What employees say
“It's an excellent place to work. We're like a family,
everyone gets along.”
“All the workers put company over self. ”
“The higher-ups work just as hard as the lower level
employees. ”
Ron and Lorraine Jerdon
started their family construction business out of a room in their home just
five years ago. After a military and general-contracting career, Ron was ready
to step out on his own, and founded a company built on a strong work ethic and
Christian principles.
Today, he is president of
Jerdon Construction Services, with wife Lorraine serving as business manager,
and oversees a staff of 35 that he considers family. Jerdon is ranked No. 1
among small employers in the 2017 Top Workplaces survey.
Jerdon said the strong
foundation of the general contracting and construction management company is
his faith. He says he believes his staff should be treated well and that the
team should help anyone who is struggling.
"We create a corporate
culture grounded on respect and integrity. Everyone is treated as if they're
the most valuable employee in the business."
The company recently held a
spaghetti dinner fundraiser for a team member who has leukemia. One Christmas,
the company bought a set of tools for a staffer who had recovered from a
horrific auto accident that destroyed his tool collection.
"Everyone kicked in to
help him out," he said.
Jerdon worked in construction
for 30 years, along with active duty military service and 23 years in the Army
Reserve, where he reached the rank of command sergeant major and oversaw 600
soldiers on his last assignment.
When the economy declined and
construction projects dwindled in 2011, the Jerdons began their own company.
Jerdon's daughter Amber Martrich also is part of the team, and serves as human
resources director.
"We took off right from
the beginning, it was pretty incredible," he said. "We're growing at
a very rapid rate."
The company tackles projects
as small as hanging a door to renovating or constructing large office
facilities. Jerdon has renovated spaces at B. Braun, Bosch Rexroth, Adams
Outdoor Advertising and Clear Channel.
The company recently won an
Excellence in Construction Award from Associated Builders and Contractors for
its work on the 20,000-square-foot Clear Channel project at the Iron Run
Corporate Center in Upper Macungie Township. Jerdon said as companies relocate
to downtown Allentown, Jerdon got more work renovating the remaining spaces for
new tenants.
Jerdon says part of the
success is due to how selective he is when hiring staff.
"We want a certain type
of individual," he says. "Our crews present themselves well and
conduct themselves well. I believe in hiring character and training
skill."
As a veteran, Jerdon has
worked to recruit veterans with their strong work ethic for his team and keeps
on the lookout for them by staying in contact with CareerLink.
Jerdon has taken his skills
abroad on a mission trip to help those in need. In October, he and project
manager Jason Zellner traveled to Haiti to build roofs on houses ravaged by
Hurricane Matthew.
Zellner, who has worked for
the company for three years, said the images shown in the news can't begin to
describe the situation.
"I feel very fortunate
to be able to join Ron on that experience; it was life-changing," Zellner
said. "Things we take for granted here, they struggle for, such as clean
running water and housing."
Locally, the company has
provided financial support to such charities and organizations as Miracle
League of the Lehigh Valley, SkillsUSA, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Lehigh
Valley, Second Harvest Food Bank, LifePath, Bethlehem Area Vocational-Technical
School, Allentown Art Museum, Habitat for Humanity, Children's Home of Easton
and Through These Hands Ministry. Employees also have volunteered to be an
"Angel in the Outfield" to help the Miracle League children play
baseball.
Ron also serves on the boards
of Skills-USA, and on the Carpentry
Advisory Councils for Bethlehem Area Vocational-Technical School and Lehigh
Career and Technical Institute. He also serves as a board member of Lehigh Valley
Economic Development Corp.'s Workforce Development Committee.
Zellner says he's never
worked for a company like Jerdon Construction Services. He said the attitude
among workers differs from others in the construction community. The staff
maintains a good rapport with reliable subcontractors, which also ensures a
successful project.
"The company does
whatever it can for their employees, which is nowadays kind of unheard
of," Zellner said. "You're not just a number here, you're
meaningful."
Project assistant Kari Ianuale
echoes those comments. Having worked in the construction industry for 15 years,
she says the past two at Jerdon have been a "breath of fresh air."
"Ron is a good guy that
treats employees like family," she said. "All opinions and ideas are
valued in the team."
Jerdon offers health, dental,
vision, life and short-term disability insurance to all full-time employees.
Employees also receive up to 18 days vacation and eight paid holidays.
JERDON CONSTRUCTION SERVICES
• Founded: 2011
• Ownership: Private
• Sector: Construction
• Employees: 35
•Website: www.jerdoncs.com
Source: The
Morning Call
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