Speaker: D. J. Simmons, President
How long have you been with ACME and what lead you to your current role here ?
D. J. Simmons: Hi, D.J. Simmons I started at ACME in 2004 as a project manager. Worked as a project manager for about five years. And in 2009, our former owner decided to sell the rest of the company to the ESOP and that's when he appointed me as president.
What is your favorite part of your role and the team at ACME Constructors ?
D. J. Simmons: Let's see some of my favorite things about my role. I'd say probably the most is working with people to try and solve problems, whether it's how to build something or help eliminate some efficiency issues where they're having a couple inner things or just even working with people. Really also like kind of set an example and creating a positive work environment. I think that's really important. And then I feel it's my biggest responsibility is the employee ownership. And I really want everyone to be able to retire comfortably if they've worked here for over 10 years, 15 years somewhere in there.
What stands out to you about the culture at ACME Constructors ?
D. J. Simmons: Some things that stand out, I think we all work together really well. Some of the things I've really emphasized to our younger engineers is that our field staff has a ton of knowledge that we never got in school. And to really trying to embrace their knowledge, get their ideas and figure out how to build things because they have a lot more experience in that, that we never get in school. And that also happens in the office as well, where we have a kind of a mixed staff of of college & field staff. And getting all those different ideas together and we're all good at different things and respecting everybody's talents. I think that's one of the best things that we have going for us.
