of his own, both born in Germany, a place they would call home. Todd’s service soon took him far from home in 2009 after the birth of his first daughter, where he would be deployed on a 15-month tour in Iraq. The war in the Middle East was intense, and Todd frequently thought about his family. Brittany faced complications during her pregnancy, and Todd made the difficult decision to leave Iraq and return to California to support her so she could recover. Todd re-enlisted in the Army a year later. Stationed in Germany, Todd’s unit had returned from Iraq and was preparing for another deployment. Todd would have been on that tour, but fate had other plans. During field exercises, Todd suffered a serious back injury and was flown to the Wounded Warriors Transition Unit in Texas. His back was broken with a limited 30-degree range of motion. Doctors warned that recovery would be difficult, and he would likely never be able to train again. Determined to avoid surgery, Todd focused on intensive physical therapy, and after six months, he was back on his feet. In September 2013, Todd overcame his injuries. He moved to Fort Carson, Colorado, with his wife and new daughter. Soon after, Todd was deployed again, this time to Afghanistan. The desert environment was harsh, and Todd suffered a second back injury. It became clear that his body could no longer handle the strain of active duty. In 2015, after 10 years of honorable service, Todd medically retired from the Army, having served two tours under Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. In search of a fresh start, Todd and his family moved to Boise, Idaho, where Todd joined ESE Consultants. At Toll Brothers, he was able to apply his military engineering background in new and exciting ways. Through all his challenges Todd’s journey has been one of perseverance and growth. Todd has proven that even the hardest obstacles can lead to new beginnings. Today, he’s not just a father and husband but a professional who continues to build and design, creating a better future for the communities he serves. #EmployeeSpotlight #VeteransDay #IWorkForToll
