Business View Magazine | Volume 8, Issue 6

56 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 8, ISSUE 6 better working environment. “Congruex has embraced the GRIT mantra: guts, reliability, improvement, and teamwork,” Rogers continues. “Its other mantra is ‘Networks Built Better’ and we’re really embracing that with our employees here.” Given the type of work carried out by Gudenkauf, safety is another huge priority within the workplace. Fortunately, the company was not overly burdened by the COVID-19 pandemic and was quick to implement the necessary changes to help keep its workers safe and healthy. “The pandemic impacted us very little, to be honest,” Rogers says. “Other than wearing masks, increasing sanitation in trucks and offices, and limiting face-to-face contact as much as possible, we faced relatively little disruption. In fact, COVID really shone a spotlight on some of the underserved areas around the country and there is going to be a lot of investment by the government at the federal, state, and local level, as a result. That could actually lead to higher revenues for us and huge benefits for the local areas that receive better network solutions.” Of course, completing future projects depends on more than just investment, it also requires a steady stream of talented workers. Currently, the labor market is extremely tight and Rogers believes that recruitment problems could surface for the industry in the coming years. “In my opinion, it’s been a real shame that over the last 20 years, young people were convinced that if they didn’t go to college, they were never going to have a good career or a well-paid job. That’s very far from the truth. You can join Gudenkauf and be a highly skilled fiber splicer, making some very good money in a year or two.” As well as relying on a highly skilled workforce, Gudenkauf also benefits from working with exceptional partner firms. “Vermeer has been a great partner for us,” Rogers notes. “As has Galloway Group, Ditch Witch, Path Masters,