Shoreview Electric is a family-owned commercial contracting company headquartered in Clinton Township, MI. They employ roughly three dozen people and serve as a textbook case of a construction company that attracts strong talent in the skilled trades and enjoys an impressive track record of retaining employees for the long haul.
Managed by the Puma and Doran families, company leadership proudly boasts that they don’t ever recall losing an employee to a competitor. Some employees have left to other industry fields, but none have left to seek greener pastures doing the same work for someone else. And that’s not by accident.
To discover the keys to success, one must first look back at the company’s history. Founded by Harry and Mary Puma in 1966, what began as a one-man operation has flourished over the years, with high profile work on such venues as the Palace of Auburn Hills, Macomb Community College, DTE Music Theater and the Henry Ford Estate.
Shoreview credits much of their success over the last 50 years to a culture centered around family. Harry and Mary Puma brought their two sons, Kevin and Steve, along with their daughter, Debbie (Doran), into the business as it was growing. Debbie’s husband, Rich Doran, is a project manager and rounds out the leadership team at Shoreview.
“Family atmosphere is pervasive in all aspects of what we do here,” explained Shoreview President, Kevin Puma. “There’s a key philosophy at our foundation: treat employees like family.”
The company does this in a myriad of ways, but it often includes hosting company- sponsored events like golf outings, Tigers and Pistons games, holiday parties and even trips up north with their employees. Shoreview management has a holistic view of what it takes to maintain a strong workforce.
Many construction companies are being crippled today by losing key employees to competitors that promise to pay a couple bucks more an hour. In a white-hot labor market, losing important workers means a contractor can’t complete lucrative projects in a timely basis or bid on prized upcoming work. Those missed opportunities cost much more than the small pay raise the employee left for.
“Good business practices in today’s economy means not risking the loss of key personnel by failing to make the right investment in them,” said project manager, Steve Puma.
In addition to occasional social activities for their employees, Shoreview provides competitive hourly pay and generous healthcare coverage. They place a premium on workplace safety, training of apprentices at ABC, exceptional organization and cleanliness in the shop area and an intriguing mix of electrical projects which helps drive away the doldrums that are inevitable during every day work. Their projects include municipal buildings, schools, medical facilities and properties owned by Palace Sports and Entertainment
Shoreview’s most interesting and intriguing project was installing the new center scoreboard and ribbon boards around the interior of the Palace. In the process, they installed hundreds of miles of electrical wire and fiber optics so that fans could be entertained by electronic messages and flickering lights throughout the venue to stoke the home team crowds.
What’s also notable around the Shoreview offices is the camaraderie, good will and teamwork that exists among the management group. You would expect to sense the normal dissention between coworkers, or worse yet, family members who work together. Instead, you notice smiles and an unexpected warmth shared between them. They credit part of that continued aura to an important rule: avoid discussing business at family functions.
In a separate private interview, Rich Doran was effusive in his praise about the leadership of Kevin Puma. While Kevin may be seen from outsiders as a quiet guy, he is credited for being a strong leader that sets the tempo and culture of the successful Clinton Township business. In addition to his normal management functions, Kevin is responsible for bids and estimating at Shoreview.
Shoreview Electric appears to have found the elusive and important key in employee attraction, training and retention.
“Treating everyone like family has been key to our success,” concluded Debbie Doran.
Article from the Associated Builders and Contractors – Southeast Michigan Chapter.
