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ensuring everyone goes home safe every day is our primary objective. After that, we focus on taking care of our customers. In addition, we reinforce a culture of constant communication, while encouraging employees to take their time and do the job right the first time. Achieving such a high level of safety requires significant focus, communication, and vigilance,” he reveals.
Safety and effective communication are core pillars of SSP’ s working ethos, playing a vital role in its ability to attract and retain talent as the industry continues to face labor shortages. In David’ s view,“ skilled labor and the evolving workforce are the secret sauce these days.” To create as good a work environment as possible, which is an ongoing objective for SSP, the company employs several traditional strategies. For example, it prioritizes rewards and recognition for its employees and has implemented a robust profit-sharing program. Moreover, this year, the company is resurrecting its apprenticeship program in order to partner with local technical training facilities, with the aim of providing apprenticeship opportunities for all of its skilled labor.
With its unparalleled safety record and dedicated workforce, it is no surprise that SSP continues to thrive after a century in business. As the company celebrates its 100th anniversary this September, David reflects on the factors that have contributed to SSP’ s enduring success and longevity over the past decades.“ I believe that our private ownership structure certainly empowered us to achieve this. Unlike many private owners who extract capital from the business, I choose to reinvest and prepare SSP for long-term growth. The company is four generations old, with three of those generations in my family, as my grandfather acquired the company from the founders. Overall, we have been fortunate to be part of a robust economy, and being located in America has been advantageous. Diligence has also played a key role in our success; business is challenging but we have worked hard at it.”
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