Satisfied employees and a committed management team have led to many long-term relationships for Exxel Pacific. DeVries says the company has completed more than 25 projects for one of its clients dating back to 1995. Although most of the company’s projects are on the West Coast, Exxel Pacific follows its clients to new locations, such as St. Louis, Las Vegas and San Diego where the company has built multiple projects.

Exxel Pacific also benefits from strong subcontractor relationships. The company works with a network of regional subcontractors, which helps offset market fluctuations. “Having a diverse pool of subs helps us get the job done when one area might be slow and another might have too much work for the subs to handle,” DeVries says. “Our subs are very much part of the team, which is why we make sure to treat them fairly – working together and paying on time.”

Early subcontractor involvement also helps the project run more smoothly. DeVries says Exxel Pacific consults with subcontractors as often as possible to foster a team atmosphere and benefit from their expertise.

Devries says he is proud of the company’s safety record. Exxel Pacific has been a member of the Associated General Contractors Safety Team since 1993 and has an Experience Mod Rating of less than .60 for the last 10 years. Exxel Pacific hired a full-time safety director this past year to continue the strong safety record. I know safety is important to everyone but it is mostly an ongoing education and a culture that starts from the top.

In the coming years, Exxel Pacific expects to grow 10 to 15 percent annually, although DeVries stresses the firm isn’t driven by volume. “We want to do a good job and keep our clients happy because they will do more work for us and will recommend us for other projects,” he states. “Our No. 1 source of business is referrals, and if we are keeping employees and clients satisfied, we will continue to grow.”