Written by: Byrne Harmon, CEO at FCC Construction, Inc.
FCC Construction, Inc.
FCC Construction has never been a company that puts its good deeds on display. You won't find many photos of us at volunteer events, and I'm comfortable with that. Our community involvement works the way the rest of our business works. It happens quietly, and it starts with the people who work here.
Some of the most meaningful giving we do never leaves the shop. A lot of it happens behind the scenes, when one of our people needs a hand with something at home. Moments like these don't make the news, but I believe they're the most important way we give back.
FCC Construction, Inc.
Over the years, I've come to see our employees as our community. A person who isn't carrying stress from home can come to work and give the job their full attention. They carry that steadiness back to their families at the end of the day. Investing in your employees is investing in your community.
We also take part in charity shoots and golf outings, and we support organizations beyond our own walls. The communities where we build are the same communities where we live and raise our families.
I measure our success by the projects we complete and by the relationships we build along the way. Buildings are what we leave behind physically. The relationships and the lives we touch are what create a lasting legacy.
One cause that is especially close to my heart is Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital. When my son Cody was 12, he was in a snowmobile accident, and the team at Helen DeVos saved his life. My wife and I spent 17 days there with him, and we got to witness firsthand that the people who work there are like angels. Over two years of appointments and treatments, our family received incredible medical care and so much compassion.
Ours isn't the only FCC family with that story. I know of other employees who had children start out in the hospital's NICU. We are so fortunate to have this hospital in our backyard.
Today FCC makes multiple donations to the hospital, and a couple of times a year members of our team deliver snacks and gifts to the kids. Those donations come from all of us at FCC Construction: the people behind the company and the families connected to it. We've seen firsthand how much the little things matter. A toy or a snack can bring real joy on a really hard day. Giving back is our way of saying thank you, and of bringing that same comfort to another family walking through a hard season.
Construction keeps us focused on schedules and budgets. That focus matters, and giving back balances it by reminding our team that this work is ultimately about people and the difference we can make in their lives.
I see it in the people we hire, too. Compensation and growth opportunities are important to them, and so is culture. People want to work for a company that shares their values and cares about the community around it. They want to feel part of something bigger than their job. Looking ahead, I'd love to see more of our team members step forward and lead causes that matter to them.
My advice to fellow West Michigan business owners is simple. This region was built by people who care about their neighbors and take pride in making it a great place to live and work. Start with your own people, and take care of them when life gets hard at home. Then choose a cause your team believes in and keep showing up for it. The return rarely appears on a balance sheet, but you will feel it in your culture and in the community you share.