Griffith Company

Building California’s Infrastructure with Expertise and Integrity

123 years of technical leadership as a first-choice contractor

Griffith Company is a heavy civil contractor with an extraordinary legacy of building and rebuilding California’s infrastructure. 

This venerable organization has thrived due to its astounding ability to self-perform more of its work than any other contractor in its class.  As a result, the company’s self-performance has led to definitive outperformance compared to its competitors.

Its self-sufficiency, along with its specialized environmental division, positions the company as a technical leader and a go-to partner for even the most complex challenges. 

In fact, Griffith Company is highly regarded for its ability to work with local officials to tackle projects predicted to take months to complete and reduce them to mere weeks. A powerful example of this would be the company’s work on California’s Interstate 10 freeway fire response.

Internally, the company’s foundation is greatly supported by its employee-owned ESOP model, which coalesces all divisions and employees around a common purpose.

Environmental Division Manager Michael Carpenter expresses the ESOP sentiment perfectly, saying, “It’s the grounding measure for all of us, it’s what we’re all working for. We are a team, and even during moments where we disagree on things, our common goal is the ESOP and to do what’s right for Griffith.”

By prioritizing intensive, daily training for its workforce and an engaging annual event for hazardous waste workers, Griffith ensures its people are not just capable but are subject matter experts. 

And of course, the vendors that Griffith Company partners with match that standard as well. With support from preferred partners like Savala Equipment Company and Pro-Cast Products, Griffith Company’s operation has reached the top of its class. 

They are the hidden heroes who have helped the company become the primary contractor of choice by governing agencies. 

As Griffith Company evolves, its workforce will steadily grow in its expertise, so California will always have new and innovative solutions to resolve any future crisis.

An Organization Defined by Complex Challenges

Founded in 1902, Griffith Company has established itself as a cornerstone of heavy civil contracting in California for over 123 years. 

The company’s greatest strength lies in its incredible vertical integration, which gives it greater control over quality, safety, and efficiency. 

This is because Griffith Company rarely relies on external assistance for its primary work and can reliably self-perform to a higher degree than other contractors in its sector.

Simply put, all of its solutions feature a comprehensive, in-house approach. 

Griffith’s operation is strategically divided into two regions, with specialty divisions for concrete, landscape, crushing, underground, structures, and its increasingly vital environmental division. 

Griffith’s environmental division has become a key player in handling some of California’s most complex projects. 

“We’ve taken on some very high-profile projects. Most recently, we took on the Eaton fire response with ECC and the U.S. Army Corps. Prior to that, we did the I-10 freeway response with Caltrans District 7. And concurrently, we’ve been working with Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the city of Inglewood, treating and managing hazardous materials and waste,” Carpenter says. 

The Eaton and Interstate 10 fire responses both demonstrate Griffith Company’s ability to not only handle challenging environments but also efficiently collaborate with governing agencies in dire, time-sensitive situations.

The Eaton fire project was a critical effort to help the community and homeowners reclaim their properties.  Griffith’s crews assisted over 150 homeowners reclaim their properties. The team worked extended shifts up to 12 hours, logging 19,000 man-hours and safely removing over 35,000 tons of debris, including hazardous materials and remnants of burnt structures. This monumental effort was completed with zero lost-time accidents, a point of immense pride for the company. 

Similarly, the Interstate 10 freeway fire response showcased Griffith’s unique expertise. When the fire caused structural damage from spalling, a crisis that was initially estimated to take months to resolve, Griffith and its team of subject matter experts were called in to offer their support. 

The company discovered the area beneath the freeway was a hazardous mix of burnt cars, pallets, and other debris. 

By coordinating with state and local officials, including Governor Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass, Griffith’s team was able to streamline the process, getting permission to open landfills 24/7 and exceed normal tonnage restrictions. 

“When we first looked at the site, we felt that the whole freeway was going to have to come down and if certain regulations had constrained us, it would have taken three to six months… but with everyone working together, we were able to come up with a no nonsense approach, adhere to every major rule and regulation, and move that material out within five business days, working 24/7” Carpenter explains.

This feat not only solved a major infrastructure crisis but also demonstrated the company’s ability to innovate and deliver under immense pressure. 

And that is precisely what Griffith Company’s environmental division specializes in: complex, multifaceted projects, often focusing on on-site treatment of hazardous materials to eliminate truck trips and reduce environmental impact.

The ESOP Model and a Culture of Safety

As an employee-owned company, Griffith’s model significantly influences its culture, decision-making, and project performance. 

The ESOP acts as a powerful, unifying force, pulling all divisions and employees towards a common goal: protecting and growing the company’s value. 

This shared ownership creates an environment where employees are engaged and committed to doing things safely and profitably, not only for their benefit but for the collective future of the company.

“What we try to do with the ESOP, obviously, is stay profitable, and that helps our customers because a company that’s profitable, focuses on its bottom line, and is protective of its workforce tends to do a better job overall,” Carpenter says.

Because of this philosophy, Griffith Company’s workforce is able to focus on its core values without cutting corners or taking unnecessary risks, resulting in a safer, more reliable service for clients. 

That service, much like a positive feedback loop, has poured value back into the ESOP, which in turn yields even better service to the company’s customers.

Carpenter comments on the stability and growth of the company’s ESOP, saying, “In my eight years with the company, the ESOP has grown steadily. It’s really a wonderful way to retain our workforce and give them a better and more comfortable retirement.” 

Parallel to the ESOP culture, Griffith Company’s safety culture is another cornerstone of its success. Safety is not just a priority; it is ingrained into daily operations.

“Safety is a constant within our workforce development; our teams are actively trained on it. We train daily and conduct safety audits during projects. We even work with our project managers and inform them of how to best handle and manage hazardous or even regulated materials,” Carpenter says, noting that this is especially crucial for some of the highly toxic materials that they handle, like asbestos. 

Griffith Company takes the handling of its hazardous materials so seriously that, in addition to its efforts, it even enlists third-party certified industrial hygienists to conduct perimeter and employee monitoring to ensure zero exposure to its team of 700+ workers.

The team conducts daily tailgate safety meetings, where environmental topics like landfill, recycling, and waste management are frequently touched on.

Annually, the environmental division also hosts a training event for all hazardous waste workers, providing hands-on instruction on spill response and proper waste handling procedures. 

This proactive and transparent approach not only protects workers but also provides them with peace of mind, knowing that every precaution is taken to safeguard their well-being.

Securing the Future of California’s Heavy Civil Landscape

While Griffith Company handles its core work on its own, much like its safety monitoring, it does still leverage third-party connections to enhance the effectiveness of the areas it doesn’t specialize in.

In that regard, the company relies on a core group Carpenter affectionately refers to as its “starting team” of vendors. 

In addition to companies like Savala and Pro-Cast, Griffith Company is partnered with a wide range of laboratories, trucking companies, and technical professionals who have all earned their fair share of merit and industry recognition.

Similar to Griffith Company, these are long-standing partners who are masters of their craft and have proven their reliability in high-pressure situations.

“We rely on top-tier subject matter experts and leaders in their field, who not only possess deep knowledge but are also genuinely passionate about their work. So, when we look at vendors and suppliers, we’re looking for passion, knowledge, and responsiveness,” Carpenter clarifies.

This philosophy has put the company in contact with world-class sole proprietors and companies with whom Griffith has built relationships over many years. 

Looking ahead, Griffith’s operational priorities are focused on solidifying its reputation as a technical leader. 

The company’s mission for the next two to five years is to have more of its foremen, superintendents, and project managers professionally trained in waste management and environmental regulations, so that every project follows a logical and compliant path. 

These continuous improvements, along with the company’s investments in specialized equipment, aim to cement Griffith’s position as California’s heavy civil contractor of first choice. 

The company has already earned this reputation, having been called upon by state and local agencies during past crises.

However, by continuing to train its people and communicate its expertise, Griffith Company is not only ready for future challenges but is actively preparing to be viewed as a captain of industry, ready to assist whenever its community and state are in crisis.

At a Glance

Who: Griffith Company

What: A California-based heavy civil contractor with a 123-year legacy of excellence in building and rebuilding the state’s infrastructure. 

Where: Headquartered in California, Griffith Company operates statewide, with strong regional divisions strategically positioned to serve both urban and rural infrastructure needs.

Website: www.griffithcompany.net