Gainesville's API wins Best Place to Work
Mar. 26—A Gainesville manufacturer has been awarded Best Place to Work by its competitors.
Advanced Pedestals Inc. (API) makes plastic products using rotational and injection molding, creating a variety of products for electrical work and agriculture. One product that the company is known for is electric pedestals to protect and act as hubs for connections.
API celebrated the honor last week. Plastics News, an industry publication, asks plastics manufacturers from all over North America to participate in an annual employee survey.
"There's several steps," explained Melissa Derheim, the human resource manager for API. "They ask questions about our culture, training ... do they feel we offer promotional opportunities, or do they feel that it's a safe working environment, out their overall opinion about API."
Feedback is then given to company leaders to create a better working environment. API has implemented much of what they have learned, going from fourth place in 2023 to first place in 2024.
"We have to provide the best environment we can, the best training we can, the best equipment we can, and the survey certainly helps us with that," said Jeremy Williams, the chief operating officer. "One of the perks is winning an award, that's great, too, but getting the results from that and then taking that information out on the floor, making the environment better, making this truly a great place to work ... we're very proud of it."
One of the biggest factors making API a great place to work goes back to its founder, Pete Shauf, and his care for others.
"He believed in people, and he believed in second chances," said Amber Hill, the Utility Sales Manager. "No matter where their background was, he would allow them to come here and to get a job ... to give them a step up, and that's what this company does. It's given a lot of people a leg up."
This leg up has led to many of the managerial staff having worked their way up from the floor, and they continue to work with those on the floor.
"There's office staff, but they're not just office staff," said Stephanie McCowan, who has been working at API for a little over two years. "The go out to the floor, they talk to you, they ask you how your day is, it's not just about work ... it's just like we're a big team: everyone works together, and everybody helps everybody."
Multiple employees praised the company's culture.
"We make sure to show our appreciation to everybody," said Jori Gilbreath, the head of employee relations. "We wouldn't be here without them ... everybody loves to be appreciated."
"We are a work family," said Amber Simmons, who will be celebrating 12 years at API this July. "We all come together as a team, we work together as a team, and we don't let each other down."
"You go to court dates, custody battles, criminal hearings; you show up for them whenever you can," said Hill. "It means a lot whenever, if you've ever been in a situation like that ... for your employer, not only your employer but everyone else that works with you, your community, to show up to court ... It's not just you show up, you get your job done, and then that's it. It's whenever you have COVID that someone's calling you and asking you, 'Do you have the food that you need?' 'Can I do anything for you?' This is a rare find."
