by Kevin Grigg, PE, President and Chief Executive Officer
It seems obvious to state that being CEO comes with lot of responsibility. However, this responsibility is not limited to fiscal success; this position brings with it the responsibility for the professional well-being of each employee. I liken it to a small government – one must ensure that everyone is supported by functioning infrastructure (i.e., modern technology and a safe working environment), that everyone has access to social services (i.e., benefits and company events), and that all voices are represented (i.e., a supportive chain of command and open lines of communication).
This, my first blog post as CEO of Fuss & O’Neill, is one of these open lines of communication. There is an initiative on the ballot this November that I am actively supporting. The Connecticut Transportation Revenue Lockbox Amendment will ensure that all transportation revenues (gas tax, road taxes, DMV fees, etc.) placed in the state’s Special Transportation Fund will be used for transportation purposes only. This Amendment will dedicate and protect limited transportation and infrastructure funding, will not raise taxes, and will benefit the communities we serve. As a company, we routinely seek to improve our infrastructure (i.e., computer upgrades, the addition of electric fueling stations, new office locations, etc.). Similarly, our community infrastructure requires improvements. Recent reports state that approximately 57% of our major roads are in poor condition and that 7% of our bridges are structurally deficient. These are not numbers I’m comfortable with – especially when I’m in a position to affect change.
It could certainly be argued that as the CEO of a civil engineering company I have a financial motive for wanting funding to be used for transportation improvements, and this is true. Yet, as I stated before, I have a responsibility for the professional well-being of each employee. While more funding for roads and bridges will be good for the company (and, by extension, for all that work here), safer transportation infrastructure benefits society as a whole.
I encourage you all to do your research on this important topic and vote as you see fit. Your voice matters; your vote matters. If I may take creative license with my earlier metaphor, even though I’ve only been CEO for a few months, I already know that our little government works best when input from others is consistently encouraged and thoughtfully considered. The same, of course, could be said of all levels of government.
About the Author:
Kevin Grigg, PE is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Fuss & O’Neill. He has been with the firm for the past 6 years of his 30+ year career. Kevin has managed projects and business units in the environmental, facilities, water, and transportation markets. His primary areas of technical expertise lie in the railroad and public transportation market segments, having managed a wide variety of bus and rail transit projects throughout the Midwest and Pacific Northwest. Kevin is excited about his new role and furthering the company’s mission of creating works of life.
