Setting The Standard
Brencal Contractors, Inc. is a blueprint for team building
Search the internet and you will find more than 53 million results on the characteristics of a great team, each containing a different theory or perspective on the dynamics that result in peak performance. It’s clear there is no “one size fits all” definitive list of traits that work across the board for every group or organization.
However, our interview with Dan Birko, project estimator at Brencal Contractors, Inc., provides a real-life example of a highly effective team whose attributes are leveraged to benefit the business and its clients.
Brencal Contractors—located in Warren, Michigan—is a midsized general contracting firm that specializes in concrete formwork, sitework, and demolition across a wide range of markets, including health care, automotive, industrial, education, transportation and wastewater treatment.
The company is proud to be one of the few general contractors serving the Detroit metro area capable of self-performing many project services. It directly employs workers experienced in various trades, including carpenters, concrete finishers, heavy equipment operators, teamsters and laborers, and has a total staff of about 60—many of whom are longtime employees of the company.
Team Begins at the Top
The organization’s foundation was laid in 1960 by its founding fathers Jack Brickel, Sheldon England and Robert Calleja. Since that time, the company has operated on the principles of hard work and integrity. Jack became sole owner in 1994. In 1998, his sons—Brian W. Brickel, President, and Chuck Brickel, Vice President—replaced him as co-owners of the business, which now includes seven other members of the Brickel family and the third generation in the company’s history.
Dan says, “It’s truly a family-oriented company—a workplace culture that extends to all employees—and I really like that. Before working for Brencal Contractors, I was employed at a very large corporation. It was great, but it felt like you were just a number as an employee there.” In contrast, Brencal Contractors’ organizational structure and size allow the leaders to be accessible to their employees and eliminate the bureaucracy many larger entities have in place for managing the work and staff.
“Here I have a really personal and more direct relationship with the company owners. There aren’t layers and layers of hierarchy—multiple directors, vice presidents, executive directors and levels like that,” Dan adds.
It is not uncommon for Brian or Chuck to stop by an employee’s home to drop off paperwork or tools on their way home from the office. Simple things like taking a moment to visit and talk with their employees and their family members strengthens the relationships between them and their personnel, resulting in a staff that’s motivated to continue to go above and beyond.
Workers are not only recognized for their efforts, they are also empowered to make decisions in the field. For example, superintendents and project managers have consent to use their best judgment in many scenarios, instead of sending all decisions to the highest level for approval. However, the owners are readily available to give executive approval or provide wisdom gained from their combined 85 years of industry experience.
“In our business, making decisions fast is really important, and if you have to go up the chain of command too often, it may take weeks and weeks to get a decision made. Ultimately, you’re not doing any justice to your project. You need to move on things; you can’t sit on decisions like that,” Dan explains.
Well-Rounded Workforce
Independent, skillful decision-making is not the only characteristic that contributes to Brencal Contractors’ success. The group also possesses an extensive and continually evolving body of knowledge. Since the firm takes on a variety of projects, staff members often have an opportunity to acquire new talents and enhance existing skill sets.
For example, one of the company’s projects at the Marysville Water Filtration/Wastewater Treatment Plant, a fully operational facility, involved bypass pumping while reworking underground pumps and tanks in order to keep a large treatment facility active while also performing extensive upgrades to the facility. Since this type of construction is different from a new construction build, their employees learned how critical communication is in order to complete their work while also keeping a large treatment facility active to serve the community.
“Our workforce is just very versatile,” Dan says. “It’s not unheard of for an employee to be out pouring concrete one day and the next day hanging a door or putting up trim. Having employees with the knowledge, tools and abilities to perform a wide range of tasks definitely helps to provide a variety of services. This allows us to handle everything from the biggest of tasks to the smallest.”
Can-Do Attitude
Clients regularly ask for minor tasks to be done, like concrete housekeeping pads or putting in a few light pole bases. Brencal Contractors prides itself on making time to take care of those things. “We do everything in our power to be available for our customers no matter the size of the job,” Dan says. While other contractors may find this type of work cost prohibitive, Brencal Contractors sees it as good customer relations.
How is the firm able to take care of small requests and still manage to stay on track with major project deliverables? It’s a collaborative effort and a shared goal of putting the customer first. Dan also credits the team’s camaraderie, “We’re really good at having each other’s backs,” he says. “If a customer calls with a little unplanned project and I am unable to take care of it due to previously scheduled obligations, one of my co-workers is always willing to jump in to get it done, and I do the same for in return. We just find a way, utilizing the staff that we have, to be able to serve our clients’ needs constantly.”
Quality Time
The company’s team members exhibit a sense of loyalty and reliability not only toward their customers but also regarding each other, which is evident in the relationships they’ve garnered over many years.
Dan describes his colleagues as the type of people you want to spent time with when you are not at work. They share their lives with each other and some even share the same neighborhood. It’s commonplace for one of the employees to become host to 10 to 15 employees and their families at an impromptu weekend get-together.
“Our bond is not limited to working hours,” Dan says. “I think that’s what really helps with our trust and our ability to almost predict what other people are going to do. When you work so closely with your team and spend time together, you know how they operate.” Brian and Chuck foster positive employee relations through company events like their annual holiday celebration, where current personnel enjoy dinner and conversation with company alumni. Dan adds, “A lot of our retirees come back for the Christmas party every year. It’s nice to connect with them, to see people who were lifelong employees of the company, hear their stories and realize how things have changed from 40 years ago when they were working.”
Built for Long-Lasting Impact
How do these aspects of the Brencal Contractors’ team affect the business? Dan’s response: “I think our multitalented employees, and the relationships we have with them and our clients, are what allow us to provide our customers with the best service possible. And our clients really seem to appreciate it. I think that’s why we do have so many longstanding relationships with owners who continue to call on us for construction work—big and small.”
A perfect example of this is the company’s long-term association with Detroit—an equipment manufacturer of diesel engines, axles and transmissions. Detroit has been a customer for over 40 years and over that time Brencal Contractors has done a wide variety of jobs that range in size and complexity. Chuck has overseen this relationship since its inception, along with a dedicated site superintendent, Jim Hebel, who works on Detroit projects. Whether it’s a 20,000-square-foot office space renovation or a general maintenance request, the folks at Brencal Contractors are always on the job.
The company’s client list also includes other well-known institutions like General Motors, Wayne State University, the City of Warren and the Michigan Department of Transportation.
When you look at the big picture that is Brencal Contractors, you find a winning team led by industry experts who make themselves accessible to their staff, while empowering them and cultivating a culture that fosters relationship building. This group operates like a family, filled with highly skilled individuals who are eager to grow, supportive of each other and have strong work ethics. It’s no wonder that next year the company will be celebrating 60 years in business—and is positioned to continue thriving as it focuses on serving all of its clients’ needs.