Hutter Construction is a company that wants life-long employees – and that means giving them ample opportunity to advance.
“Pretty much all of the upper- and middle-level management at this company started from the bottom and worked their way up to the very top,” explained Tim Reid, the general superintendent of Hutter, who oversees the training of its entry-level employees.
Brian Morris of Hooksett was once one of those newcomers. When Morris first entered the New Ipswich-based commercial construction firm, he had no experience in construction. His last job had been at a Hannafords grocery store.
Now, 13 years later, Morris is a supervisor who heads up many of Hutter’s hospital renovations.
“I started as a laborer, sweeping floors and doing demolition,” said Morris in an interview on Friday.
“I was looking to move up. I was tired of doing the same old clean-up.”
Every employee who enters Hutter has to go through a certain amount of training in safety and OSHA standards. But for those who are eager to advance, Hutter will provide additional in-house training in management skills like plan-reading and offers mentorships that will guide workers to higher positions.
Hutter also reimburses employees who take classes through Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc., a national construction industry trade association that provides trade training.
Morris dedicated three years to taking classes in carpentry to develop that skill and move into Hutter’s carpentry division – with his schooling fees reimbursed by the company.
“When an employee asks for additional training or advancement, we listen,” said Reid.
Reid added that Hutter is also dedicated to keeping its employees working year-round – not always a guarAntee for construction workers when work slows down in the winter months – and providing paid holidays in addition to a competitive pay and benefits package.
“It’s a family-run company, and your job is secure as long as you want it and are willing to work for it,” said Reid.
Morris is currently working on a job at Portsmouth Hospital. It’s a more delicate operation than many standard construction sites, said Morris, because workers have to ensure that the dust and construction debris don’t affect the surrounding hospital, confining work to a single area under negative pressure.
“It’s a more sensitive operation, but Brian is very good with the customers in those situations. They often ask for him back if they need additional work,” said Reid.
That’s the kind of quality employees that Hutter hopes to continue to build.
Ashley Saari can be reached at 924-7172 ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on Twitter @AshleySaariMLT.