More than a decade has passed since long-time company leader Roger Dolese’s death, but his legacy as a conservationist endures. Under Mr. Dolese’s leadership, nature would not be compromised for business growth. If the most efficient path to prosperity was through a tree, he demanded a work-around. His successors remain true to that conviction and to this day scrutinize every project accordingly.
“When I first came here, I was in a meeting and suggested clearing some trees in order to help production in one of our plants,” said Mark Helm, CEO. “I thought I was going to get strung up, that I would even mention such a thing.”
The tone Mr. Dolese set from the top has become a model for Helm and the management team, who are committed to setting another cultural norm for the company: No task is worth doing if it can’t be done safely.
“If we emphasize safety with the same passion that Mr. Dolese had for conservation, imagine the impact we can have on employees, the business and the community,” said Gaylan Towle, Safety Director. “Decades from now employees will know that working safely is the only way Dolese does business.”
About seven months into Dolese’s journey to zero-incident performance, guided by Caterpillar Safety Services, employees are making strides in developing a culture relentlessly committed to protecting people and the environment.
