Dakota Supply Group - Index

Dakota Supply Group - dakotasupplygroup - Index

ELECTRICAL
10
Gaining Momentum
It’s not always easy to keep good employees.
For those companies that do, it provides a big
advantage in the climb to success. A long-term
relationship with your supplier is also important.
Burlington Electric has managed both.
Headquartered in Burlington, North Dakota,
Burlington Electric was established in 1989 by
Andy Fimrite and Dana Kimball. Fimrite now runs
the company on his own. For a time, Burlington
Electric employed only two or three crew members,
but today, it has 12. Residential, commercial and
agricultural jobs take them all over north central
North Dakota, including Minot, a growing city
with enormous potential.
With oil drilling and coal mining in western
North Dakota hiring more workers every day, it can
be a challenge to retain good electricians. That’s
why Burlington Electric takes extra measures to
ensure that once it’s found a quality employee, it
www.dakotasupplygroup.com
Andy Fimrite, Owner
Burlington Electric
keeps them. In many ways, Fimrite and his team
are bucking the national trends of high turnover
and strained loyalty. All signs point to this as one
of the company’s most significant keys to success.
Burlington Electric provides a network of
support for its electricians. “We care about our
employees – not only as a part of the business, but
on a personal level, as well,” says Fimrite. “We treat
them as more than just workers, and we have a
genuine interest in how they’re doing. They really
appreciate that, and it shows in their work.”
Keeping track of how their families are doing,
offering incentives and listening closely to their
needs are all part of how Burlington Electric
holds on to quality employees. In addition, Fimrite
always likes to keep things fun and provide an
opportunity for employees to interact in a nonworking
environment. Every year, staff members
are treated to a company picnic at Fimrite’s cabin
Using its Bobcat, Burlington Electric has
dug 6,000 feet of trench so far in 2008.