Business View Magazine | Volume 8, Issue 10

111 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 8, ISSUE 10 FOSLER CONSTRUCT ION www.barkaucdjr.com 700 East South Street, Freeport, IL 61032 | Sales: 815-232-5141 Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, And Ram Find your next NEW VEHICLES USED VEHICLES SERVICE Delivering commercial vehicles NATIONWIDE WE BRING MORE “YES” TO YOUR PROJECT Whether you’re looking for a full turnkey rental solution or a single piece of equipment, we’ll do whatever it takes to deliver a trouble-free rental experience. At Sunbelt Rentals, we work hard to be your one-stop source for next-level service and solutions. With more than 8,000 types of tools and equipment, our team has everything you need to get the job done. Availability, Reliability, and Ease. That’sTheSunbeltPromise. Visit sunbeltrentals.com or call 855-737-8546 to bring more “Yes” to your project. in the market,” Fosler says. “But even so, we are out-competing them massively in terms of value because we’re building projects safer, faster and better. We’re also hiring more female workers. In 2017, we employed about seven people and now we are employing just under 200. Revenue growth is great, but in the end, it’s people that matter the most, and I prefer to measure our success through job creation rather than just revenue.” As an essential industry provider, the company has continued to operate throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. “Fortunately, we only had one project shutdown, which lasted about a week,” Fosler notes. “In our office, however, it was a different story. We had an outbreak that meant we had 17 positive cases out of 22 members of staff. I was sick for about nine days and had to be admitted to intensive care. It was a real learning curve for me personally and for the company. Our safety director, Jeff West, puts a huge emphasis on safety, and we have implemented a host of new pandemic-related safety guidelines to keep our employees safe. We are committed to ensuring a safe environment and workplace for all our employees.” While the challenges of maintaining strong operations during a pandemic have exemplified the company’s resilience, the impact of COVID-19 has not completely subsided. “We’re still dealing with shipping delays and record prices for steel,” Fosler says. “Although we’ve been relatively unscathed as a company so far by the pandemic, we’ve definitely tried to be as proactive as possible to mitigate any impacts.” Giving Back and Moving Forward Fosler Construction believes in being a good corporate citizen and is proud of its work to help disadvantaged families in Illinois. “We had a unique opportunity to take part in the