Top Company 2015: GeoStabilization International LLC

Lisa Ryckman //September 22, 2015//

Top Company 2015: GeoStabilization International LLC

Lisa Ryckman //September 22, 2015//

Winner: Real Estate/Construction/Contracting

GeoStabilization International LLC

www.gsi.us  

Three words from them, about them: Integrity. Safety. Family.

For Grand Junction-based GeoStabilization International, protecting North American roads from falling rock is not just a business mission – it’s a philanthropic one.

“Our work makes the nation’s roadway network safer for the traveling public and undoubtedly saves people’s lives,” CEO Colby Barrett says. “And by bringing the newest technologies and approaches to public agencies, we can often cut project costs and time in half as compared to older, more traditional geo-hazard repair technologies.”

GSI was founded in 2002 around a single tool: the Soil Nail Launcher, a British military weapon repurposed as a compressed air cannon that could shoot 20-foot steel or fiberglass tubes into unstable slopes. In 2013, GSI bought the assets of a Canadian rockfall mitigation company, making it the national leader in geo-hazard mitigation. But national dominance was only part of the plan for expansion in 2013 and beyond. GSI formed a subsidiary in Canada, completing 11 projects valued at nearly $1 million during the second half of 2013. The company boasts repair of more than 1,200 active landslides.

“We have saved nearly $150 million of taxpayer dollars in addition to making North America’s roadways safer,” Barrett says.

GSI also donates funds to causes its employees are interested in, from The Mission Continues – an organization that helps veterans continue their service after transitioning to civilian life – to the Nucla High School wrestling team.

The secret sauce: “Our culture,” CEO Barrett says. “Followed as a strict set of core values, we hire for talent and character knowing that we can always teach these individuals the skills that will make them successful at our company.” Twice-yearly core-value training highlights the principles the company holds most dear: “Always Do the Right Thing; “Work Hard or Go Home”; “Ensure Client Best Value”; and “Protect our Family.”

Finalists

RK
 

www.rkmi.com

RK, the Rocky Mountain region’s top supplier of mechanical, fabrication and service solutions, boasts a team of more than 1,200 people,155,000 square-foot fabrication facilities, and six integrated business units – mechanical, service, steel, energy, water and electrical. The company invests in the wellbeing of team members with a full-time wellness coach who meets with employees to set and achieve goals such as weight loss or better fitness. By participating in preventive wellness programs, employees can earn significant discounts on their health insurance.

 

Shaw Construction

www.shawconstruction.net

Shaw Construction, a Colorado-based construction firm that builds cutting-edge structures in a variety of sectors, prides itself on nurturing a company-wide entrepreneurial spirit, which fosters a culture of ownership and responsibility. Shaw team members participate in several annual charity and community service events including runs, bike rides and community clean-up efforts. Shaw also donates services such as building materials, preconstruction services and general contracting to nonprofit organizations. Shaw contributes where it can make an impact in its community, whether through service, tools or leadership.