Lessons learned from a pandemic – and looking forward

By |  December 4, 2020
John Pullen headshot

Pullen

In a year unlike any other, Luck Companies was challenged in ways we never thought possible.

First and foremost was providing a safe environment to support the health and well-being of our associates, as well as for the many customers and partners in communities where we conduct business. It’s been a year of learning to be simultaneously resilient, empathic and caring, and focused on the right priorities.

I have been especially proud of our associates and leadership teams for being fully committed to maintaining production at Luck Stone locations throughout our footprint. The title “essential worker” so poorly represented the “rock stars” who played an important, purposeful role in sustaining our company and economy through the lockdown. The amazing men and women across our entire company maintained an unwavering dedication to providing exceptional service while adapting to the “new normal” in the workplace, whether they worked remotely or maintained field operations.

Building culture and leadership

In March, when businesses pivoted to a virtual environment of remote work and video
conferences, Luck Companies was no exception.

As a company that takes pride in its mission to ignite the potential of people, we were proactive in our efforts to build on our culture of collaboration and Values Based Leadership – even in a virtual, socially-distanced world. Leaders and associates at all levels of the enterprise were empowered to explore and implement creative strategies to reimagine training, stay connected to customers and key suppliers, engage homebound team members, and operate intentionally with personal protection and social distancing protocols.

This mindset of having everyone included in the conversation reflects our longstanding passion to maximize human potential in every setting and situation, virtual or otherwise, because people and their safety are our purpose.

Remembering what we learned

I firmly believe we must be careful not to “unlearn” the skills and processes that helped us navigate through the initial phase of the pandemic.

At Luck Companies, there was a heightened focus on strengthening our nimbleness and agility when responding to customers in our market areas. A year like 2020 provided countless opportunities for our associates to “dial it up,” innovate and deliver solutions that support our safety culture and the needs of our customers.

In addition, our strategic leadership team and field leadership teams concentrated on making quicker decisions with less optics, intentionally reinventing and optimizing our connections with customers who were now operating in a virtual environment. We developed strategies for resiliency learning designed to inspire confidence and positivity in times of great uncertainty.

Innovation leads to JobSight

Since our company’s founding in 1923, we have always prioritized and valued innovation as a hallmark of our culture at Luck Companies. The COVID crisis accelerated the development of innovative technology solutions for businesses nationwide, and our talented associates embraced this unique opportunity.

In October, we launched JobSight, a digital platform giving customers access to our products and services at any time on any of their preferred devices. Through this platform, customers can order a variety of products, track the delivery trucks, manage their accounts and pay online.

JobSight, as well as other innovations being developed in our pipeline, will continue to position Luck Companies as a technology leader in the U.S. construction materials market.

Looking forward

There are many reasons to be optimistic about 2021 and beyond.

While some retail and commercial construction projects were slowed or halted in 2020, demand from infrastructure projects in 2021 is expected to have a favorable impact on construction markets – especially in the Southeast.

Additionally, data center construction will drive aggregate demand in technology corridors such as northern Virginia and other regions. Factors such as lower interest rates are fueling demand in residential construction.

Luck Companies is immersed in our Vision 2025 strategy, which includes comprehensive processes for growth and talent development as we chart our path for success in the next five years. As our nation emerges from the pandemic and as the aggregate industry continues to evolve, we will keep striving to provide support and solutions that make a lasting, positive impact for our associates, our customers and our communities.

John Pullen is chief growth officer at Luck Companies.


Featured image: P&Q Staff


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