JD Stairs

6 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 9, ISSUE 7 JD STA I RS When it comes to JD Stairs’ 100 employees, the ones that aren’t family members are still treated like they are. The company is dedicated to providing its staff with the utmost respect and warmth, making sure to celebrate birthdays, babies, cultural celebrations, and special life events. Employees are treated to regular incentive contests for the opportunity to win cash and prizes, and sometimes just a fun game of basketball to lighten the mood. Those who join the company are offered perks like paid vacations, paid holidays, health care, dental, vision, company vehicles, and gas cards. They also all have a direct line to the boss. “One thing I’ve learned and been grateful for is knowing what I can do better as a leader, and a big part of that is to listen,” Jonathan admits. “Most of the best ideas we have come from people within the company. Any good management will tell you that if you listen to your people, you’ll find solutions to most of your problems.” Jonathan reports, “Just before Christmas we installed a robotic welder, which fits right beside our laser and allows our laser operator to hit a button and have the robot come over and weld parts together as he pulls them off the laser. “Ro-Bob (as we call him) has been a star employee ever since he joined our team and has yet to call in sick.” JD Stairs has also started to invest in its own finishing equipment, like a spray booth, sandblast booth and a metalizer. “The metalizer is basically liquid galvanizing but in a spray, so you don’t actually have to send it out and have somebody dip it. You can just spray it on,” Jonathan explains. “It super heats the zinc wire into liquid and then sprays it directly into the steel.” JD Stairs also has a great working relationship with vendors like Curtis Steel & Coast Aluminum Supply to source its metal, as well as CTI: Autobody Tools and Industrial Supply for its paint supplies.