The more, the merrier: East and Central Divisions gain new team members

Important acquisition strengthens company presence in 5 key states

New sites mean new opportunities.

And that is certainly the case for Martin Marietta after the company acquired 20 active aggregates operations in Alabama, South Carolina, South Florida, Tennessee, and Virginia from affiliates of Blue Water Industries, LLC.

As a result of the expansion, which was completed in April, Martin Marietta welcomed 300 new teammates to its East and Central divisions. With onboarding events held simultaneously throughout the five-state region — including in cities like Miami; Nashville, Tennessee; and Huntsville, Alabama — the local team members took their first steps on their Martin Marietta journey as ONE.

The full-day events included in-depth conversations about Martin Marietta’s culture, benefits, and policies.

“I immediately felt like part of the team, and it has been a good fit for me. Martin Marietta’s division leadership has done a great job introducing the ONE culture,” said Brian Reynolds, plant manager of the newly acquired Murfreesboro Quarry. “Martin Marietta did not have a significant presence in our part of Tennessee before the acquisition. We all went in with mixed expectations. Initially, there was worry. But as things progressed, it was easy to see that we would be in good hands.”

And the excitement throughout the day was apparent. Experienced Martin Marietta employees who attended the onboarding noted that as team members continue to learn about their new company, they will grow increasingly enthusiastic about their career opportunities.

East Division Talent Acquisition Coordinator Jordan Moore, who assisted in Kingsport, Tennessee, said the onboarding day was special as hundreds of dedicated teammates began their journey with Martin Marietta.

“Adding so many people to our ONE team feels rewarding and encouraging. It shows how many learning and growth opportunities there are at Martin Marietta. It also brings more diversity and new ideas to our company, which drives success and positive change,” she said. “Ensuring that all new team members understand and embody Martin Marietta’s mission, vision, and values is essential for creating a cohesive, engaged, and effective workforce that can help the company achieve its goals.”

It is the same feeling HR Generalist Sydney Nester had while helping answer questions from team members who attended the onboarding with “smiles, open minds, and curiosity.”

“While change is never easy, I was able to see and hear a lot of positivity in Tennessee,” Nester said while assisting the team in Knoxville. “I heard multiple comments from new employees who were impressed with the great support and resources. They were excited to receive hands-on assistance in all facets and to learn about Martin Marietta’s benefits.”

Safety is always the top priority at every Martin Marietta site, so extensive conversations about the company’s Guardian Angel safety culture, Wingman mentality, and goal of ZERO incidents were many.

Jeff McIntosh, a safety manager for the Central Division, said setting the groundwork for new team members is essential so that everyone is prepared to embrace Martin Marietta’s safety culture right from the start.

“Setting the standard from the very beginning was one of the most important parts of the day. Our team made that very evident to our new colleagues, and their response indicates that they greatly appreciated it and know precisely what is expected of them in our mission to work safely,” McIntosh said. “I have been fortunate enough to be part of onboarding events in the past. It always makes me proud to bring others into a culture that I know will allow them to develop and thrive as part of a great organization, and this addition was no exception.”

All team members were given their personal protective equipment. In Nashville, a boot truck was brought in to ensure everyone had new steel-toed boots.

“We wanted to ensure the new team members had all the proper equipment,” said McIntosh after guiding Nashville attendees to the truck. “Everyone got hard hats, gloves, glasses, high-vis vests, and boots. This helped us display the depth of our commitment to safety for all of our new colleagues.”

 

Greg Muncy, an East Division safety manager who joined Martin Marietta as a result of the acquisition, said the company’s steadfast dedication to safety and culture along with a host of other benefits will remain with him long after the onboarding.

“The one thing that stood out to me is the passion and pride of the HR and Safety teams that conducted the onboarding,” Muncy said. “Everyone I have spoken with has been very positive and excited about the transition. The stability and history of Martin Marietta, as well as the increased benefits, stand out.”

Overall, the transition to Martin Marietta appears to be impactful for the hundreds of new team members.

Brad Kroeger, plant manager for the newly acquired Tri-Cities Airport and Locust Mount quarries, has noticed Martin Marietta’s pride and dedication help crew members feel enthusiastic about being part of the team.

“The thing I hear the most about the transition is that employees are excited to be part of a company that is safety-focused with great benefits,” Kroeger said. “What made an impression on me is how helpful everyone has been and the level of work that was dedicated to help us fully integrate with Martin Marietta’s systems and procedures. This drives home the culture around ONE team, ONE purpose, ONE future and sends the message that help is there should we need it.”