MANSFIELD — R.G. Smith Company, an industrial contractor service, believes it has been a successful shop because of its employees.
It’s how the entity is celebrating a 100-year anniversary, with its employees, and it’s why R.G. Smith (166 W. 6th St., Mansfield) believes it can continue for another, said Rick Reece, Mansfield division manager.
“To me, it’s all about its people,” Reece said. “With any successful organization, you’re only as good as your employees. We’re very fortunate to have well-trained, safety-oriented people who lead us. I can’t say enough about the people.”
The corporate office in Canton is celebrating the 100-year anniversary while Reece’s division has been in Mansfield for 25 years. Reece believes employees and customers have stayed because they are treated fairly.
“That’s pretty rare,” said Reece of the company’s century mark. “From 1916 to 2016, I think, this company has seen it all, hasn’t it?
“From the Depression to the Recession to the ’08, ’09 debacle in the housing industry. I think it has proven it is on solid ground. I think that speaks volumes for itself. I think with the ownership currently in place, they have set forward a standard, a goal for 100 percent customer satisfaction.
R.G. Smith Mansfield has many returning customers who make the 50 employees stay on their toes by giving them different tasks each day, Reece said.
“We never know from day to day. We come in and our plans are always changing. When one of our returning customers has a break down, well, we’re mobilizing our people and taking care of that need,” Reece said. “We get calls in the middle of the night — on the weekend. We’re here to service the heavy industry.
“I guess looking at it from a typical day-to-day schedule, that’s the standpoint for day-to-day. You never know. One day you are at a steel mill, the next day you are at a food facility, the next day you are at a paper mill.”
Currently, about half of the Mansfield division employees are in South Carolina With Rockwell International for a factory upgrade of the paper mill.
“Huge variety. Every day is a new challenge, without question,” Reece continued. “I think that’s what still drives me after 30-plus years.
“It’s always something new; always something different. It’s a challenge, and our people thrive on new challenges.”
