For the seventh consecutive year, Dow Smith Company has been named a Certified Best Christian Workplace by the Best Christian Workplaces Institute (BCWI). This certification is based entirely on a survey of our employees. This year, 100 percent of employees who responded to the survey said Dow Smith Company is an exceptional place to work.
We are a Middle Tennessee design-build firm, specializing in commercial, healthcare and church construction projects, ranging from ground-up construction to renovations and additions. Since the company was founded by Dow Smith in 1992, we have worked with hundreds of businesses and churches in Middle Tennessee.
Dow Smith Company is the only construction company in Tennessee to be certified by the Best Christian Workplaces Institute and we have been certified longer than any other business in the state.
“It’s an honor to be certified once again this year,” says President and Owner Dow Smith. “This recognition speaks volumes about how deeply our employees care about the work we do every day to meet the needs of our clients. I hope it also says a lot about how dedicated our leadership is to valuing and retaining the incredible people who work here.”
Certified organizations received exemplary ratings from their employees who have completed the Best Christian Workplaces Institute’s employee engagement survey. All of the organizations were evaluated according to BCWI’s FLOURISH model: Fantastic teams, Life-giving work, Outstanding talent, Uplifting growth, Rewarding compensation, Inspirational leadership, Sustainable strategy, and Healthy communication.
Out of the Dow Smith employees who completed this year’s BCWI engagement survey,
• 100 percent said there is generally good teamwork across all departments.
• 100 percent said they are motivated to put in extra effort beyond what is expected to help Dow Smith Company succeed.
• 100 percent said the mission and goals at Dow Smith Company make them feel their work is important.
• 100 percent said their supervisor cares about them as a person.
• 100 percent said leaders at Dow Smith Company demonstrate compassion for people at all levels of the organization.
• 95 percent said someone at Dow Smith Company encourages their development.
• 95 percent said fellow employees are highly committed to excellence in their work.
• 100 percent said Dow Smith Company has an effective strategy for meeting the needs of the customers we serve.
“At Dow Smith Company, our mission is to serve,” says Smith. “I believe the scores we’ve received on this survey are a reflection of our employees’ dedication to our mission.”
There are four core values at the heart of everything we do. These values help shape our work and they set us apart as a company.
Passion – We are enthusiastic about our jobs. We have a deep desire to get it done right. We don’t just “check the box.”
Caring – We develop personal relationships and connections. We have compassion for ourselves and each other.
Hustle – We find solutions to problems we encounter. We go the extra mile because effort can overcome all obstacles.
Detail – Small things matter and will make a difference. We pay careful attention to the minute parts of every project.
Our work is guided by our desire to serve others—our clients, our employees, and those in our community. There are three unique ways Dow Smith Company is different from other general contractors:
Servant Culture – The culture at Dow Smith starts with service. Listening to our clients and responding to their needs for a new or renovated building “lights our fire.” Pouring concrete, framing walls, hanging doors, and installing toilet paper holders are much more than just building activities. They are our ways to serve the needs of our clients.
Streamlined Process – From the moment we get hired, we immediately start a plan of action that we have crafted for more than 30 years. Imagine a flow chart that begins with assembling the design team and then moves to vision collaboration, schematic design, design development, construction drawings, construction, punch list, and move-in. And, all along those steps, a real-world estimate is updated and shared with our client.
Transparent Communication – We show everything! We believe in developing strong relationships with our clients, but we can’t read their minds. The estimates we provide during the pre-construction phase and construction phase will show true and actual numbers. The fee we charge will be transparent. The wage we pay everyone is seen. Our labor burden is true. We will show all the quotes we receive from all of our subcontractors and vendors. And, when we have drawings sufficient to get quotes from subcontractors and vendors, we will get at least three estimates in each category. We make sure that our clients pay fair market value. We believe in consistent communication. We text. We email. We make telephone calls. And then we communicate what we anticipate to happen next. We communicate what we need to keep the project moving forward.
The benefits of being a Certified Best Christian Workplace by BCWI affect our employees, as well as our clients. When our employees are supported and encouraged to grow within our organization, our clients are also supported and encouraged to grow. Want to chat about your next project? We’d love to help!
