Over the past 90 years Pat Zachry’s mules have given way to the substantially more versatile mouse and caterpillar. We’ve also seen the Great Depression, World War II, huge societal changes, the Great Recession, and 15 different US presidents (eight Republicans and seven Democrats).

But through all of this turbulence something constant and timeless has guided the company. It started with Pat Zachry’s philosophy, and has ultimately been captured in this Vision Statement:

These 25 words have tremendous power, and they reach into every aspect of the company:

• Principle-based. This comes first, reflecting the importance we place on integrity, and on being an employer, business partner and citizen who can be trusted.
• Best in people. This emphasizes our conviction that our employees are the foundation of our success, and the source of our ability to manage the complexity of modern industrial facilities.
• Special business experience. This stresses our collaborative approach, both internally and with suppliers, customers, partners and the wider community.
• Seeking always to make a difference. This represents our determination to be a positive force in our industry, and in the communities where we operate.

They also gave rise to our seven values — Safety, Commitment, Trust, Integrity, Service, Economy, and Skill — which we’ll cover in upcoming posts.