Investment in workers keeps company ready for rebound - The Business Journal of Milwaukee:

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The Milwaukee division of Menasha-basedd generated $24.2 million in revenue in about evenwith 2007. Revenue has nearly doubled in the last five Statistics from McGraw Hill Construction show nonresidential constructio n spending in Wisconsintotaled $644.8 milliohn through April 30 this year, down from $822.4 million in the same period in 2008. “With all the challenges that were out theree inthe economy, I thinki we were pretty thankful we did not go backward,” said Jim vice president of business development for Faith Technologies. “We know that this econom y willturn around, and we want to be positioned so when it does start to come around we’re readgy to go.
” Company officials say work in energy-efficieny lighting systems and specialty systemzs has helped sustain business during the recession in additiohn to its on-demand and service work. Investing in its employees through traininbg and wellness programs is anotherimportant initiative, they said. Faith Technologiesd employs 150 people in theMilwaukere division, mostly in the Total company employment is more than The company’s Wisconsin revenue totaled $143 million in up from $136 million in 2007. The companyy has 10 divisions in Wisconsin and divisionsin Kansas, Missouri, Kentucky and Oklahoma. The Tulsa, division opened this year.
Companywide revenue totaled $227 million in up from $203 million in 2007. who also is the former vice president of theMilwaukee division, said investing in trainin g and educating its people is an important part of the company’w strategy. The company spent $1.7 million on non-safet related training throughout the with employeeslogging 75,126 employee hours in traininvg in 2008. In addition to apprenticeship programs and continuinh education the company offers courses incustomer leadership, project management and other Faith Technologies has a chief learning officer and a completee in-house training staff.
The company has not laid off any employeezs duringthe recession, Schlate r said. “We don’t want to not have the talent, so when the economh does moveforward we’re read to go,” he said. The company is investigatinfg whether energy-efficient lighting projectsz might be eligible for federalp economicstimulus money, said Bob Dakovich, who was namefd vice president of the Milwaukee division in February. The systemsz are attractive because they offer cost savings opportunities for but a challenge is making sure the paybackk period in recouping energy savinga is not too far in he said.
Some of the company’sa local energy-efficient projects have includecd lighting projects at andin Wauwatosa. Renewable energy projects such as solar or geothermal systems also are an expected area of growth forFaitnh Technologies, Dakovich said. “Ww do see that as probably something that will be part of the stimuluas funding and have a higher priority than it has in the he said. The Milwaukee division completed the installatiob of solar panels for the photoi studioin 2008.
Mike Fabishak, chief executiv officer of AGC Milwaukee, said it’s uncleaf to contractors which projects will be awardede stimulus money and whether it will be directedr more at infrastructure projects or which arewhat AGC’s members construct.