Griffith Company’s diverse capabilities and people-first approach have positioned it as one of California’s most dynamic contractors
Employee owned and operated contracting powerhouse Griffith Company (Griffith), continues to thrive through integrity, honesty, and an unparalleled commitment to its client base. Having started out as a family-owned general contractor, the company now offers a diverse range of specialist construction services. As President, Ryan Aukerman, explains: “We’ve been active since around 1902, making us the oldest licensed contracting business in Southern California, and the third oldest company in the entire state. We’re proud of our history, and I’m excited to be a part of such a long-standing organization.
“We’re a union company that is 100 percent employee owned. Our ownership is shared among nearly 1000 employees, working across Southern and Central California. The business is known for being one of the most diverse contractors in our class, performing a range of in-house specialist services from landscaping to masonry. 
“Being vertically integrated allows us to take on a wide range of projects. We work in a variety of sectors and our portfolio is far more diverse than any of our competitors’. We operate in both the public and private spheres, primarily as a general contractor on large scale construction projects. We also do some subcontracting work, which allows our team to operate in multiple capacities. It’s one of the reasons we’ve been successful for so long. We’re adaptable and can meet the demands of the market.
“Some of our services include demolition, environmental remediation, large-scale earthworks, grading, paving, and material management. We also have a structural concrete division that constructs bridges and retaining walls, and an underground utility unit that covers a range of applications.
“We mostly work on small to medium sized buildings, with some exceptions. Our goal is to become a one stop shop for contracting services. We perform about 75 percent of the work ourselves, which is much higher than the industry standard.”
Positive culture
Operating under an Employee Owner Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) has allowed Griffith to retain some of the most talented and driven people in the industry. Ryan discusses how the business supported his journey from engineer to executive: “This April marks my 21st year with Griffith. I was made President in July of 2024, but I started out as a project engineer at Long Beach Airport. I worked in that capacity for about two years before becoming a project manager.
“From then on, I was able to manage my own workload, mostly overseeing small to medium sized freight projects. I then moved into estimating, where I learned how to price and bid on projects for the company. I adopted dual responsibilities, both estimating for and then running a handful of projects. We were a lot smaller back then, so it was all hands-on deck.
“It was a great learning experience. I was able to pick up and apply many different skills, and, in our industry, it’s important to learn fast, so I was able to progress quickly. I worked in that role for about six years and then was given the opportunity to become Assistant Manager for our largest business unit, covering the Southern region of Santa Fe Springs.
“I spent another six years managing that office before I was promoted again to Executive Vice President in 2015. I held that position until last year when I became company President. Throughout the course of my time with Griffith, I always felt there was a path forward and plenty of opportunities for progression. In my role as President, I aim to extend the same level of support to our teams throughout the business.
“Supporting our staff and their professional growth is really important to us as a business. It’s the core of who we are. We try to put people in positions that will allow them to thrive and elevate their careers within the company. We pride ourselves on promoting internally and cultivating a positive working culture all round,” he enthuses.
Common goal
It’s clear that employee ownership has helped shape the culture of Griffith and maintain its long-term success. As Ryan discusses: “I don’t think there’s any better business strategy, especially when you have the right people. Our employees are driven to make the company succeed, and we all work toward a common goal. It means everything the company does is motivated by shared values and a sense of community.
“The company has continued to do really well, decade after decade, so I think that speaks for itself. We have very low turnover, and our staff can look forward to an exceptional retirement program at the end of their careers. Since becoming 100 percent employee owned, our stock has grown accordingly, and we’ve attracted some of the best talent in the industry because our culture is so outstanding.
“I believe in the business and the ethos behind it. I think all of these qualities, as well as our exceptional service to our clients, will ensure a bright future for all of us. We have some major projects in the pipeline for this year, and I can’t wait to see what comes next,” he concludes.