Chris Eirvin and Wade Hunt are movers and shakers. As I have visited with them and tracked their progress over the past few years, I have been incredibly impressed by their energy, their commitment to their employees, and their superlative commitment to safety.
Chris, the CEO and founder of Utilimap Corporation, told me recently, “We launched this company in 2001 with four employees and a drive to provide GIS and engineering services to the utility industry. Today we have 165 employees and we are still hiring.”
Wade is Chris’ “right-hand man” and he quickly chimed in, “We have always sought to provide a culture of safety first and foremost. Our employees are our number one asset. I know a lot of people say this, but we live it.”
The corporate office is located in Fenton, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis. The minute you walk in, the place has a good feel to it. There’s an openness and camaraderie that sends a message of “this is a good place to work.”
Utilimap is rapidly expanding into other markets due to its commitment to the only three things that matter in any business - delighting clients, being productive and creating a superb culture. As Chris noted, “The simplest definition of the word culture is how things are done around here. In this business, safety must be the top core value in your culture - not a priority. I insist that safety be on the top of the heap, followed always by our second priority of quality. I have seen what accidents can do to an organization’s morale and I am ecstatic about what my managers and front-line folks have done. I’m proud to be associated with all of them!”
Reeling off accomplishments
In 2007, Utilimap (remember, a seven-year-old firm with 165 employees) accomplished the following: