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www.wbjournal.com Worcester Business Journal Business Profiles 2014 21 W hen a business figures out a way to obtain, retain and gain new customers, it sticks with that strategy. Ninety years ago, Ralph White founded his construction company focused on solving cus- tomers' problems, a formula that has led to business growth, service expansion and great success. Statistics show that 85 percent of companies are pri- vately owned, but only 30 percent are passed down to a second generation; a mere 3 percent to a fourth genera- tion. R.H. White exists in a class by itself with a third generation CEO and four fourth generation family mem- bers are highly involved in the business. If you ask David White, President/CEO, the secret to the company's success, he will point to three factors. "Everyone's number one goal in life is to keep your fam- ily safe. We embrace that same culture of safety at the company," he says. "We make sure everyone is safe, whether in the office or the field." Education also ranks high on the priority list. The company offers more than 75 classes on topics from leadership skills to first aid. "Next year we break ground on our education training center, a large building with state-of-the-art classrooms," White reports. R.H. White believes in creating opportunities for employees interested in professional advancement. "Last year we had 36 internal promotions," White notes. "And our turnover rate is way below the industry average." In addition to the four generations of Whites who work here, many employees represent second and third gen- erations. "Some employees have been here 50 years!" R.H. White began as a utility company determined to meet customers' construction, operation and mainte- nance challenges. As requests broadened into other areas, so did the company's expertise. Today, R.H. White serves several market sectors, including energy, water/ wastewater, industrial, corporate and institutional. "We provide anything our customer needs. We aim to relieve the client of everyday worries, so he can concentrate on his business," says Jim McCarthy, COO. To address customer needs, R.H. White developed four divisions: a utility construction group that installs pipelines and infrastructure for all market segments; a mechanical group that provides services and construc- tion for the water, wastewater and industrial process markets; a building division that provides construction and facilities support to industry, manufacturing, institu- tional and high tech companies; and an energy services group that supports the growing demand for cleaner, more cost-efficient fuels, such as propane, liquefied nat- ural gas (LNG) and compressed natural gas (CNG) across the northeast. WhiteWater, Inc., a subsidiary of R.H. White, manages utilities for large industrial, municipal, residential and commercial clients. For more than 20 years, the company has had contracts with the cities of Chelsea and Southbridge to oversee their water systems. The quality of R.H. White's work has not gone unno- ticed. In 2013, the Northeastern University Center for Family Business recognized the company as Massachusetts Family Business of the Year. The company also received two Gold STEP awards and two Silver STEP awards for its organized approach for analyzing and developing pro- grams. Most recently, a RHW project was selected as a finalist for the Black Diamond Award for the construc- tion of the liquefied natural gas plant for Omya – Florence facility. The installation was named one of the top five LNG projects that advances technology, opens new markets and demonstrates smooth execution of the undertaking. As R.H. White has become a leader in the business world our employees participate in the PanMass Challenge, the Jimmy Fund annual walk and support the Worcester Food Bank, Alternatives and Easter Seals. David White serves as chairman of the board for Community Harvest and Worcester Children's Friend. Last year as part of its 90th anniversary, R.H. White raised $156,000 for Alzheimer's Association, Polycystic Kidney Disease Foundation and the Multiple Sclerosis Society. "Providing safety, training, education and opportuni- ties is the cornerstone of the business. We were founded on service, excellence and solving customers' problems," says McCarthy. "Our aim is to make the complex simple. This is how we grew the business and how we intend to continue operating." n R.H. White Construction: Taking Care of Customers and Employees For Nearly a Century a u b u r n , m a r.H. white companies Inc. Address: 41 Central Street, P.O. Box 404 Auburn, MA 01501 Phone: 508-832-3295 Fax: 508-832-7084 Website: www.rhwhite.com Product or Service: Since 1923, R.H. White has provided excellence in con- struction and service solutions to a wide range of energy, water, industrial, corpo- rate, and institutional clients across the Northeast. No. of Employees: 500+ Top Executives: David H. White, President and CEO; Jim McCarthy, COO Year Founded: 1923