'Directly Involved'
Profile
By Staci Davidson   
Thursday, 21 June 2007
Ulland Brothers says a dedicated work force and a reputation for quality service has allowed it to gain repeat business in the Midwest.
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At first glance, Ulland Brothers Inc. may look similar to the myriad other contractors in the country. The firm provides highway and airport construction, industrial site preparation and commercial, residential, environmental and recreational construction. It also is a supplier of aggregates and hot mix asphalt.

Michael Welch, president, says Ulland Brothers’ employees set it apart, but understanding that this statement also comes from many other firms, he explains he has a lot to back it up.Our work force has been with us for the long term and is committed to this company’s success,” he says. “They want to see us succeed and this makes them feel like a part of the family. Our people know that if they work well for us, we will continue to offer them a place on new jobs.“We also are structured different than a lot of other contractors because we are set up as an ESOP,” he adds. “Our managers own a piece of the pie and the people running our projects are directly involved in the success. This accountability is apparent throughout our company.”Ulland Brothers’ approximately 250 employees maintain the company’s “tradition of service and legacy of quality,” Welch notes. With operations in northeast Minnesota, southwest Wisconsin, south central Minnesota and north central Iowa, Ulland Brothers has maintained these values since its inception in 1920, he says. The company remains dependable, he explains, with more than 85 years of experience and the knowledge and versatility to react to and overcome any unexpected challenges it encounters.“We have been an industry leader for so many years for one simple reason: We listen,” the company explains. “We’ve been partnering with our clients long before it became a business school buzz word. Through every phase of design, planning and construction, we’ll work with customers to ensure that everything is done to their satisfaction.”Recently, Venture spoke with Welch about the Ulland Brothers’ capabilities and how its dedication to providing “outstanding work” is keeping its quality reputation intact.

Venture: Ulland Brothers says it has been successful since its inception in 1920 by ensuring quality service and dependability on all of its jobs. How do you achieve this?

Michael Welch: It is simply the culture of our company. Our goal is to always be No. 1 in quality. Our customers demand nothing less and our employees take pride in what they do, so they want to deliver the best possible work. We know that it may cost money to do quality work, but that is our reputation, so we do what it takes – we are proud of that. We talk about quality constantly – how to improve and how to fix any mistakes we might make.

For example, we always stress communication among everyone here, so we have upgraded our operations with many technology advancements such as GPS and hand helds. As a result of our constant focus on quality, we get a lot of repeat business.

Venture: Are there any recent projects that best demonstrate the firm’s strengths?

Welch: Last fall we finished a two-year project on Trinity Road for the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

This project was very typical of a lot of our jobs because we performed so many types of work. We did the underground utilities, grading, excavation and hot mix asphalt, as well as other services. We always produce aggregates for ourselves, contractors and our customers.

Every job is different, but we always perform at least two disciplines on our jobs. This helps us ensure the quality we promise.

Venture: What trends has the company been responding to?
Welch: The consolidation of construction companies is a big thing right now.

There are many acquisitions, so there is more pressure on solely owned companies like us. As a result, we have to adapt. We are remaining competitive by continuing to buy aggregate sources that will help our performance on projects. Owning aggregates gives us advantages.    

Our employees are also a great resource – their experience and dedication puts us ahead of many firms.

Venture: What are Ulland Brothers’ plans for growth?

Welch: We plan to continue providing our customers with many disciplines of work so we can better control the overall quality of our jobs. We will also continue to evaluate the market to better serve our customer base.Additionally, we are always looking at opportunities to expand our geographic base and we have been very successful at that in the last two to three years.
We are good at what we do and know our limitations. We watch our competition closely to see what works and what doesn’t and focus on continuous improvement to keep the many clients that have worked with us over the years.
 
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