For Sundt Construction’s OC chief Jim Householder, there’s a key to being the best place to work: 100% employee ownership.
“This is ours and we treat it accordingly,” said Householder, vice president and Irvine regional director for Sundt.
The advantages are clear for Sundt, which ranked No. 3 in the Best Places to Work in Orange County in the Large Companies category. The company, founded in 1890, “has done very well,” according to Householder.
Sundt’s current local projects include building a new student housing tower at California State University, Fullerton, to provide more than 500 beds.
The company is also renovating and upgrading a 50-year-old existing fine arts facility at Cypress College.
Employee Stock Ownership
“We want to drive prosperity for all our employee-owners,” Householder told the Business Journal on June 24. That includes the shares in Sundt that employee-owners receive, giving them a direct stake in the company’s future.
“I see my employee stock value rising every year as the company does well,” according to Householder, who works out of the company’s OC offices in Irvine.
The employee shares are fully vested after five years.
Sundt employees who contribute to their 401k plans also receive a company match.
“Employee ownership can turn a job into a lifelong investment, where every day contributes to a more secure future,” Sundt CEO and Chairman Mike Hoover said last year.
Sundt also arranges many events aimed at building team spirit. That includes picnics, golf tournaments and Christmas parties, while also carrying out philanthropic work, including working with Habitat for Humanity.
30 Employees in OC
Tempe, Arizona-based Sundt has about 30 employees in OC, including field management and office support. It has about 115 employees statewide and 4,300 total employee-owners companywide.
Householder predicts that 2025 revenue for OC projects will be in the area of about $70 million.
There is training so “everybody’s moving up in their career.”
“If we prioritize safety, it’s because we want our brothers and sisters to go home every day safe and secure,” said Householder.
The company also provides medical insurance as well as parental leave.
“A lot of our employees have fairly long tenures with the company,” the regional chief said. “It’s impressive to see employees with really long, lengthy tenures. It’s because they’re really happy with where they’re at and they’ve been able advance in their careers.”