Tony Smith

The shift in the workplace over the last few years has been eye-opening for leaders such as Tony Smith, co-CEO and president at R&R Engineers-Surveyors Inc.

The Great Resignation, hybrid work models and demands for training, growth and work-life balance accelerated by the pandemic forced business leaders to make a decision: Get with the times or get left behind.

“Either keep operating in the same comfortable fashion and hope the industry shifts back, or we adapt and accept the uncomfortable sensation of change that is upon us,” Smith said. “The reality is, for most businesses, choosing not to make the necessary adjustments has made it difficult to hang onto employees. It’s nearly impossible to run a successful business of any kind with a high turnover rate, so focusing on what our people want and doing our best to facilitate, has become our top priority.”

Remote work environments come with challenges. There’s less opportunity to connect with co-workers; there are no water-cooler conversations and chances to bond on a personal level. But Smith wouldn’t be doing his job if he didn’t recognize hybrid work has a company benefit.

“I have found that working remotely, whether full time or as a hybrid option, for some people is better,” Smith said. “It provides flexibility that fits their unique situation, and their productivity and performance reflect this. Others are more productive in person than in an office setting. As leaders and trailblazers in this uncharted territory, we must recognize the diverse needs of our employees as individuals and not assume it’s a one-size-fits-all situation.”

While many businesses have struggled or been forced to close over the last two years, R&R Engineers-Surveyors Inc. has been on a growth trajectory. The company increased revenue by $1.5 million from 2020 to 2021 and increased its total employees by one-third. Last year was a record-setting year for the company. “I give full credit to my employees from our hard-working field crews and our young but successful team of civil engineers, all the way up to our project managers and senior leadership team,” Smith said. “Everyone has done their part in making our company what it is today. As long as we keep moving in this direction, and stay focused, I have no doubt that we will continue to flourish in every aspect.”

Smith and R&R have prioritized training and development for employees, building a path for each employee to grow, he said. He’s focused on a culture in which employees push each other to be better every day, growing trust and respect in the organization.

This is Smith’s second time in the Titan 100. “I believe in networking and learning from each other,” Smith said. “Being recognized as a Titan 100 for a second time has done just that. It’s opened doors to connections I may have not had otherwise, making past challenges, experiences and different perspectives of other leaders in Colorado only a handshake away.”