Share
SALT LAKE CITY — Jacobsen Construction has a storied tradition of building beautiful physical structures that endure — and is just as proud to build relationships with clients that stand the test of time, too.
That was the message that Jacobsen CEO Doug Welling shared with hundreds of employees from all across the company who came together this month for the Annual Jacobsen Get Together at the Grand America Hotel.
“You know what the real thrill is? It’s that clients are excited about the experience that they’ve had with Jacobsen. It’s not just the product they’re proud of,” Welling said. “It’s the friendships and the experiences they have developed with our people.”
The Annual Get-Together was an opportunity for employees to enjoy each other’s company, indulge in some delicious food, and hear presentations from Jacobsen leaders about the company’s direction and prospects in 2020 and beyond. Those prospects are as bright as they’ve ever been, Welling said.
“I know we can accomplish the great work ahead of us with this group of people,” he said, gesturing to all those in attendance. “It’s a tremendous time in our company’s history.”
To carry on the company’s hard-earned reputation of providing a thrilling building experience that exceeds expectations, every Jacobsen employee must wholly internalize and commit to each client’s vision time and time again, said Executive Vice President of Business Development and Sales Garry Ellis.
“We want every client, every time to be able to say, ‘We love this relationship, and you have helped us achieve our vision.’ It is crucial that this process is consistent — that whatever team is assigned to that client’s next project is providing that exact same Jacobsen experience,” Ellis said.
Employees at the Annual Get Together were also treated to an inspiring message from keynote speaker John Fortuna, the Chief Operating Officer at Jacobsen, who urged them to “identify those things that are most important to you in life, those things you really highly value.” It is essential to make important life-decisions based on such priorities, Fortuna said. His own priorities eventually led him to Jacobsen, he said, because of its steady formula for business success and for the way it treats its employees, clients, and other business partners.
Jacobsen’s most remarkable achievement on behalf of its workers, Fortuna said, is its rare status as a completely employee-owned company. One hundred percent employee ownership elevates the culture of the company and provides uncommon opportunities for workers to enjoy long-term financial stability, he said.
“I’m a strong believer in Jacobsen’s employee ownership culture. If you really think about those things that are most important to your career, from engagement, to contribution, to respect, to pride, to the financial side of this — you can’t find this anywhere else,” Fortuna said. “I want to give you a call to action: Each and every day, work like an owner. Because you are one.”