General Sheet Metal, which specializes in mechanical, architectural, laser, and HVAC fabrication, installation, and repair services, in Clackamas, Oregon. Sean Meagher/The Oregonian
At General Sheet Metal, the work culture is like a family — collaborative and a place where anyone can share their thoughts freely.
The company was founded in 1932 but was bought by current owner Carol Duncan’s father and uncle in 1972. Duncan said her daughter, Ashley, plans to take on the family mantle next.
“We’ve been through some tough times together and we’ve been through some good times together and it just always comes back to the people,” Duncan said.
The Clackamas-based contractor and manufacturer specializes in almost everything metal, from pre-construction architectural planning to the installation of HVAC ventilation systems and air conditioning. It’s a second-time winner in The Oregonian/OregonLive’s Top Workplaces competition, now in its 10th year.
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The collaborative culture instills a sense of ownership in employees, according to Adam Kriss. He started out at the company over 20 years ago sweeping floors and is now the manager for the Virtual Design Group, where building designs are computer-generated before construction on a project begins.
“I found that it had a family-type environment, a family feel where you know the owner of the company really cared about her workers,” Kriss said.
He said the culture has also brought in the best workers. He said General Sheet Metal’s crafts people are like artists, learning the trade through skills passed down from fellow metal workers.
“We definitely have people here that take great pride in their work,” Kriss said. “They want to do things right, they want to do things once and they want to do things with a high, high level of accuracy.”
General Sheet Metal in Clackamas specializes in mechanical, architectural, laser, and HVAC fabrication, installation, and repair services. Pictured is employee Joe Durant.Sean Meagher/Staff
General Sheet Metal is certified by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council — a nonprofit that provides resources to woman-owned businesses. Under Duncan’s leadership, General Sheet Metal provides an inclusive environment, according to Jennifer Clark, a project manager on the architectural side.
“I also really appreciate that it’s a woman doing business,” Clark said. “I’m a woman. I’m a member of the LGBTQ community. Working in construction you get people from across the board, and that’s cool….but it’s just nice being in a company that feels supportive and cares about all their employees.”
Clark, too, feels like she has a say in how the company runs. She said she has done well at General Sheet Metal by speaking her mind, even if she disagrees with something at a meeting.
In that way, General Sheet Metal is “very different from other similar-sized organizations that I’ve worked at,” she said.
Soon, an employee’s ownership in the company will be not just a part of the culture, but also a part of the benefits package.
General Sheet Metal, which has an operating budget of $35 million and roughly 140 employees depending on the various projects in motion, will offer what is called an employee stock ownership plan, which gives workers a stake in the company.
“Using an ESOP to engage and empower employees with ownership should create alignment that mobilizes employees to take responsibility (i.e. ‘”own’”) both their individual and GSM’s success,” said Korede Alabi, chief financial officer for General Sheet Metal.
Other employee benefits include a 100% company sponsored health care and wellness plan for employees and dependents, access to a personal financial planner, and an onsite chef. A competitive compensation package includes a 401(k) plan, other discretionary compensation programs, paid time off, holidays, tax savings on dependent care and out-of-pocket medical expenses, voluntary AFLAC plans such as short-term disability, employee assistance program, and other discounted programs.
See more Top Workplaces coverage at oregonlive.com/topworkplaces.
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