Company culture is a topic that seems to rise to the top of discussions at various fabricator forums and other educational sessions I attend. Questions are often raised about how to hire the right person for the job and how to incentivize them to stay. Not only are fabricators in search of someone with the necessary skillset, but they need someone with a positive attitude who is ambitious and willing to be a team player.

We share a story of how Sandya Dandamudi, owner of GI Stone in Chicago, took the idea of company culture and team building exercises to the next level by inviting her employees on an African Safari! If you have not read the feature online yet, take a few minutes to check it out now. The photos are truly amazing.

I realize that this in an extreme example. While I am sure every shop owner would like to compensate their workers with an all-expense-paid vacation if they could, my guess is that the majority of businesses cannot afford to do that. There are other smaller gestures, however, that can go along way. I have heard some fabricators talk about having a Friday barbecue or bringing in lunch as a way of uniting their team. Others have rewarded employees with tickets to a baseball game, while others have monetary incentives and bonus plans in place.

As we often mention, one of the parts of working for Stone World that we enjoy the most is getting out and about to attend industry events, education sessions and connecting with industry members. We are always listening so we can report back on any ideas or experiences we hear being discussed, so everyone can learn from them. Last month, we were in Savannah, GA, for one of the Stone Industry Education (SIE) events that we organize with the Natural Stone Institute (NSI). You can find some highlights here.

Next stop for me is Houston, TX, for another SIE event. Stay tuned for a detailed account when I return.