Since its inception, Apache Industrial Services has been determined to defy the status quo and exceed all expectations by always doing things the right way, by any means necessary — no matter what the circumstance. To Apache, it means being all in, all the time and doing what is right. It is why Apache has enjoyed purposeful growth and why the rest of the industry is taking notice of this unassuming company that has worked successfully with some of the biggest players in the industry.
From its inception, Apache was designed to be something different. Founder Doug Lee shared, “We have been on a mission to deliver a different level of work and connection with and for our customers. We have built this company around people. We have invested in them and helped them to know what it means to be Apache, part of my family heritage. This Apache connection defines how we work and succeed together.”
By doing right, Apache has begun to define not only its place in the industry but redefine how work can be accomplished safely and productively by selecting the right craftsman for the job. Apache has emerged from the shadows with determined growth driven by an exceptional safety track record, quality of workmanship and production. And in the process, the company has never lost focus on its values and the people who have helped to get Apache where it is today. So much of the company’s success is driven by Apache management’s unyielding commitment to its craftsmen and development of a business culture that rewards active engagement by its personnel and doing things the right way.
Totally committed
As a company, part and parcel to doing things the right way means hiring the right people with the right skills to do the job right. And at Apache, what defines a qualified craftsman means more than just having the skills to do the job right. It means taking an active role in the Apache culture. It means putting safety first, above all else, and taking pride and ownership in the task at hand. In short, it means embracing the Apache way. That is why each Apache employee, regardless of how long he or she has been part of the company, recognizes there is a different way of working at the company.
“The foundation of Apache’s culture is built around men and women of character who have a genuine interest in making a positive impact — being different, not an also-ran — and doing the right thing. We are all about taking action and being present. At our core, we are a culture of engagement,” said CEO Mike Knigin.
To the craftsmen and everyone throughout the company, it is simply known as Apache Pride. And the company is committed to protecting and fiercely defending the pride it has in its culture as it continues to set expectations and clearly articulate the values and behaviors that have long defined the organization.
These values are instilled beginning the first day an Apache employee is hired and continuing on until he is fully prepared to walk onto a jobsite. Because of its defined human capital strategy, the company is careful and very purposeful about who is hired — recognizing it takes a lot more than knowledge, technical skills and ability to become a successful Apache employee. It takes someone who values integrity, hard work and an unwavering commitment to doing it right — whenever and whatever the task requires.
“It is Apache’s strong belief if we create a place where craftsmen want to be, if we are the employer of choice in the marketplace, the rest will take care of itself. To do this, our people need to be able to make a difference — to feel and be part of something,” continued Knigin. “They cannot be marginalized or made to feel like a number.”
Apache is all about empowering its people — its craftsmen — to take ownership, be owners of their actions and be leaders in the execution of the task at hand. They call this “performance with a sense of purpose” or, more simply, Apache Pride.
Built from the ground up by its craftsmen
Apache’s success begins and ends with its craftsmen. While an organization’s strategy can be dictated by leadership, it is an organization’s culture — fostered and promoted by its people — that a company becomes known for. And Apache’s culture has always played a major role in its success.
That is why Apache is actively making significant capital investments in the parts of its business it believes will deliver the greatest future value and benefits for its craftsmen and customers. One area of investment is Apache’s Human Capital Management Tool.
As Apache Industrial Services Executive Vice President Scott Thibodeaux recently shared, “The tool will provide a direct line of communication between Apache’s craftsmen and the company that offers real tangible and intangible value to our greatest asset, our people. This is all about empowering the 98 percent of the Apache organization that actually do the work.” In addition, the tool will deliver access to Apache customers, in a manner that provides real visibility into craftsmen qualifications, certification and training, risk and performance.
Another area of investment is Apache’s Houston-area Craft Training Center and Shop Facility on its new 125-acre campus. Strategically located, this world-class, 300,000-square-foot facility is the first and largest of its kind. This facility will provide the company with a venue to provide both classroom and field-based assessments of its workforce.
“The objective of these investments is straightforward: Strengthen the ties between Apache and its greatest asset — its people — and provide the highest quality craftsmen to our customers,” continued Thibodeaux.
The combination of these assets presents both a new and proprietary way to conduct business in a human capital-short environment. Thibodeaux continued, “We are certain these investments will inure to the benefit of Apache, our craftsmen and our customers.”
The new facility represents a commitment to continuing to build upon and improve on its legacy of performance. And, with the Craft Training Center, Apache is well prepared to facilitate the training for its future workforce, regardless of trade or expertise. In fact, with the new facility up and running, Apache can proudly claim it is home to the largest fireproofing, coatings and linings facility in the U.S.
Safety focus
When visiting with Apache management, it is clear the company’s commitment to safety is overwhelming and drives the quality and production of its workforce. “We leverage our commitment to safety as a tool to instill a sense of pride in our craftsmen. It’s about being part of something, being present, making an impact and taking ownership of the task at hand,” said Tysen Lutz, chief safety officer. “Our commitment to the well-being of our people has a direct impact on our overall performance.”
Apache employees are empowered to work safely on every task, every time. From there, safety is addressed at every level within the organization. Executive management is directly engaged and “in the trenches” with craftsmen. Behavioral expectations training is executed before the job not on the job. Craftsmen are required to make it personal with regard to safe work practices. Front-line supervision is expected to seek customer input, feedback and advice throughout the project life cycle. And finally, the Apache safety organization emphasizes coaching and training rather than policing and punishing. It is different, and it is decidedly Apache.
The result of this commitment to safety has been nothing short of outstanding, with the statistics and industry recognition telling a story of a company doing it right. Apache is an A-rated contractor with ISNetworld, Browz, PICS and other related industry organizations, just to name a few. Perhaps more telling is the fact Apache has seen its total recordable incident rate numbers steadily decline from an average of .38 in 2009 to .16 in 2014. While this decline is admirable on its own, what is especially striking is the decline occurred while man-hours increased more than threefold. Continued Lutz, “This is a testament to thousands of people committed to a philosophy of ‘servant leadership,’ keenly interested in showing the marketplace people — craftsmen — can and do make a difference.”
While Apache does not aspire to be the largest company of its kind, it remains acutely focused on staying true to its strengths and tradition of doing things the right way. That is the essence of what has defined Apache and so dramatically driven the company’s safety expectations and results.
Growing to serve
Apache continues to grow at a purposeful pace and has carefully selected like-minded companies with which to merge cultures, assets and workforce. Apache’s recent acquisition of Southern Insulation (Sulphur, Louisiana) and Stark Sandblasting and Painting Co. (Canton, Ohio) continues to build upon the company’s strong expertise in coatings, linings, scaffolding, fireproofing and insulation. Additionally, these two companies reinforce Apache’s ability to continue to service its customers in growing geographic areas along the Gulf Coast in the Sulphur/Lake Charles area and in the Midwest.
Both of these companies share Apache’s business philosophy and commitment to safety and have a tremendous reputation in their respective markets. Southern Insulation has operated in the Lake Charles area for over 30 years with a focus on insulation. Stark Sandblasting has operated in the Midwest for over 30 years with a focus on coatings and linings, and fireproofing. Both businesses have longstanding maintenance relationships in their respective markets and will assist Apache with bolstering its multicraft capabilities in their geographies.
After the acquisitions, Knigin stated, “We are extremely excited to welcome the Stark and Southern organizations to the Apache family. Both businesses are built on a solid foundation of engaged leadership, committed craftsmen and a long track record of success. Both companies share Apache’s values, as well as its commitment to safety and its people.”
The prospect of increasing Apache’s presence in one of the fastest-growing capital construction marketplaces in the country made the decision to acquire Southern Insulation an easy one for the company. The combination of the business assists Apache with building its multicraft footprint in this vital region, while continuing to serve and grow its capabilities and services with its existing customer base.
All in
Apache is meeting the challenges and opportunities of the future head on. And not only for its own future but that of the entire industry and what it believes is required to most effectively serve its customers.
With the timely completion of the construction of its new state-of-the-art campus, the introduction of first-of-its-kind tools and proprietary technologies, expanding its base of operations and investing in the development of its people and culture, Apache is doing far more than merely making a statement about its vision for the future. It is acting on it with vision, determination and focus — and a measure of pride that is deeply imbedded within all aspects of the company.
Apache Industrial Services is ready for what is next. Its leadership is connected and inspired. Its people are engaged. They are impeccably trained. They are empowered. And, together, they are all in — in not only doing it right but doing it right every time.
For more information on Apache Industrial Services, call Mike Knigin or Doug Lee at (713) 450-9307 or visit www.apacheip.com.
