RockTalk the Podcast

In this episode, CEO Tom Squeri takes time to discuss the one year anniversary of the coronavirus pandemic and how Graniterock People have weathered the storm.

Tom explains why the company is taking a strong stance in support of Covid-19 vaccines and how resuming any kind of pre-pandemic normalcy in our lives depends on people getting inoculated.  

No, the company won't be mandating vaccinations, but there could be incentives for team members to get the shot.

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Reach out to [email protected] to be a guest on RockTalk the Pocast!
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In this episode you will hear from some of our leaders discussing what a challenging year 2020 was! Even with the hurdles of a pandemic and many other obstacles, Graniterock ended with fantastic results!

00:38 First up, Safety: Shanna chats with Paul Cianciarulo, Corporate Safety Director about how the world turn upside down during this pandemic and all of the adjustments Graniterock needed to achieve in order to keep our team safe.

06:34 Next, Aggregate and Transportation: Don Barrett, Aggregate Division Sales Manager talks about some of the upside to the pandemic. Peter Lemon, Aggregate and Transportation Division Operations Manager shares detail about the new Premium Sand Plant and the great opportunities ahead

11:54 Construction Materials Division: Mike McGrath, Business Manager for the Concrete Division talks beyond the pandemic with a curve ball thrown by a Cement Supplier shutting its business doors and the quick pivot the division needed to make in order to take care of our customers. Jeff Lindsay, Building Materials Business Manager, talks about the great start of 2020 and how the team pulled together to push though and finish strong. Stuart Mager, Road Materials Business Manager, shares the importance of really understanding our customers needs during this difficult time. Public Agencies had to pull projects already in the works with limited projections on when we would be back to normal. Stuarts and his team focus on the customer and what was needed to take care of them.

17:25 Construction Division: Chris Sveum, Construction Manager talks about rolling into 2020 with a very robust backlog but was uncertain about how the pandemic would change production, if any. The team overcame unbelievable obstacles to stay working to get the job done. Rob Snyder, Chief Estimator, shares the stalled bidding program in the second and third quarter, and the new way of business by remote workers.

20:55 Information Technology Department: Nicole Lawrence, CIO shares the amazing fortune of a timely migration to a new system, which was completed just prior to the pandemic, offering full support for remote workers and a proven success story. 

Today's show is a heartfelt story from team member Cynthia Escobar, a weighmaster at Graniterock's sand plant in Felton.
Cynthia's story serves as a strong reminder on why it's important for all of us to get a wellness exam by your doctor.
Cynthia opens up about how the Company's "Let's Get Physical" health incentive led to finding skin cancer on her arm. The dermatologist was able to remove it before the cancer grew worse.
Cynthia, who had no idea anything was wrong, admits she was motivated by Graniterock's $100 incentive to check in with her doctor, who referred her to a dermatologist based on a history of skin cancer in her family.
Her story is relatable to anyone who has put off going to the doctor.
Graniterock's wellness manager Stephanie Kniffin also joins the podcast to explain how the health program works.
The good news is the $100 incentive has been extended through the end of 2020. So team members have a few more weeks to get a doctor appointment and receive Graniterock's incentive offer.
Team members can choose a $100 gift card from: Amazon, Target, Starbucks or the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
The form, to be returned to Stephanie, can be found in My RockTalk app.
You can reach Stephanie at [email protected] or call 831-768-2018.

CEO Tom Squeri returns to RockTalk the Podcast to answer questions from team members.

What is Graniterock’s outlook in the event an effective vaccine comes on the market? Would we go back to business as usual? Would team members be required to get the vaccine?

How has the Company fared overall financially through the pandemic? Did we see any significant losses in business? How does it compare with the Great Recession?

What’s the general forecast looking at 2021-2022?

Staying on the pandemic theme, what does Covid and social distancing mean for Company rituals such as the Leadership Conference, Working Together trainings and maintaining our overall high touch culture?

How does Teichert keep winning jobs in this region, particularly Highway 17?

In light of the fact we all fund community institutions and schools as taxpayers and the fact our Graniterock operations continue to need more capital investment, why does Graniterock invest so much in community support and why are team members always asked to contribute to the United Way?

In addition, we put Tom in the hot seat with five fun questions:

Last movie you watched?

Favorite vacation spot?

Dark or milk chocolate?

Set an alarm or wake up naturally?

If you weren’t CEO of Graniterock, what would your dream job be?

Got a question for Tom, put it here and listen for the answer on an upcoming episode

Don Barrett and Peter Lemon join the podcast to share the story on changes in management within the Aggregate Division.
Don, 28 years with Graniterock, is moving forward with a focus entirely on aggregate sales after helping nearly tripling the Transportation business in the past seven years.
Peter, 22 years with the Company, is now serving as Aggregate and Transportation Division Operations Manager after leading the Wilson Quarry since 2012.

Hosted by Keith Severson, this episode takes us behind the scenes of the Aggregate Division and what Peter and Don see as growth opportunities for Graniterock in the coming years.

Thanks, as always, to Janae Thomas for her masterful editing skills to make RockTalk the Podcast sound crisp and clean.

If you or your team has a story to share, please reach out to Shanna Crigger at [email protected].

RockTalk the Podcast is available on Apple, Google, Spotify and My RockTalk.

Robin Steudler and Cathy Francini are two building materials experts who have served the Company more than 60 years combined.
That is a lot of time at the Rock, with experiences that range from meeting George H.W. Bush at the Company's 100th anniversary in San Francisco to planning Graniterock's 120th gala held in February before the coronavirus pandemic started crashing parties.

Cathy and Robin are true examples of Graniterock's core value Dedication to Customers.
Listen to this short episode, hosted by Director of Marketing Keith Severson, for some insight on who they think was the best Graniterock manager over the decades and how to save enough money to get to retirement.

Robin and Cathy, you will be so missed by all.
Best wishes on a fun and fulfilling retirement.

RockTalk the Podcast is available on Apple, Google, Spotify and Stitcher.

How does Graniterock maintain its historic high-touch culture in a world of remote working, face covers and social distancing? 

In this episode hosted by Keith Severson, we talk with members of a new Graniterock team created to help guide the Company through what has become the "new normal" in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic. 
Executive Vice President of the Aggregate Division Henry Ramirez was chosen to lead the Pandemic Optimization Taskforce.
The taskforce includes team members from across the Company: Jamie Agnello from Human Resources, Rachel Reed from Environmental, Kyle Bencala of Construction, Spencer Wright of Construction and Jeff Lindsay of Building Materials. 
Listen as they talk about tackling one of the biggest critical issues Graniterock has faced in years.

Hear what Tom looks forward to most when the pandemic is over.
In addition, Tom talks us through Graniterock's approach to addressing the Covid-19 pandemic on the job and how we've been able to prevent the virus from spreading at work. 
We'll also hear what goes into the Company's robust contact tracing process when a team member has been exposed to a confirmed case of the virus. 

Keeping Graniterock's 500-person Construction Division operating every day begins with the Company winning project bids put out by Caltrans and public works agencies, in addition to private general contractors.
Rob Snyder, the Construction Division's chief estimator, talks about the estimating process and what goes into a winning bid.
And in in this episode, you'll hear what his team has coming up on the bid schedule.
Stay listening to the end when we put Rob in the hot seat for five fun lightning round questions. 

Big thanks goes to podcast producer Janae Thomas for her excellent work in getting this put together!

CEO Tom Squeri joins the podcast again to address questions from Graniterock People. In this episode, we have about six questions on topics that range from Covid-19 loans, reusable cups at Company offices, how Graniterock aims to promote diversity in our workforce and an update on the newly-created Pandemic Optimization Task Force headed by Executive Vice President Henry Ramirez.

Big thanks to Janae Thomas for her great work in editing this podcast!