This design/build engineering specialist has grown continuously in its 20 plus years of existence thanks to its experienced, motivated staff
Written by Gabe Perna & Produced by Scott Wonkka
The easiest way to mark the success of the Richmond, VA-based Industrial TurnAround Corporation (ITAC) is to note the company’s continuous upgrading of its space. When the design/build engineering specialist began in 1988, its founder Sidney Harrison rented a small office from his brother. As the company grew, ITAC trailers began to form a base behind that space, which eventually was upgraded into a two-story building. Twice more ITAC would upgrade to bigger and better buildings.
This year in June marked another move as the company upgraded into a 65,000sf office building across the street from its previous facility. It also has a satellite office in Chesapeake, VA. Company President Jon Loftis is one who has seen ITAC’s complete growth since the early days.
“I joined ITAC 20 years ago. At the time, we were 10 guys in two trailers on a gravel parking lot. Our focus over the years has been to service the manufacturing and industrial market with quality engineering and design build project services. Our corporate name, industrial turnaround, is what our focus was when we began the company. That was to provide the local industry with quality, shutdown turnaround services and plant upgrades,” says Loftis.
BUILDING TRUST
While ITAC still provides quality, shutdown turnaround service and plant upgrades, it offers its clients much more. This includes design/build services in construction, a variety of biofuel solutions and additional power system services. The company services the power, chemical, pharmaceutical, tobacco and bio-energy industries. Overall, Loftis says he thinks the company is able to offer its clients a level of reassurance not often found in the industry.
“I was thinking back on our experiences from some of our clients and why they hire us. One of the number one reasons they hire us is because we’ve developed a level of trust and confidence in the services we deliver,” says Loftis.
A good example of this came recently when one of ITAC’s clients came to them with a new product they wanted to bring to the market. The publicly unseen product required new processes and capabilities on the client’s side and needed to be unveiled in a short time frame. According to Loftis, they wanted the product in the marketplace within nine months from when the project was initiated – meaning selection, procurement, building renovations and additions would be required. Thanks to ITAC’s design/build plan, the project delivered and the product hit the shelves in record time.
“We were able to simultaneously engineer the process as we were building and putting facilities in place. The design/build approach allowed for the construction to proceed with a less formal engineering process while engineers and construction contractors worked hand in hand. It really creates an effective and efficient building process,” Loftis explains.
EXPERIENCED EMPLOYEES
Loftis says ITAC has used design/build on major and smaller projects alike ranging from $100 thousand to $100 million. The vast experience of a number of ITAC’s 300 employees has allowed it to simplify the process for its clients.
“We’ve done a good job at allowing our customers to manage small and large projects with minimal resources on their side. One of the keys to that is much of our staff, probably 80 percent, came from the industry. They were engineers and project managers that worked in the industry and they understand the customer, marketplace and needs of the customer,” says Loftis.
ITAC enjoys a great relationship between management and employees according to Loftis. He says the company has a high retention rate and low turnover. He says this is primarily based on the company’s core philosophy regarding employees.
“We have a philosophy here. It’s not how hard you can get your employees to work for your company. It’s how hard management works for its employees. We’re creating a family here, a family of services that believes in what we’re doing together,” explains Loftis, adding the employees have a particular stake in the company.
“We’re an employee owned company – 22 employees participate in the ownership of our company. Those employees that participate have been selected from their qualities and contributions as individuals. They are all across the company, not all in management, in different roles that instill the value and passion of the things we do.”
GROWING FURTHER
It’s safe to say having a plethora of experienced, motivated individuals within the company has allowed ITAC to continue to plan for growth during the economic downturn. Loftis also credits the diversity of the company’s clients and services as two major reasons for it sustaining. Moving ahead, Loftis says the company looks to grow and sees upward trends in the near horizon.
“We’re hearing good signs. We’re hearing from our customers and industrial client base that they’ll be in position to be spending some money in early 2010 as things are encouraging. The downward trend seems to be at the bottom, I think we’re seeing clients are positioned to start making some investments back into their businesses,” says Loftis.
One of the reasons ITAC moved into a bigger facility was to envision future growth. The new space which the company moved into in June has not been completely filled up yet. “We put together the space and layout of what we think our company needs will be to be able to effectively provide our services to our customers,” he remarks.
Loftis says he envisions it’ll be the company’s home for the foreseeable future. He says, “We haven’t completely filled up the space yet, it was our vision that this would be home for next 10-15 years.”
One can expect as per usual at that point, the company’s tradition of moving bases will likely continue as will its growth.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
Company Name: Industrial TurnAround Corporation
President: Jon Loftis
Operations: A design build engineering specialist
Established: 1988
Employees: 300
Revenue: $60 million
www.itac.us.com