Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64 Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Page 68 Page 69 Page 70 Page 71 Page 7228 S G M A G A Z I N E | FA L L 2 0 1 6 B U S I N E S S + C U LT U R E 29 Cives Steele Company, Southern Division, located in Thomas County, was named the 2016 Georgia Small Manufacturer of the Year (150 or fewer employees). With its annual fabrication and installation of 15,000 tons of structural steel for clients throughout the Southeastern U.S., Caribbean Islands, and Central and South America, the term “small” doesn’t exactly fit the description of Cives Steel. The award was presented at the 2016 Governor’s Awards Luncheon in Atlanta, as part of Georgia Manufacturing Appreciation Week, which is co-hosted by the Technical College System of Georgia and the Georgia Department of Economic Development. Other winners were Athens’ Caterpillar, which won in the category of 500 or more employees, and Suniva, located in Norcross, which won in the category of 150-500 employees. Founded in 1952, in Gouverneur, New York, Cives Steel Company has expanded to seven divisions across the U.S. The Southern Division began operations in Thomasville 35 years ago when it purchased an existing building near the airport and has expanded its operations multiple times. As Greg Orff, president and general manager of Cives Steel Company, Southern Division, walks through the facility, which is located just minutes from the city of Thomasville— known for its historic homes, stately plantations, and massive oak trees—it’s apparent that there is a culture of employee appreciation and dedication PHOTO: PAT GALLAGHER 28 S G M A G A Z I N E | FA L L 2 0 1 6 Georgia Small Manufacturer of the Year is Creating a Major Impact on Thomas County that runs throughout the company. “One of the unique things about Cives is we are employee owned,” Orff said. “So as you walk through one of our facilities and talk to employees, you are talking to an owner of the company.” Orff explains that employees who have worked for Cives for more than a year receive stock ownership. “This is a powerful tool that gives employees the opportunity to increase their wealth, but it also gives skin in the game. They have ownership in our success,” he said. “This was started with Cives many years ago with the founding family. They have divested themselves over the year, so the employees are now the majority shareholders.” Employee longevity is a strong testament to the company’s philosophy, and approximately 20 percent of current employees have been with the company 25 years or more. A few who were part of the original team in 1981 are still employed at the Thomasville plant. Though the majority of Cives’ projects are located throughout the Southeastern part of the U.S., notable landmarks in Georgia include Turner Field. Cives provided more than 10,000 tons of steel framing to construct the 1996 Olympic Stadium, which then became home to the Atlanta Braves. Cives also provided 3,800 tons of steel and installation for the new international terminal at Hartsfield- Jackson International Airport. Cives has provided steel to several nuclear power plants, including Plant Vogtle in Waynesboro, Georgia, and recently the non-nuclear Albany (Georgia) Green Energy Biomass Combined Heat and Power project. “We are unique here at Cives in that we have a nuclear quality assurance program that allows us to fabricate components required for nuclear power plants,” Orff said. “It is a safety related application, a stringent program that holds fabricators to a very high standard for components going into a nuclear power plant.” Locally, Cives hires a highly skilled workforce including technical trade employees in the area of drafting and detailing, general construction, and welding. Josh Morris, one of Cives Steel’s 30 welders certified by the American Welding Society. | Center photo – Gregg Orff, president and general manager of Cives Steel Company, Southern Division. | 3rd photo: Buddy Rogers, who has been with Cives for 35 years, checks the thickness of paint to ensure it falls within project specifications. PHOTO: PAT GALLAGHER