When Jim Golding first approached his career, his interests were broad. “My academic interests growing up included sciences and math,” he says. “When I was 16, I narrowed my career choices to geology, dentistry, and engineering. I chose civil engineering.” A graduate of Brigham Young University, Mr. Golding began his career in 1980 after a two-year Latter-day Saint mission to Argentina. In the middle of a recession, employment was hard to come by, and he found himself working in the oil fields of Evanston, Wyoming. Gaining hands-on experience as a design engineer and surveyor for Rocky Mountain Engineering and Surveying, he gained a broad depth of knowledge before being hired at Geneva Rock Products in 1984. Since joining the Geneva Rock team, he has worked as an estimator, project manager, area manager, vice president of construction, president, and now CEO. Under Mr. Golding’s leadership, Geneva Rock Products will continue to see growth and maintain its successful climb. By fostering change and challenging the status quo, he finds new ways to reinvent old processes, making them more streamlined as well as more competitive. He is never satisfied by doing the things the way they have always been done, unless they’ve been proven to be the best way. Mr. Golding has always created an environment where employees feel comfortable and appreciated. And the people he works with are the most enjoyable things about his role. “I enjoy the people. The friendships and partnerships run deep in our company. To value people is what brings success to any organization and enjoyment to the challenges of each day,” he says. From dressing up as Santa Claus at Christmas to thank managers and distribute gifts to carefully considering his employee’s lives and families outside of work, he takes pride in the environment of friendship and camaraderie that he’s created. When asked what his personal business philosophy was, he says: “It may sound corny, but team is everything. Don’t take too much credit for the accomplishments of the team. Everyone is important, and they need to know it.” Working side by side with his employees, Mr. Golding’s strength is his relatability. His friendly, approachable disposition attracts people.
CAREER ACHIEVEMENTS
Jim has influenced the industry through his involvement with the AGC of Utah, UDOT and the years of experience with major building projects. He has also worked diligently to help change the view of our industry as it pertains to environmental issues and our responsibility to corporate stewardship.
Under his leadership, Geneva Rock has invested over $30 million in lowering emissions and reducing other environ-mental impacts, including the purchase of a fleet of natural gas concrete mixers, installing a conveyor belt that reduces emissions and dust in addition to generating energy and building a zero-waste facility that recycles water used in aggregate production and dust mitigation.
Jim’s vision has led Geneva Rock to successfully expand into untapped markets, resulting in new business ventures, including concrete paving, microsurfacing, chip sealing and bonded wearing course paving. He is a forward thinker who is always looking out for the future needs of our company. This has resulted in the strategic acquisition of several new gravel reserves and two new hot plants.
He fosters innovation by thinking of new ways to do old processes. It isn’t enough to do things the way they’ve always been done. Processes are streamlined to be more competitive in the market place, improving our service and quality. It’s this kind of thinking that has positioned Geneva Rock as a leader in the ready-mix concrete, sand and gravel and construction services.
One of Jim’s top priorities and greatest talents is creating an organization that will flourish into the future. Rather than just paying attention to the immediate results, Jim attracts and retains high-quality people. His relatable and friendly personality brings out the best in all of us, quickly establishes trust and makes him an incredibly approachable leader.
Jim has said, “Our success is built upon our people. We have been successful at Geneva Rock. I account that to the interaction and the culture we’ve developed at our company to work together and to value everybody’s ideas and opinions.”
The way he values people and their ideas, empowers them to make their own decisions and work together as a team. Jim has a sincere interest in building a better community that he has shown in numerous ways. He has encouraged Geneva Rock employees to get involved in community and industry organizations and causes, including Ryan Green is a student at M-Tech in Spanish Fork. Following his interest in working on his own vehicle, he is studying diesel technology. Since receiving the scholarship, he has come to work for Geneva Rock while continuing his studies.
Jim Golding excels as the CEO of Geneva Rock because he is committed to the objectives of the organization and is the biggest supporter of our employees and their families. We are proud to know him and are privileged to work with a leader whose influence is felt at every level of the company.