Building and Construction West - Winter 2011 - (Page 70)
profile klb construction inc. Team Efforts + KLB Construction credits its staff for making it a safe, profitable operation that consistently delivers quality work. By Alan Dorich KLB Construction Inc. www.klbcon.com Headquarters: Mukilteo, Wash. Services: Heavy highway civil contracting Employees: 115 - 300 (depending on the time of year) “We are all expected to do what we need to do and that happens every day.” > Bill Grady, principal contractors might find that > Someoperations get more complicated as their they grow larger, but KLB Construction Inc. has not had that problem, Principle Bill Grady contends. Although KLB has grown since its start in the 1980s, “We’ve maintained small-company values,” he says. “We give quite a bit of leeway to our managers to make on-the-ground decisions, as opposed to a large corporation.” Based in Mukilteo, Wash., the heavy highway civil contractor was founded 26 years ago by Grady’s sister, President Kelly Lynn Bosa. However, the family’s legacy in the construction business goes back even further, Grady notes. “We all grew up in a construction family,” he recalls, explaining that his father worked in construction for the state of Washington and for another highway contractor. When Bosa decided to start her own business, she entered a minority program and, today, several family members work at KLB Construction. According to Grady, the values that his father instilled in his children led to Bosa’s decision to start KLB. “She wanted family to work together with each member bringing value to the company,” he says. “The ‘family’ value is also something that we look for in each of our employees as they are part of our extended family,” he continues. “I think our father would be very proud to see how his family has passed construction knowledge and tradition through the generations and to KLB Construction is performing dewatering work in Moses Lake, Wa., and enduring extreme temperatures while doing so. know that his grandchildren are now following in his footsteps.” In addition, the company serves a diverse customer base that includes both private and public clients. However, KLB’s largest portion of projects consists of government work, Grady says. Some of its top clients include WSDOT cities and county municipalities. All About People Grady joined KLB Construction 23 years ago. He notes that he enjoys working with his sister and her husband, Vince Bosa, since both are enthusiastic about the business and treat workers well. But it’s not just KLB’s leaders who deserve credit — Grady also praises the company’s entire team. “[From] every family member to every field person we have, they’re the reasons we can be competitive,” he says. “They’re the reasons we continue to work safe and profitably. It is truly a team effort.” Additionally, “The family [participation] has definitely been key to our success,” he says, explaining that it has nurtured an environment where employees 70 b&c west winter 2011
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