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Heath Martin, Chief Executive Officer, joined the Stake Center Locating team in 2020. Since joining, the company has seen growth in both physical and revenue size. The revenue increases each year, 17.81% in 2021 and 20.44% in 2022, mean an increase in business development. Increases in business development mean there need to be physical individuals to do the job, thus the company increased from about 700+ employees to over 1300+ employees.
To support new business, there were some changes that needed to be addressed. There were some areas in the United States that were lagging and less productive. Reviewing the organizational structure, Heath noticed the structure supported what business was had at the time, but not supportive of future growth. Knowing the company’s goal of significant growth, Heath led organizational change through research and working with others to develop a strategy that would support current and future growth.
To continue providing superior services to customers, Heath knew there needed to be superior technology within the company. Locating underground utilities requires great resources, but data is at the heart of truly enhancing damage prevention. Drawing off of knowledge and experience from large companies including Honeywell, Caterpillar, and Danaher, Heath added the right leader to be Chief Information Officer and continues to work closely with him to ensure technology resources are implemented and utilized to their highest capability.
Amplifying business requires the right employees to bring superior service on all levels. Turnover is very common in the utility locating world, so Heath began working closely with Human Resources in 2021 to implement rewards programs that ensure employees are resourced for success. When individuals are successful, the organization is successful. To ensure the health of the organization is good, Heath also leads annual, anonymous surveys to help guide what areas need more focus. The first survey was sent in 2021 and helped understand a little of what the organization might be feeling about certain subjects. Driving the company to be a career company for utility locators, not just a job.
Human Resources also needed to bulk up their recruitment team to staff properly for dig season (March through October). Under Heath’s leadership, locations were strategically selected and regional recruiters hired. Additional recruiters allow for many more efforts to be made, including job fairs. Additional investments of recruiting, including digital advertising, were made, allowing staffing to increase each year.
Additionally, other changes within operations were crucial to both business development and to operations. One was to optimize the fleet as each person in the field receives a company vehicle. Under Heath’s leadership, the fleet transitioned to energy efficient trucks as well as installation of technology, such as cameras, to ensure the proper and safe usage of all company vehicles. Vehicles are also equipped with laptops, so to ensure driving safety the vehicles are now equipped with technology to prevent them from using the laptops and company cell phones (except for GPS) while driving.
Another was enhancing the safety of Stake Center. The job of a locate technician can be needed in beautiful places, but it can also be needed in dangerous places. Examples of the dangerous would be a heavily trafficked highway or a wooded area filled with opportunities of slip, trips, or falls. Safety is a major priority of Stake Center, so Heath added some experienced individuals to enhance safety equipment and processes. Benefiting operations and employees, but also benefiting business development through showcasing the seriousness of safety within Stake Center.
Heath Martin has a clear vision for Stake Center Locating. That vision has been transforming the company since his arrival. Having been listed on Inc. 5000 and Triad Business Journal’s Fast 50 list twice, Heath continues the trajectory of supported growth for Stake Center. All while continuing what Stake Center is known for – being an alternative to large locate firms and providing superior service to small locate firms.
Nomination Title: Heath Martin, Chief Executive Officer