Employees at Smith Bros. & Wilson appreciate the collegial and warm environment fostered at the office.Supplied
When Tanner Smith started his career in construction, he worked for big companies that treated him more like a number than a person. But when he joined Smith Bros. & Wilson, he found a home.
“There’s a lot of companies that say they treat you like family, but in Smith Bros. & Wilson’s case, it’s the truth,” says Smith.
“If you want to work with a small, high-performing team where you’re actually going to be treated like real family as opposed to just lip service, then we’re definitely the place you want to be.”
Headquartered in Surrey, B.C., Smith Bros. & Wilson has been in business for over 125 years, growing from a company that used horse-drawn wagons to haul lumber to build houses in mining boomtowns to a high-tech construction firm that takes on projects like the Peace Arch Hospital expansion in White Rock, B.C., and the Marpole Transit Centre in Vancouver. Its 127 employees build infrastructure people depend upon, providing the nuts and bolts that keep Metro Vancouver and elsewhere moving.
As a project manager-program lead, Smith works with clients to ensure the company delivers for its customers, conducting construction reviews and providing guidance for younger employees so they can grow their skills. Smith says he too has benefited from the training and development programs that Smith Bros. & Wilson offers.
“The company puts a lot of support into mentorship and employee development. There’s a lot of people like myself who started out in one role and have moved into more senior positions,” says Smith.
“The company always looks internally to fill those vacancies. That’s really helped with our continuity, maintaining a strong culture and contributing to our success.”
Jeff Musialek, president and co-CEO, says one of Smith Bros. & Wilson’s strengths as an employer is having an open and accessible corporate culture where executives are approachable and employees are heard.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re the president or a new engineer coming in, we treat everybody the same. We have an environment where there’s not a big hierarchy — everybody’s treated equally. That’s a big part of our culture,” he says.
Communication is a key component in making sure employees feel listened to and valued. The company has multiple channels for dialogue with town hall meetings, internal newsletters and an open-door policy at the offices — something Smith appreciates.
“I can walk down the hall and talk to our board members if there’s something I need or just if you want to chat and catch up and see how people’s weekends were,” says Smith.
“It’s nice to go to work when you like all of your co-workers and you’re happy to see everybody show up to the office. That’s being part of the team environment that we’ve fostered here.”
The collegial atmosphere is reinforced by the company’s holistic approach to employee wellness, whether on the job, at home or in the community.
“We’re committed to our people because they make our company great,” says Musialek.
“We recognize that and share and reward them as much as we can, giving them the opportunity to be innovative and smart. They reward the company by doing amazing things beyond anything I could ask for.”
Feeling valued, heard and having opportunities to advance, Smith says he’ll be happy to spend the rest of his career at Smith Bros. & Wilson.
“We’re very competitive in the industry for compensation and benefits, so there’s no issue there. It’s the bigger package, the non-financial things that make a huge difference,” says Smith.
“I’ve been here for nine years — no intentions of leaving.”
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Advertising feature produced by Canada’s Top 100 Employers, a division of Mediacorp Canada Inc. The Globe and Mail’s editorial department was not involved.