President’s Message – Latest Scoop 2024 Issue 4

Over the last year, I have greatly enjoyed the opportunity to shadow a wide variety of team members in various roles at Brubacher. You may have seen my LinkedIn posts about these experiences, which I call ‘A Day in the Life of.’ A few years ago, I spent time shadowing several field roles, so my goal for this year was to expand my range of insights by observing additional aspects of the company. From Human Resources to Finance to Night Shift Technicians and beyond, I was able to get an in-depth look at many behind-the-scenes facets of our business operation.

Kicking off the year with the Estimating department, I learned from several team members as they shared the details of their roles in bidding and winning new projects. Because of their dedication to excellence and building trust with clients, subcontractors, suppliers, and project teams from the very first look at a new project, Brubacher is blessed with a strong backlog and repeat clients.

The Human Resources Team provides many vital services that are often unnoticed. They spread the news to potential candidates about opportunities at Brubacher, recruit, select, on-board, and help set our team members up for success. HR professionals also assist other managers in providing useful feedback, recognition, and re-direction so that team members have the information and support they need to succeed. Thankfully, after walking through the behind-the-scenes look at the new team member on-boarding process, there wasn’t any time left for the termination process. As you can see, I’m still here writing this column!

The Finance department is accustomed to the reality of monthly financial deadlines while managing the complexity of diverse operations in several business units and multiple states. Though their work is often unseen, they are a vital support system to our team. Due to the qualities this department lives out, often under pressure, team members are paid properly, clients are billed on time, subs and vendors are paid within terms, costs are tracked for decision-making and accountability, and we are equipped with timely info from which to plan.

Our Night Shift Technicians are a team of seldom-seen heroes that keep the Brubacher fleet of trucks running every day. I got the chance to observe Chris setting up a new field technician service truck and Tony solving fuel and electrical issues on several trucks, while Joe showed me how to replace U-joints on a drive shaft. I am inspired by their teamwork, eagerness to share knowledge and tips, and dedication to serving our co-workers and clients with excellence!

These experiences of ‘A Day in the Life of…’ were a personal highlight of my year. It is a joy to recognize the value all our team members contribute to the success of our company, whether I am observing specific roles or visiting our field operations. I want to express a deep sense of gratitude and appreciation to our team members for the diverse skills they bring and the key roles they fill to help us succeed, overcome challenges, and serve others with excellence.

While it takes time and sometimes tries my patience to see life from another person’s point of view, it is time well worth taking. In 2025, I challenge you to be intentional about getting out of your comfort zone and adjusting your view point. This helps us understand  someone else’s challenges and joys while providing valuable perspective on what it is like to be in their role or situation. This is an important part of learning to recognize the value of each person and the unique role they play.