COMPANY SPOTLIGHT - Fisher Industries

The economy seems to drive a lot of what Fisher Industries does from its headquarters in Dickinson, ND.

Fisher’s diverse portfolio, that includes concrete, asphalt, drilling, blasting, paving services, and equipment manufacturing, as well as various aggregate products, has allowed it to continue to grow. In 2012, Fisher Industries is expected to see a 5 percent increase in sales.

“People know of us because of our efforts,” states Curt Kittelson, Sales Manager of the General Steel and Supply Company within Fisher Industries. “We like the tough jobs. If they need something right now, we can react to things overnight.”

The 60-year-old family-owned company started from a farm northeast of Dickinson. Today, there are 700 employees and $300 million in sales. Along with the Dickinson headquarters, Fisher Industries has offices in Tempe, AZ, Las Vegas, NV, Reno, NV, Albuquerque, NM, Spearfish, SD, Billings, MT, and Glendive, MT.

Fisher Industries crushes an estimated 30 million tons of aggregate each year used for concrete, asphalt, country roads, and decorative projects.

In 2007, Fisher Industries secured the largest contract ever awarded by the Nevada Department of Transportation when it was assigned the construction of the I-580 Extension. This project links Reno and Carson City including five bridges and 8 ½ miles of brand new, six lane freeway. The bridge will span Galena Creek extending 1,790 feet and 300 feet tall, making it one of the largest structures of its type in the United States.

In November 2004, Fisher industries started work on a $200 million, four year, high-end residential project in Henderson, NV. The job entailed excavating 300 residential lots out of a mountain of rocks. The project site encompasses 640 acres of residential homes that have a view of the Las Vegas Strip.

Diversification has been key to the companies’ success allowing Fisher Industries the opportunity to withstand economic downturn.

“Then there is Tommy’s vision (owner Tom Fisher,)” Kittelson says. “His vision is to take or make everything the best we can. That means pouring all of our assets into making the company successful.”

Fisher believes that the company’s ability to be able to respond to emergency or fast-paced projects, whether crushing, doing asphalt and concrete or manufacturing equipment, provides future opportunities with customers because Fisher Industries is able to provide the service they need and help them be successful.

Fisher adds that the company is geographically located so that it can move operations into areas that are experiencing growth, such as moving some crews from Arizona to North Dakota and doing it in quick response.

Other key components include the companies’ management team and longevity of the employees. “All can see that vision,” Kittelson states. “We’re doing this to get something done for our customers, as well as ourselves.”

The housing downturn has caused some difficulty for the company because there is more competition than before. “Prices have gone down considerably,” Kittelson explains. “Companies are taking work to keep the equipment busy and the people working.”

In western North Dakota, welders are becoming difficult to find. “Young people just don’t look at welding,” Kittelson explains. “And the competition to hire welders is high in our area.”

One thing that has helped with the challenge is what Kittelson states is a top-notch benefit package. This package includes good wages, health care expense, and good working conditions. “Now we really have to push our benefits package,” he says.

Another challenge is that Fisher Industries is located in an area that is difficult to deliver products. “There are several logistics issues such as trucking,” Kittelson says.

In addition, federal money isn’t there for infrastructure projects like before. Again, this leads to heavy competition.

Kittelson says there are opportunities in the future. Much of it is dependent on the economy and a federal highway spending bill to upgrade the infrastructure.

“We’re a strong company and we are already looking at ways to help ourselves,” Kittelson states.

One of the opportunities lies in the international market that includes South Africa, Australia, and Canada.

“The South African market is amazing,” Kittelson says.

Fisher adds that the company’s manufacturing division has taken Fisher Industries into new industries, like the oilfield, because of its capabilities and desires to take on unique projects. PB

The Fisher family of businesses includes:

Fisher Sand & Gravel Co.

General Steel & Supply Co.

Fisher Sand & Gravel – New Mexico, Inc.

Arizona Drilling & Blasting

Southwest Asphalt

Southwest Asphalt Paving

Fisher Grading & Excavation

Fisher Ready Mix

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