In recent years, Lee Industrial Contracting, a Pontiac-based, employee-owned company, secured funds from the Going Pro Talent Fund, Closing the Skills Gap grant and the State Apprenticeship Expansion grant.
Crain’s Detroit Business Excellence in HR Award 2024
As a result, the HR department has invested $300,000 to train more than 500 team members, bolstering the company’s workforce development and safety initiatives.
“While my team has been at the forefront of implementing various learning initiatives, there is a strong, shared commitment (from leadership) to upskilling, coaching and professional development,” said Lee’s Chief Administrative Officer Krista Fish.
One step in the process was merging managerial coaching with structured training.
“From there, Lee Industrial Contracting’s training sessions have been transformed into practical, on-the-job applications, leading to employee development and advancement,” Fish said.
The changes allowed the HR team to fill all its field available supervisory positions, 72% of its craftsmen and foremen positions and 28% of its professional positions by promoting from within.
Additionally, the company, which partners with agencies and schools like the Southeast Michigan Construction Academy, offered apprentice programs in electrical, HVAC and pipefitting to roughly 40 employees to prepare them for long-term, successful careers. And about 65% of the funds are going toward teaching or reinforcing proper safety practices.
