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Leading the way in quality precast concrete solutions , Gage Brothers ( Gage ) builds beautiful communities and structures supporting the places people visit , learn , work , and play . The company specializes in architectural precast , structural precast , Ultra-High Performance Concrete ( UHPC ), total precast solutions , design assistance , and caulking services . To learn more about Gage ’ s background and place in the industry , we have the pleasure of speaking with Joe Bunkers , CEO .
“ For over a century , our core operations have consisted in pouring concrete in Sioux Falls , South Dakota . In the 1940s , when the Gage brothers returned from the war , we incorporated precast to our services . From there , we added more products and services to our portfolio to become the company we are today . Currently , we have approximately 275 employees in our Sioux Falls production plant and run a caulking business in Minneapolis and Saint Paul , Minnesota . It is worth noting that though we do not invent our own technologies , we have always been early adopters of technology , rapidly implementing it into our repertoire and deploying it to the market ,” he states .
Its early adoption of technology is one of the factors that make Gage stand out from competitors in the market , as Joe points out : “ Fear of the unknown does not keep us from moving forward as we embrace new technology and find creative ways for our customers and end-users to incorporate it into their projects . Furthermore , our state-ofthe-art plant boosts operational efficiency and allows us to employ a wider variety of people . Traditionally , the construction industry has predominantly attracted male workers due to its physically demanding nature . However , we intentionally engineered much of the hard physical labor out of our production processes , resulting in over 15 percent of our labor force being women . This means that we can employ individuals of
varying physical abilities , enabling everyone to find their place and contribute effectively . It also helps us attract and retain a broader range of talent .”
Delving further on the topic , Joe reveals how Gage celebrates diversity in the workplace . “ When we built our plant , not only did we deliberately streamline some of the laborious tasks so that more people could work with us , but we also installed separate locker rooms for men and women , each accompanied by a set of restrooms and amenities . To ensure that every single employee – regardless of their gender , nationality , or ethnic background – feels welcomed at Gage , we have hung flags in our break room representing their identity or countries of origin . These flags include those of LGBTQ and transgender pride , the four military branches , and three South Dakota Native American tribes . This serves as a
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